I'm not going to get into a debate regarding what is and what isn't social justice. I have shared my own ideas on these pages how social justice should be handled. But as to paraphrase Justice Potter Stewart "I know social justice when I see it." UFT Unity's attempt at claiming it is the true social justice party is quite laughable.

While the opposition caucuses seem to think that tweeting is how you do political action, they couldn’t find it in themselves to contribute a single tweet to the work of passing the paraprofessional pension legislation. Reading their social media, one would not even know that paraprofessionals existed.

It’s easy to ‘talk the talk’ of social justice unionism.

This not social justice. This should be called, "Doing what you should be doing and because it is the right thing to do and putting members dues to good work justice." 

The definition of Social Justice is as follows...

"justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society."

Yes, I will give kudos and props to the UFT increasing the rights, pay, and working conditions of paras. Paras are underrated and overworked. They deserve so much more. I have worked with some fantastic paras over the years and they make life so much easier. I hope they get more in the next contract and continue to for years. But this is not social justice.  

But let's use UFT Unity's skewed logic on social justice and see what they should do since UFT Unity is the "true blue social justice" caucus.

Medicare (Dis)Advantage aka Mulgrewcare

Explain how throwing thousands upon thousands of retirees into MAP is social justice? These are retirees with years of relationships with their current doctors. Many retirees who live on an extremely fixed income. Retirees who are scared and anxious of this sudden and illegal change. How is this social justice?

Teacher Harassment

Teachers are being harassed left and right by abusive administrators. Still. There was supposed to be an avenue on the latest contract on how to fight back against abusive administrators. Has the UFT ever successfully, let alone brought a case to either a chancellor's hearing or arbitration against a abusive administrator? I mean just for one individual teacher, not an entire chapter (While we here at SBSB to applaud this). How is this social justice?

Better yet, if Unity UFT really wants to show how social justicey they really are why are there not workshops at UFT borough offices on how to document and fight back against abusive administrators? 

One SBSB groupie is still fighting back against years of abuse. 

ATRs

Do I need to elaborate? Is this social justice. Oh wait, how much time and energy did the "true blue social justice" caucus of the UFT put into blocking an ATR chapter from forming? How is this social justice?

Retro Pay

Bad enough that teachers had to wait 11 years to get what was owed them. But to pour salt into the wound of teachers that were terminated, quit, or died without their well deserved as well earned back pay was just wrong. How is this social justice?

Concierge Service

I freaking hate it!  How is this social justice?

Abuse of Camille Eterno

How is defaming Camille Eterno, a proud unionist and mommy to two wonderful children social justice?  

Lack of Democracy and Transparency

The DA's are nothing more than propaganda. Rules aren't followed. There is no real debate. For some perverse reason I as an elementary teacher must vote for VP of High Schools. District Leader s are anointed. Those that suckle on the colon are rewarded. How is this social justice? 

I can go on and on, but the above is what popped into my head. I am sure there will be more in the comments. 

But please, Unity UFT is not, nor will ever be, the social justice caucus.  

And lastly....

The UFT election is right around the corner!

 

 I have the years and the age to retire. I just owe some money for my first few years that I hadn't paid into TRS and wanted to get some clarification.

Back in the good old days I was able to dial the Bronx UFT and either a) get through to someone at the switchboard, or b) call the pension people directly. Not anymore. The UFT has a new way to avoid your calls. It's non award winning concierge service. 

On October 26 I decided to make place the phone call to the Bronx UFT. I got the concierge service and promptly placed on hold.

I placed the phone call while on the Deegan at Fordham Rd. No one picked up until I was up on Elmsford where you get onto I-287 from the Thruway. I was then told that I would hear back from someone within 48 hours. It took a week. I got a date for a consultation. November 17. In person. In the Bronx. 

I'm excited and scared at the same time.

As much as I can’t stand the DOE and what it’s done to me, I’m looking at retirement with trepidation. It’s like I’m losing my identity. For 25 years this is all I have known and been. It's not that I got my identity from being a teacher, but this all I have known for 25 years. My year doesn't go from January to December, it goes from September to June.

I feel I need to decompress for at least a year after I retire from the DOE. It's the same feeling I had during my 3020a hearings. After the hearing I needed down time and stopped at IHop each night. I will need more than IHop.

My firsts choice to move to some cabin in the Adirondacks or the Catskills where my nearest neighbor is 5 miles away. I would live in this cabin for a year completely off the grid. I will forage and hunt for my food each day and chop wood for fire and heat. I will grow my hair long and have a manly beard. But this is just a fantasy.

My other dream is to live in Corning for a year or two (I lived there for about 6 months in 1986. In fact I nearly caused an international incident there. I must share one day). Kinda like reliving my youth, but this time as a so called "responsible" and "mature" adult. I figure I can sock my pension away and sell cars to
pay my bills. I've always wanted to sell cars. Or sell anything. Maybe I could be a greeter in Walmart. 

If Corning doesn't pan out there is always Binghamton or Hudson to live in. I really like both towns. But selling cars. 

I can't do the Florida thing. One more retired Jew from New York moving to Florida has become a stereotype. I used to ask my dad about why he hadn't retired to Florida. His answer was, "Florida is death's waiting room." Yeah a waiting room with the 4:30 early bird special.

I doubt I will retire anytime soon. My son is a junior in college, and he has another year to go. Also, I am not retiring without having another gig lined up. Part of me wants to write the book the late, great, Stu Schmelz and I discussed writing: "We Can't Make This Shit Up!" Just like Sparky Lyle and Graig Nettles had in their last years with the Yankees I can as well in my last year with the DOE. 

Something hit me as I was writing this. I'm sure there will be people I still communicate with and see. I don't think I will wither away in the night. But then there are people I was close to but will never ever see again due to distance or whatever reason. Sad.

Let's see what happens and what I hear on the 17th. Maybe I will hit mega millions.