Tuesday, October 04, 2005

VOTE NO

WHY YOU MUST VOTE “NO” ON THE PROPOSED CONTRACT

EXTRA TIME
  • TEACHING DAY EXTENDED MONDAY THRU THURSDAY BY 37½ MINUTES

  • TWO LESS DAYS OF SUMMER VACATION (START DATE BEFORE LABOR DAY)

  • ONE LESS HOLIDAY (IF YOU TEACH IN BROOKLYN OR QUEENS)

GRIEVANCE RIGHTS
  • NO RIGHT TO GRIEVE LETTERS TO THE FILE: SUPERVISORS CAN WRITE AN UNFAIR AND INACCURATE LETTER AND IT BECOMES PART OF YOUR PERSONNEL FILE

  • ELIMINATION OF STEP II GRIEVANCES

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
  • LUNCH DUTY

  • BUS DUTY

  • HALL DUTY

  • ADDITIONAL SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION PERIOD

  • POSSIBLE INVOLUNTARY ASSIGNMENT TO POSITION AT PRINCIPAL’S DISCRETION

SENIORITY RIGHTS
  • SENIORITY AND SBO TRANSFERS ELIMINATED

  • EXCESSING RIGHTS WEAKENED

  • ALL TRANSFERS UP TO PRINCIPAL

HARSHER DISCIPLINARY RULES
  • ABSENT/LATE TENURED PEDAGOGUES- DOE CAN FILE A NOTICE FOR ARBITRATION AND ARBITRATORS CAN IMPOSE SUSPENSIONS, FINES, LOSS OF SALARY STEPS

  • IF MEDICAL REASONS ARE GIVEN FOR THE LATENESSES/ABSENCES, RELEASES FOR PERSONAL MEDICAL INFORMATION MUST BE SIGNED OVER TO DOE

  • FULL SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY OF TENURED PEDAGOGUES IF CHARGED UNDER CRIMINAL LAW OR ACCUSED BY SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS OF ANY TYPE OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AGAINST ANY MINOR. APPLIES EVEN FOR SOME VERBAL ABUSE.

CREATION OF LEAD TEACHER
  • CREATES A NEW GROUP OF TEACHERS RECEIVING MERIT PAY- FURTHER WEAKENING THE UNION. JOB POSTING IS CITY-WIDE: PLACEMENT AND TRANSFER CITY-WIDE.

SALARY INCREASES  (NOT FOR EVERYONE, CHECK SALARY SCHEDULE)
  • 0% EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2003

  • 2% EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2003

  • 3.5% EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 2004

  • 5.5% EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 2005

  • 3.25% EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2006

MEDICAL AND DRUG BENEFITS
  • HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES AND CO-PAYS INCORPORATED AS PERMANENT

DO THE MATH: WITH SO MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK TIME
IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO CALL ADDITIONAL PAY A RAISE

REJECT THE CONTRACT
AND TELL YOUR UNION THERE’S MORE THAN MONEY AT STAKE

DON’T GIVE BACK WHAT TOOK YEARS TO ACHIEVE

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

I respectfully disagree.

In the current socio-political climate, this is the best we were going to get. Anyone who thinks otherwise is simply wrong.

Vote YES!

k-bnakedlady said...

interesting--you say you like the contract, but give no email address for people to resond to you.

You are a fool and this contract is a load of garbage

VOTE NO!
VOTE NO!
VOTE NO!

Anonymous said...

In my view, File #4+++++ misses a crucial point. This Memorandum of Agreement is not about what we are getting, but what we are giving up. It's not that we're looking to get more- we simply want to keep what we have! Three cheers for Jeff Kaufman and ICE. As Senator Kennedy once said, "Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change.”

Anonymous said...

The change to Circular 6R - does this mean we would no longer have a prep period?

Anonymous said...

According to this proposed contract the school day can go no later than 3:45. When the 37.5 extra minutes kick in there will not be a lot of time for a faculty or grade conference after school for those schools that begin at 8:30 or later.

How are these small groups supposed to work? This did not work a couple of years ago, so we are going to try it again? Where is the extra staff supposed to come from in order for the ratio of students to teacher to be 10:1?

My understanding so far:
I am going to get a little more money to stay longer in school, teach a sixth period, have more work to bring home, give up three vacation days, watch children eat lunch, get harrassed by the administration, spend less time with my children and get to pay the sitter more.

Do I have this straight?

Sometimes I feel as though I am in the Twilight Zone!

NYC Educator said...

Well, I hadn't really made up my mind up to this point, because I'm quite nostalgic about all the fun I used to have doing lunchroom duty.

But I guess I'll forgo all those pleasures, and vote "no" right along with you, goshdarn it.

Anonymous said...

