Keith Johnson of Detroit given top AFT position for betraying Detroit teachers

[Hannah Bell]

DFT President Keith Johnson was voted an AFT vice president at the national AFT conference in Seattle July 11. He joins 42 other AFT vice presidents across the country, including two others from Michigan: David Hecker, AFT Michigan president, and Ruby Newbold, president of the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees..."

Johnson, who could not be elected to anything in DFT as things now stand, was the architect of what may be the worst school worker contract in US history. In that contract which DFT president Johnson and AFT over-boss Randi Weingarten jammed down members' throats under threats of massive layoffs, Johnson sold labor peace to the bosses, plus $500 from each educator's check, big cuts in health benefits, the loss of real tenure, gave up on merit pay, and more as reported in Substance here:

http://www.substancenews.net/articles.php?page=1063§ion=Article

What was speculation during the contract ratification is now reality. Johnson was promised a top AFT spot in exchange for his quisling behavior, betraying the rank and file...Detroit Federation of Teachers was, and is, the last organized group with the power, interest, and capabilities to reverse or delay the death by a thousand cuts that Detroit suffers — and which may lead to a sudden horrific crisis. Johnson's efforts as a satrap for the rich, racist, and believers in magic means the union is far less prepared to be positioned to resist because of his treachery.

There should be a DFT election in the fall. We shall see if new, rising, resisters can connect reason to power--answering the question: Community or barbarism?

http://www.substancenews.net/articles.php?page=1540§ion=Article

[bbgrunt]

1. man, every institution is betraying its very purpose. wtf.

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[Catshrink]

3. The DFT members should defect to the NEA

or do as Chicago did and form a rival association. I wouldn't join a union that sold me out.

Teachers need to think about that when they rejoin in the fall.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Don't ask how I know this but

deflecting to the NEA isn't an option without a significant increase in dues. And with no raises on the horizon, members aren't going to support a large dues increase.

Revolution from within is really their best option.

And I am counting my blessings after hanging with folks from Detroit in Seattle. Nowhere has it as bad as they do.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. The Detroit folks DESPISE him

He was a regular at the mic during the convention. Several times he was greeted with boos.

I'd say he has as much a chance of being re-elected as Dick Cheney has of getting a heart transplant. That would be slim to none.

[maryf]

6. worthy of a kick...

in more ways than one...sorry couldn't rec...