The mayor had better watch out. Randi has taken the gloves off. Perhaps inspired to new union activism by the courageous efforts of Charles G. Hogg, our feckless--I mean fearless--leader has decided to get tough with Bloomberg on the issue of layoffs.
Her plan? Launch a massive ad campaign targeting the mayor's uncaring attitude towards the children he has sworn to protect and educate? Lead a march of her 80,000 plus members through the streets of Manhattan to City Hall, snarling traffic to show our outrage at these proposed cuts? Calling a wildcat strike or a sick-out to draw attention to the problem?
No, her plan is MUCH more devastating than that. On February 10, she wants us all, en masse, in a powerful show of solidarity, to wear blue.
You see the simplicity of it all? When the citizens of New York see as many as five or ten teachers all entering a school dressed in blue, they will finally understand the gravity of the situation and demand action. I can hear them now: "Hey, what's with all the blue? We'd better stop those layoffs immediately!"
Despite the brilliance of this plan, it's possible that more action may be needed. So the UFT has organized a rally for March 5th. To ratchet up the pressure on the mayor, Randi has proposed several new ideas for that rally:
- To show that we really mean business this time, everyone will be urged to wear magenta.
- All attendees will be asked to link arms and high step, Rockette style, until our demands are met.
- New teachers will wear feather boas and fishnets while they sing "Cabaret" in husky voices on the steps of City Hall.
- The few remaining male teachers over 50 will be asked to wear black socks, sandals, and Bermuda shorts.
2 comments:
The blue alone is not enough! I say wear something blue at a Candlelight Vigil! That'll really show `em we will not be messed with! And, if they do try to mess with us?...We break out the big guns and write a strongly-worded letter! Take THAT, DOE!
I'm sure Bloomberg is s&^!ing in his pants right about now at the prospect of us all wearing blue.
Sadly, our CL is so lame she didn't even inform us about it yet.
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