AFT met in Chicago in July 2008... American Federation of Teachers backs Obama after July snub
AFT Convention Notes…
The location of the 80th convention was the historic Navy Pier with stunning views of Lake Michigan and the beautiful city of Chicago.
After the normal chaotic first days of registration, “Festival Hall A” became no more than a cavernous pass-through. There were not enough exhibitors/venders to take a second look. Even the Chicago Teachers Union’s welcome booth, staffed by CTU staff members, was oversupplied with the red CTU fanny packs that were being given at Chicago souvenirs to delegates and others at the convention. More than 3,000 delegates were registered for the convention.
But “Festival Hall B” was rocking. Ed McElroy, outgoing AFT President, set the tone for the weekend. The convention’s regular business (dozens of resolutions on major issues, both educational and other) was interrupted regularly by videos and personal thank-yous. Everything was organized to lead up to the three major events of the week: the addresses of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama; and the election of New York teachers’ union president as President of the AFT.
Ed’s McElroy’s strong but affable demeanor controlled almost every aspect of the proceedings. He introduced Chicago Teachers Union President Marilyn Stewart. She was glowing as she basically told delegates that they could “shop till they dropped on Michigan Avenue.” Several delegates mused that Stewart sounded more like a Chamber of Commerce commercial than like a union leader.
Stewart was all smiles as she promoted Fresh Start schools. She failed to mention the hundreds of teachers and support staff fired this year or that the AFT has to bail out the CTU because of the multimillion-dollar deficit they’ve incurred in the last four years.
The CTU was host to the convention and pretended all was well as they gave out cute little fanny packs.
One of the initial things noticed by those who read the pre-convention program was that Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley was not on the official agenda, while Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan was. But it was Daley who made a brief speech to the convention, and Duncan who proved the no-show. As the convention opened, McElroy then gave a rousing and unifying speech to the hundreds of delegates sitting before him in neat rows of chairs, and hundreds who had no chairs who were standing three deep and sitting on the floor. The problem continued whenever the majority of delegates and visitors wanted to be in the hall for one event. This same seating scenario greeted delegates as they arrived on Saturday morning, July 12, to see former Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Hundreds of delegates with nowhere to sit. Before she arrived, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley spoke to the house praising the unprecedented cooperation between Marilyn Stewart, the CTU, and the Mayor’s office in establishing the ‘Fresh Start’ program. Daley noted that he looked forward to her further cooperation. He didn’t mention the numbers of teachers and staff who lost their jobs because of this ‘unprecedented cooperation’.
AFT aired a video which included Fresh Start, and it became clear that the program would be receiving national attention.
Senator Clinton, endorsed by the AFT during primary season, was very well received. She was cordial, funny, and stirring in her commitment to elect Democrats this fall. She praised Barrack Obama and urged the AFT to support the entire ticket. She spent nearly half an hour afterwards greeting delegates and posing for pictures. The conventioneers welcomed her warmly. She stayed for nearly half an hour to meet delegates and have pictures taken with them.
Senator Dick Durbin then spoke briefly, again urging delegates to vote for Barrack Obama in the November election. The endorsement for the presidential election is one of the most anticipated actions during the AFT conventions.
Once the guests had left on Saturday, it was down to the business of the convention. Ed McElroy has an affable manner as chair of the event; he asks support staff for help with some questions with comfortable ease. He allows dissenting voices to be heard knowing his minions will be at the microphones to get back on track. No vote will be taken where the outcome is unknown. For the most part it was business-as-usual, including the predetermined election of Randi Weingarten as president and the rest of the elected officers and the regular dues increase.
There were a few problems during the weekend. A demonstration in support of nurses and other medical workers organizing at Chicago’s Resurrection Hospital scheduled to take place Saturday afternoon didn’t happen. Although the ‘official’ account said that it was cancelled ‘due to lightning’ (on a sunny afternoon). Delegates were severely scolded on Sunday for not attending the rally.
The other problem may be more far reaching; the appearance of Barack Obama was by satellite not in person. This angered many delegates and AFT/CTU staff members. Rumors were spreading though out the convention hall as to why Obama wasn’t going to show up. Delegates knew that he had a fundraising event at one of the convention hotels on Friday night, July 11, and many felt snubbed.
CTU members were livid, as they were the first union to endorse him for Senate and have been staunch supporters. I saw IFT President Ed Geppert and asked him why the candidate wasn’t going to appear at he convention, and he said that his schedule was busy and security was problematic. Since Substance editor George N. Schmidt had observed Barack Obama leaving one of the convention hotels on Friday night (July 11) in a secret service caravan following a fundraising event, Geppert’s explanation was less than convincing.
Obama gave a speech to the convention on Sunday morning, but it was beamed in from elsewhere via satellite. Earlier in the month, he had done the same thing to the larger National Education Association (NEA). On several issues, including merit pay and “choice,” Obama spoke in opposition to AFT positions. Although the AFT endorsed Obama, many delegates were less than enthusiastic when asked if they were going to actively campaign for him. They felt in a word, disrespected.
The convention’s business ended abruptly following a lengthy speech by incoming AFT President Randi Weingarten of New York City on Monday, July 14. A motion was made immediately to refer all outstanding business to the AFT Executive Council, and the convention ended so quickly that many delegates did not realize what had happened. A brief pre-convention misunderstanding between AFT officials and Substance was resolved a few days before the convention. The AFT attempted to deny press credentials to Substance until an international protest, conducted by e-mail and telephone, persuaded the AFT’s press people that Substance was a “legitimate news organization.” Some Substance staff writers were denied press credentials went to the convention as “visitors” (AFT members were entitled to visitors’ privileges). Four Substance staff members (Susan Ohanian, Al Ramirez, George Schmidt, Daniel Schmidt) covered the convention from the press table, while others went to various convention events.
