These interviews about the recent tragic disaster at the Massey coal mine in West Virginia point out the importance of the right of the workers’ to file grievances to their own safety. The workers at this non-union mine did not have that right. Here is the story on Democracy Now. #grievanceprocess #Minedisaster

Andy Stern, president of the SEIU, plans to step down soon. Here is the Times story, and that from the Wall Street Journal.

Since dues are extracted after taxes, they are completely tax deductible. #Taxes #uniondues

Budget gaps are propelling cities to try to reopen the contracts of unionized public workers to cut benefits and pensions. The tone of the article (and granted it’s in the Wall Street Journal) is that union workers are privileged and have no right to their “luxurious” lifestyle, good health benefits, or secure retirement. Too bad more American workers don’t try to unionize themselves instead of attacking unions and what they have managed to get. Here’s the link. #budgetcri

“There is no one but yourself who knows whether you are cowardly and cruel, or loyal and devout. Others do not see you, they guess at you by uncertain conjectures; they see not so much your nature as your art. Therefore do not cling to their judgment; cling to your own. You must use your own judgment…With regard to virtues and vices, your own conscience has great weight; take that away, and everything falls [Cicero].” Michel de Montaigne, “Of Repentance,” Essays (trans. Do

A brilliant observation by Theodor Adorno, German social critic, specifically on folk music, but also an important reminder that we must always think realistically and critically about the relationships and dynamics that structure the social order (brought to my attention by Ric Brown, UFCT grievance team member). “There is, above all, the display of an aggressive spirit of community as an end in itself, played up artificially so as not to allow any questioning of its real

Huge protests took place across the nation yesterday, including in New York State, with barely any coverage in the mainstream media. Here is a link to Democracy Now’s coverage. #HigherEd

I ran across this 9 year old editorial from the New York Times that is still relevant today. The author, Ellen Willis (at the time a professor at NYU) argues that the Yeshiva decision is essentially moot in today’s climate, characterized by the corporatization of the university, the burgeoning of the use of part-time faculty, the assault on tenure, and the centralization of power in administrations and Boards of Trustees. Unfortunately, although “common sense” indicates tha

NYSUT is asking you to support a campaign launched by our higher education affiliate at SUNY, United University Professions, to “Save SUNY” from devastating cuts and a tiered tuition plan that would make it even harder for New York families to afford public higher education for their children. Support UUP’s campaign by sending a letter at www.savesuny.org. Make sure you’ve also weighed in by sending the letters of support for public higher ed at NYSUT’s Action Center, pa

It would indeed seem that it might help the labor movement in this country if the history of the labor movement was actually taught (so that young people would know there actually WAS a labor movement!). Funny, when I was in high school (Tottenville High School, Staten Island, New York) in the 1980’s, my economics class was taught by one of the leaders of the United Federation of Teachers. We learned economics from the perspective of labor (from the extraction of surplus va

Here's the article from the New York Times.

Dear UFCT Member: Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break and have had a successful start to the spring 2010 semester. As I announced last fall, I am on sabbatical for this semester [taking some much needed time to return to the much neglected studio.] And, although I am not on the Pratt campus day-to-day, rest assured, I'm very much in touch and attuned to what is happening on the ground (and trust me, there is always something!) The bottom-line is th

Showdown with White House imminent. What happened to pulling support from a bill with no public option? It looks like we are dancing the ol' two step between progressives and labor and centrist/corporate Democrats…this is getting boring. –Suzanne

Here's the article. The AFL-CIO IS THREATENING NOT TO SUPPORT A BILL WITHOUT A PUBLIC OPTION. –Suzanne

This is an excellent article from the Wall Street Journal concerning how the recession is forcing older workers into retirement years before they had planned, forcing many to start receiving social security payments earlier, which lowers their payments for life, and making it very difficult for those who do want to work to find a new job. It looks like we will be facing a wave of poverty among seniors. –Suzanne

Dear UFCT Member: Regrettably, I have to cancel tomorrow's: UFCT General Membership Meeting (Tuesday, 12/8, 12:30 to 1:50, 110/ENG.). I have been struggling with laryngitis and asthmatic bronchitis for the last five days and am simply in no shape to attend or conduct the meeting. I apologize for the late notice. I will be sending my Status Report electronically by week's end. Best wishes for a smooth end to the fall semester. In Solidarity, -Kye

Dear Union Member: As a reminder, I have scheduled a UFCT General Membership Meeting for Tuesday, December 8th, 12:30-1:50, room: 110/Engineering Bldg. This will be the only GMM for the fall 2009 semester, and I will be on sabbatical for the spring 2010 semester. I will have for distribution my 2009 UFCT Status Report. Lastly, we would like to serve lunch on the 8th, but will need you all to RSVP ASAP. Few have responded thus far. Regards, and Happy Thanksgiving! -Kye

Here's the story from Democracy Now . Tuition at California state schools is due to rise an average of 32%. Update (November 21): Protests continue across the state. Democracy Now continues to provide excellent coverage, here with an articluate interview with the president of University of California, American Federation of Teachers, Bob Samuels. The interview reveals not only the the stakes of the current budget crisis, but the more pervasive and long term pressures on u

The next general membership meeting will take place Tuesday, December 8, 12:30-1:50 in Engineering Building 110. Topics for discussion include executive and grievance team configuration during Spring 2010 when President Kye Carbone is on sabbatical leave, the status report, elections, and negotiations. Please RSVP (718-636-3614; kyecarbone@gmail.com) as lunch will be served.

A benefit enshrined in the Collective Bargaining Unit involves a full-time or adjunct faculty member's ability to follow any course of study at Pratt Institute and to receive full or partial reimbursement depending upon the faculty member's status (full time or adjunct). Article 28.4 (b) of the UFCT 1460 Collective Bargaining Agreement states the following: 28.4 Tuition Remission and Tuition Exchange Plan (b) Part-Time Faculty The tuition remission program set forth in Articl