Sunday, November 30, 2008

November 24 Defend ATRs Rally Photo Album

Photos courtesy of Ivan Rowe, Independent Community of Educators (ICE) and Class Struggle Education Workers (CSEW). To contact Ivan Rowe, e-mail survivalthing@hotmail.com or call (917) 659-2619.

Hundreds of New York City teachers and supporters rallied at the headquarters of the NYC Department of Education headquarters at Tweed Courthouse on November 24.

They were protesting the DOE offensive, echoed by the media, against 1,500 teachers placed in the Absent Teacher Reserve pool due to the endless school "reorganizations" ordered from Tweed. Another 100+ first year Teaching Fellows are threatened with dismissal by December 5 if they do not find positions.

The teacher bashing is ultimately in the service of union-busting, as Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein take aim at teacher tenure.

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) agreed at an Oct. 15 Delegate Assembly to sponsor a rally to show support for ATRS and demand that no new hiring take place until ATRs receive permanent placements. However, a few days before the rally the UFT and DOE signed a side agreement to encourage, but not mandate, the placement of ATR teachers.

On the day of the rally the UFT leadership held an "informational session" at union offices at 52 Broadway while some 225 teachers rallied in support of the ATRs at Tweed Courthouse. After 1 hour and 45 minutes, the UFT leaders finally arrived.

To see photos, click on play button. For full screen mode and photo credits, click on symbol at lower right of slideshow once it is playing. To see all photos go to Support ATRs flickr site.



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