How I Became a Unity Caucus Member

Educator and UFT District 31 Representative Shawn Ramos tells his union story and why he chose to 0

In 2010, I was elected chapter leader of a large, comprehensive high school. With no prior training, my training aides to the job were Metallica’s Ride the Lightning, episodes of the Sopranos, and a paper copy of the “contract.”

In those early days of my union involvement, I was thankful—perhaps even blessed—to have Unity representatives check up on me and provide advice and counsel: the legendary Debra Penny (way before she was UFT Treasurer or served as the Chair of TRS’s Board), and Lillian Kohler (who was a Grievance guru in District 31). These two ladies taught me so much: contract language; what local and state-level political involvement looked like as a union activist; how pension tiers worked; and trained me how to better represent our members when dealing with administrators.

Also during this time, a New Action leader reached out to me (under what turned out to be the false guise of working “…at the UFT office…”), requesting I distribute literature in mailboxes. But when I called this individual for assistance with union-related questions, his response was to inquire if I distributed his literature: he refused to provide much-needed help. So much for someone offering help to chapter leaders in need! And to say he worked “…at the UFT “office…” when he did not—and did this to an inexperienced chapter leader in need of support—is indicative of a lack of ethics.

But Debbie Penny and Lillian Kohler—they always picked up. They always had advice. And if a problem was too challenging, they showed up at the school to strategize. These two District 31 Unity representatives were never too busy for a new chapter leader and, as I became more proficient in the role, they pushed me to learn more—to question how I could provide even better representation to members. (It must have worked; I ran for chapter leader uncontested four times in a row.)

Neither Lillian nor Debbie pushed caucus—they were there helping a chapter leader in need. They asked me about my background (a banker-turned-English teacher), my family, my concerns being a school leader; frankly, they got to know me (and never asked me to distribute caucus literature). All I knew is they represented Unity—the caucus of our legendary founders, on whose titanic shoulders we stand today.

In 2013, while vacationing in Maine with my wife, Debbie called me: she just became the District 31 Borough Representative and wondered if I had a few minutes for her. After all the help this nice woman provided over the last three years, I was honored to discuss. She remembered my banking experience and asked if I was interested in helping people to understand their pensions. Then she asked me if I was interested in joining Unity.

I was honored, elated, and ready to provide the same effort and support to others that Debbie and Lillian had given me in my formative years as a union activist and chapter leader. I immediately joined, and met so many people who shared my passion for the union movement: which for so many Americans is the path to the middle class, the aegis for job security, and the mechanism for a dignified retirement.

The list of Unity folks who have displayed their intelligence, courage, and trustworthiness is far too great a scope for this short piece. But the more folks I met in Unity, the more I learned of the caucus’ history; and the more I saw what Unity has accomplished (hey Tier VI, who do you think is leading this fight right now?), the more I realized how special it was to be a part of this great union.

Now, my role is to be a support to chapter leaders and members—a job I consider sacred. And I hope that members see what Unity has provided to us. I was blessed that Unity was there to support me (instead of using me to spread campaign literature), to nurture my leadership skills, and to teach me that there is never a moment when the fight for equity ever ends.

Please vote in your union elections; and please make sure you really know your candidates. Remember: it’s easy to criticize and say what you want; it’s far more challenging to assist while being criticized, while manifesting real change from one’s words. Unity has manifested our rights and benefits for sixty-five years. What have the other caucuses actually manifested, other than criticism?