Unions should be pro-union
I am concerned about a recent article on Edwize.
Jonathan Gyurko advised a charter school not to block its teachers from unionizing, if the teachers want to do so. The careful suggestion that teachers, treated right, might not want or a need a union, is counter to what I believe, and counter to what the United Federation of Teachers stands for.
The passage:
Moreover, if and when the school’s teachers want to gain more influence over their practice through collective bargaining, we hope that Equity Project embraces this expression of ownership and accountability.
implies that unionizing is not something that all teachers need.
Three days ago I asked the strongest voice on the blog to clarify the remark, but have been met with silence. This morning I left this comment:
What’s this “if and when” stuff? I think we have a right to expect a pro-union blog, not a union-agnostic blog.
I urge readers of this blog to visit Edwize, and to respectfully remind the blog owners that unions should be pro-union.
Gyurko is a former DoE official, now employed by the UFT. I think he specializes in charter schools. He was directing his remarks to The Equity Project Charter School, which has recently made headlines for announcing that they were opening a school in Washington Heights that would pay teachers a minimum of $125,000 per year.
JD2718 
Jonathan:
That is why I no longer comment on Edwize. How can an ex-DOE official have access to our union’s blog? The union leaders in “Unity” is becoming more and more disconnected with the rank-and-file (the classroom teacher). and no longer hear our complaints.
I just cringe what the next contract will be, if negotiated by “Unity”. Will there be a time limit for ATR’s? A real sixth period? Merit pay determined by the Principal? I hold little hope for our future with Randi and gang leading the way.