(This post originally from March 18, 2012, was written by James Eterno.) No spin from NYSUT or Leo Casey or President Mulgrew on the legislation to stick anyone hired in April or thereafter with a Tier VI pension.  (Tell any paras that haven't joined the TRS to do so immediately.)  This is another crushing defeat for working people that will yield no savings today as current employees and retirees are not impacted. For those yet to be hired, the legislature and governor wiped away virtually all of the pension gains we made over the last thirty years.  A new teacher or new ..read more

ICE met on a zoom and discussed current major trends in the UFT:   Three current elections pose a threat to Unity Caucus absolute control of the UFT (except for the 7 hs EB seats.)   TRS election Ben Morgenroth, who is running against the Unity candidate for one of the 3 TRS pension positions, discussed the election process (complicated), his petition campaign (going very well) and a campaign in the schools, where elections take place on May 8. The attendees endorsed Ben's campaign. There was some surprise at the response from so many schools on the petition returns. Unity has been ..read more

      The role of paraprofessionals in our City's classrooms changes from school to school and even from class to class. But one thing that is constant is that not only is their function and role mandated by law but they play an indispensable part of our students' education every day.       The role of a para is uniquely tied to the role of the classroom teacher and while they have different responsibilities it is abundantly clear that without paraprofessionals the mission of our education system would not be fulfilled.       Paras have lagged beh ..read more

 ...the following resolution was passed unanimously by ICE... Resolution to Continue the Work of James Eterno WHEREAS, the late James Eterno was a dedicated member of the Independent Community of Educators (ICE-UFT), serving as a co-founder, UFT Presidential candidate in 2010, committee member for the 2010 ICE-UFT platform, long-time Chapter Leader, 12-year Executive Board member, and fierce advocate for labor unions; and WHEREAS, James was committed to maintaining a vibrant ICE that meets regularly and contributes its experience in UFT organizing and advocating for a strong, militant, a ..read more

  It is the day of a UFT Delegate Assembly sometime in 2013. James Eterno looks over at me and says “you’re motivating the resolution..” He wrote it. I helped a bit, but it was his idea. It is my first time speaking at the DA. I’m excited and nervous at the same time. A lot of old timers who had been in the union for over twenty years, our union leadership, and all my comrades in opposition are looking on. Mulgrew points to me. Oh no! But James has prepped me and I am ready. One of the earliest memories of my relationship with James Eterno. I started with “Good morning everyone.” Presid ..read more

I first met James Eterno twenty years ago, when he, Ellen Fox and a few others took the courageous decision to leave the New Action Caucus because of their deal with then-UFT president Randi Weingarten. It was an exciting moment and led to the realignment of the UFT opposition. Even though James ended up in ICE and I was in TJC, I always had tremendous respect for him as a stalwart of the opposition movement, and we helped elect James to the executive board.  James’ fight to save Jamaica High School was a model of how to resist neoliberal school reform. He effectively rallied the staff an ..read more

On Monday, February 19, 2024, we gather to honor the memory of James Eterno, a remarkable individual who left an indelible mark on the educational landscape and the hearts of those who knew him. James, a retired educator and passionate union activist, dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of teachers and students. Viewing and Prayer Service Date: Monday, February 19, 2024 Viewing: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM Prayer Service: 7:00 PM Location: Martin A. Gleason Funeral Home, 149-20 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354 Funeral Service and Interment On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, we come to ..read more

I was very sorry to hear about James’ passing.  May he Rest in Peace. I'm a fan of and subscriber to James' ICEUFT Blog.  I only met James twice in person near the front door on the evenings of contentious meetings at Jamaica HS regarding closure. I never knew James when I was a student at Jamaica HS since I graduated in the early 1970s, and he didn't arrive until the mid 1980s.  Prior to the breakup into small schools, he did me a favor and got someone to photograph my graduating class' plaque on the "Summa Cum Laude" board in the first-floor hall, and email it to me. Sinc ..read more

Sad news about the passing of James.  My experience and fellow colleagues organizing Jamaica High School with the leadership of James was invaluable, a model for organizing public education in all the public schools in NYC, away from the union opportunist leaders.  I work with James for almost twenty years. He new how to handle principals and teacher organizing. He had an art for communication.  He was my friend and we worked together during school elections and city wide union elections. They were exciting times. And towards the end of Jamaica High School struggling to save ..read more

I never met James Eterno and that is a great loss for me.   I have only spoken to him several times over the phone.   Despite his support for the Vaccine mandates, he assisted me when the NYC DOE tried to force me to comply with it.  Yes, I am still unvaccinated.  But this is not a forum to discuss that.   I just want to say thank you to a real friend.  There aren't many people who can put disagreements like that off to the side and not have it impact the friendship.   Whenever I had a question about the union, 3020A, or DOE ..read more