Why I’m Voting Unity

"Leadership is finding the connections in the building where there are forces that want to divide." - Vincent Corlatta, Queens Chapter Leader

Vincent Corlatta is Queens Chapter Leader and Union Activist. This post originally appeared on the

Common Planning Time

substack.

My teaching career started on the subway. I saw an ad for the NYC Teaching Fellows. I thought I should apply. I signed up with my email to learn how to apply. I didn’t. But I received an email saying “deadline extended.” I applied and I was accepted. I left my job of 16 years and went through the process. I was placed at Lehman College and became an NYC Teaching Fellow—Cohort 31!! I went to one hiring fair, liked the vibe of one school, interviewed, and started working in District 12.

I learned very quickly that teaching is challenging. Going to work and school full-time was the hardest thing I have ever done—until my job was teaching and then going through courses. I got through my first year as a teacher, and then my second year came. I thought I had my legs under me, but my second year would prove my toughest yet.

My school was a CSI school, which meant so much more scrutiny. It was very challenging. I felt that I was ruining the school and the education of all my students. All of the district visits and their feedback really hurt morale. I think the thing that hurt the most was that I was really trying my best, and it seemed not good enough at all. Not just not good, but downright terrible. There was a meeting where the whole staff was called trash by a person in the district. It stung me to my core. I needed to learn so much in so little time. So, I reached out to my district rep in the union. I believe in service, I believe in helping my community, and I simply asked, “How can I be more involved?” My district rep responded the next morning and said he loved receiving emails like this.

The pandemic hit. It’s hard to think back on that short time of going remote for months as opposed to two weeks. There was uncertainty if we would keep our jobs. Everyone was looking for answers, and everyone was looking for information. So, I put it upon myself to get those answers and information. I listened to every town hall, I read every article, listened to and scoured any podcast. I loved it. I shared information as much as I could get it. Elections came up, and I ran for delegate. During this time, I was invited to join the Bronx Political Action Committee with the UFT. It was perfect because so many of my and my school's questions had to do with “What comes next?” Having the opportunity to speak with local representatives was huge. I learned so much and fell in love with it.

During these meetings, virtually and in person, I met many people who were involved in the union. I had so many questions, and they were all so nice and answered each one. How does this work? What do you do when this happens?

I went to every meeting, attended every DA. I got to know my district rep more. He would ask me if I had any questions about any of the political reps. I would speak with him so much.

I barely knew anything about caucuses within the UFT. I saw blogs and Facebook posts but didn’t really know anything more than that. I was invited to join Unity Caucus. There were no blood oaths or omertàs or anything.

What I did notice was that it was filled with all the people that helped me. Helped my school. Answered all my questions no matter what time it was. Getting to know them, I was proud to sign up with Unity. Going to meetings, I got to meet so many people that were really involved in all things in the union. I was hooked. This is where I needed to be, and I was lucky enough to be a part of it.

I think my biggest learning was the process. There’s a process to everything. And not just that—so many things rely on what the union negotiates with the city. The city is a huge part of all negotiations. I remember being a part of the 500-member negotiation team and thinking to myself how out of touch the city was. They really didn’t have a clue about day-to-day things that affected students and educators. Not only was I at the table, but I also got to speak on issues that affected my school and saw that they affected many other schools.

It brings me to one point of the Unity Platform:

“Member-Driven Unionism is not merely a cornerstone; it is the bedrock of our discussions. True leadership is about empowering each individual to realize their rights and their worth. It is about galvanizing all members to fight for these rights with unwavering determination. In our union, leadership is not a top-down directive but a shared responsibility that demands every member take an active role in our collective struggle.”

This speaks to me because I am that member who asks a million questions. I am that member who goes and asks people what they think of an idea or what they would do. I love the brainstorm of a collective. It’s inspiring; it makes me a better unionist and union leader in my building. I always have a ton of ideas, but I know leadership is about listening. Leadership is finding the connections in the building where there are forces that want to divide. Everything I know and have learned about union leadership has been from people in union leadership.