Do the math? High School and Middle school teachers will increase the number of teaching periods from 25 to 29 (the 25 we currently teach + 4 37.5 minute small group instruction). 4/25 is sixteen percent. So basically, we are increasing our teaching periods by sixteen percent for an approximately 7.38 percent raise. This doesn't include the two extra days of instructional time at the beginning of the school year. To calculate the 7.38 percent I prorated the 11/1/2005 raise for 9 months (afterall the change in teaching time isn't effective until 2/1/2005) and I added the 10/1/2006 raise.

This is NOT a raise. It isn't even fair compensation for our increased teaching time.

Anonymous said...

jeff,

what's the best way for us to school our colleagues about this terrible contract?

regards
eric

Anonymous said...

We have been sold OUT! Everything the union has fought for in the last 3 contracts has been lost. We are not getting a raise, we will be working for the same amount or less if you count the payment for all of the addtional time we would work. Our day will run from 8:30 until 3:40 Tuesday through Thursday and 8:30 - 4:40 on Mondays. The money they talk about is non exsistent!
Vote No!
Vote no!
Vote No!

Jeff Kaufman said...

Eric,

Copy the leaflets and distribute them. Involve your members in meaningful discussion and go over the proposed contract point by point. Compare the Union's spin with the summary supplied here. If you can go to the Marriot in Brooklyn on 10/11 at the DA to demonstrate...that would be great.

Anonymous said...

From Edwize.org
"We won specific language that allocated the two additional days before Labor Day to classroom preparation, thus securing for teachers the time necessary to organize their classroom for the first day of school. As it now stands, many elementary school teachers are working days without pay before the start of school, simply to get their classrooms ready for their students. Now this work will be recognized as part of their paid work."
I thought my last summer paycheck was dated 8/16-8/31. I thought I was getting paid anyway. Now I have to come in? What the fudge is going on?

Anonymous said...

No matter what you all say, this contract will pass. Majority are young teachers who just want their money. They do not understand or care to, the additional ramifications of this contract. Everyone is tired of waiting and don't want to wait another 2 1/2 years to get any money at all. Thats the bottom line. You are fooling yourself if you believe otherwise.

k-bnakedlady said...

that is why we MUST talk to every teacher we know and tell them why this contract is so bad. yeah, the younger teachers might vote anyway--but, they might listen to the teachers with experience--the ones that tell them to VOTE NO!!!!

Anonymous said...

This contract is a complete sell out, even the so called raise is a sham, the DOE owes us that money from no contract last 2and ahalf years. and will it pay the rent? Medical bills? etc.? It is a sham. The fact that the union president weingarten agreed that teachers will receive a $5000 check on Nov. 1st just before the elections for mayor, it shows that Bloomberg and Weingarten are in bed, this is business unionism in its essence. The principals and the AP's will have a ball abusing the basic rights of teachers in the schools, we are going back to the days when we din't have unions, new teachers be aware you are the ones who are going to be exploited and abuse by power hungry administratos , whohave very little knowledge of education. Yes there is hope, don't listen to those who are cynical about our ability to cause change. We can do it if we vote NO< NO to this contract. Be ware of the brain washing that is starting right now by the NYT, UFT sellouts, other intellectual "serious minded", why is the Union leadership waiting untill after the elections to vote for the contract? This very fact should tell much. Vote NO.

Anonymous said...

Vote NO!! Randi sold us out. This is not a fair contract. Pretty soon we will be working 12 months - doesn't anyone see that?

Richard Skibins said...

Yes. I see that. First two days in August. The next sellout will have Weingarten saying "Two days worked out well. Let's make it five." Then the next time two weeks, and so on and so on. The new teachers who were duped by Weingarten would be cursing while working on a 100 degree August day with no air conditioning, a nd a supervisor who places a letter in your file for not wearing long pants and a tie if you're a male, and wearing an outfit which exposes your arms and knees if you are a female.

Jeff, I support you at all of the DA meetings, telling Randi's plants to shut up and let you speak. I hope that you don't mind if I copy your post to hang up in my school, and if I post a link to the ICEUFT blog on my blog.

Anonymous said...

What a sell out? Worse than ever. Nothing left for the union to do but collect our money.

Anonymous said...

Some raise...I thought we were paying UFT dues so the UFT can advocate for us. Am I missing something here?

Ana
School Secretary

Anonymous said...

This is the lousiest contract ever. Why do we have to give time. VOTE NO! The two additional days before labor day are not fully for preparation. Some of the time from those two days will be used for preparation. Every contract will be more and more time. Soon will be working 365 days. Hm how many of us have airconditioning in our classrooms??? This is not a raise. Do the math

Anonymous said...

This contract has more negative than positive for us. We are not shown any respect. We are required to have a masters degree within 5 years, which they do not even pay for, and now we are expected to do lunch duty, hall patrol, etc. We are very educated people. We should not be pulled into doing these duties. We didn't go to school to go watch these kids eat lunch. This was not a course in my masters program. Anyway, we need to fight this.

