There is no joy in Mudville. Mighty Unity has struck out.
Unofficial totals rough numbers: RA 17,000+, Unity 10,000+
What exactly did RA win? Due to the wrong winner take all (instead of proportional rep) system, RA gets it all:
10
officers, 15 ex bd (I am one) and all 300 delegates to the DA (not
AFT). I reminded a long time Unity guy at the count that if they had
prop rep they would have had over 100 delegates and over a third of the
officers and ex bd and I believe that would be better for the union. I
reminded him that 3 years ago RA asked for 5 out of 300 DA position so
our voters would be represented and were turned down. I imagine with us
in charge we will actually call for a fair system.
The
major impact on the union goes beyond the RTC. Our 300 delegates are
packed with long-time and experienced former CL, Del, Ex Bd members -
and UFT Pres candidates. (Our saddest moment is thinking about how James
Eterno will not be there with us.)
Let
me note that Unity has been planning on some carve out of the 7k para
retirees from the RTC chapter. Let's see if retired paras go for it. I
bet they don't.
And
don't forget the para election where all 8 slate candidates on the Fix
Para Pay slate won. But Unity won all 268 delegates and the rest of
officers and ex bd. Unity did some rigging of this election. But look
for the FPP slate to grow and be part of the oppo next year.
You have certainly changed the dynamics in the NYC labor movement: Ray
Markey President New York Public Library Retirees Association,
President (Ret) New York Public Library Guild Local 1930, VP (Ret) DC37
Executive Board AFSCME -- comment on Arthur's Substack
IMPORTANT
NOTE: The final RTC meeting, (the last for the next 3 years under Unity
control) of the year will take place on Tuesday June 18 at 1 PM at 52
Broadway, followed by RA inviting those who show up to join us at a
local establishment. Randi is the guest at the RTC meeting. Who knows,
she might even drop in at the RA event.
Sunday, June 16, 2024
I was wrong. The wrongest one of anyone.
At
most I expected RA to lose with about 45%. 63% was beyond
comprehension. This is a tale of a massive shift in voting sentiment
amongst retirees. Can the same shift occur in the general election next
year? It now seems possible -- if the forces opposed to Unity can
actually unite - always problematical, which I will delve into at some
other time. Let me catch you up on Friday's historic events with some
instant analysis.
I left you on Friday with a last minute 12PM early update that presaged the
tsunami about to hit the UFT, Unity Caucus and the opposition movement.