Vote NO!

Anonymous said...

I used to love to teach. I am know considering going back to the business world. Same hours...Same money and less noise....

Anonymous said...

I am now
sorry for typo
I forgot how to spell since I can't teach spelling.

Nan McNally Wagner said...

Every ten minutes added to the teaching day equates to an added 45 minutes on the road for some of us. The two extra days in June are taken out of the only week I get of "summer Vacation" as I have to work all summer to supplement my measly salary. I am very disgusted, how much more PD could I possibly get? How many more tired hours do I have to spend sintting at tiny desks in tiny wood chairs listening to the same "PD" presenters droning on about stuff we do in the classroom every single day.

Anonymous said...

This proposed contract must be voted down! The contract we are working under is infinitely better than the one Unity is trying to sell us. As others have pointed out, look at what Randi has agreed to give back. Randi has sold us out. She agreed to a deal with the Mayor and Chancellor before bringing the matter to the rank and file. When she stated at the press conference that the proposed contract was a win for teachers, she displayed an arrogance that should serve notice whose interests she really represents... the interests of the union bureaucracy! This capitulation to management which Unity describes as a "fair contract" must be voted down. Even more importantly, Randi and her Unity cronies must be ousted! It's time to take back our union from the bureaucrats. Tell them you're tired of their dues increases. Your salary has not kept up with the dues increases Unity is withholding from your paycheck!

Anonymous said...

This contract is not only about this contract. I'm thinking about what we are going to be told to give up in the next contract in order to get a "raise" that doesn't even match the cost of living increase?
And this is the most divisive situation I've seen as a 17-year UFT member. Nothing hurts a union more than a boss exploiting the differences of people. Except perhaps a union president doing the same thing.

Anonymous said...

I know a teacher who is 3 years from retirement. She works in an extended time school (ex SURR school)in Manhattan. Teachers in her school are already getting paid more for coming in a week early in the summer, already working extended time, and always worked on Bklyn Queens day.What do they have to give up for a raise????? NOTHING!!!!!! Why should we have to give back anything? Does the MTA give us more service when they raise the fares on subways, buses,bridges and tunnels? When the Federal govt raises postage rates, do we get better mail service?? NO. OF COURSE NOT. WHY SHOULD WE GIVE BACK??? WE DESERVE TO BE TREATED FAIRLY. VOTE NO NOW!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I DONT KNOW ANYONE THAT IS GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS CONTRACT. IT WAS VOTED DOWN IN MY SCHOOL. IF IT PASSES WE SHOULD REQUEST TO SEE THE BALLOTS!

Anonymous said...

37.5 minutes a day is an insult. That half minute alone is and embarassment. Shame on them!!!!!!! WHo ever heard of a half minute!!!!!!!!!!!!! The should be embarassed!

Anonymous said...

YEAH THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH THEY HATE US. LOOKING TO SQUEEZE A HALF MINUTE OUT OF US! WHAT A SHAME!! VOTE NO NO NO NO NO!!!
ABUSRD!

Anonymous said...

We are asked to give up what we fought to earn over many years. How about improving working conditions. Old buildings,overcrowded schools and classes, no teacher lounge, teachers bathrooms are despicable. Professionalism? where? Keep on taking classes that cost more than the yearly increase. Pay is not compatible to the cost of living. What are we talking about? Give give give. People are making 6 digit figures without any formal education and teachers who are molding the minds of the future are unimportant and make the bare minimum. Extend the day? How about that? Teachers need a second income. Then they have work from home lesson plans, marking papers etc. This is a bogus contract we don't need it. Vote NOOOOO!

Anonymous said...

I am a 7th grader and my mom is a teacher. I think you should vote no for the contract because it's definitely not fair. At a business job, when you are getting a raise, you don't have to put any more time in, like staying late or giving up a break. If Bloomberg is giving the teachers a contract right before the mayoral election, he is just trying to make us vote for him. Does he think we're stupid????? No, we are not stupid so all UFT members should vote NO for the contract!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, you are all out of your minds.
THIS IS THE BEST WE WILL GET from someone who has little to work with.
I have been in the system for almost 20 years. I remember when I first started and only had one prep a week or maybe two. I HAD SO MUCH TIME TO TEACH!!!! Now it is so little.
I think that if this contratct is ratified, it will continue to segregate the HIGH SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL members from the ELEMENTARY MEMBERS!!!!
UNION SCHMUNION!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Well, you are all out of your minds.
THIS IS THE BEST WE WILL GET from someone who has little to work with.
I have been in the system for almost 20 years. I remember when I first started and only had one prep a week or maybe two. I HAD SO MUCH TIME TO TEACH!!!! Now it is so little.
I think that if this contratct is ratified, it will continue to segregate the HIGH SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL members from the ELEMENTARY MEMBERS!!!!
UNION SCHMUNION!

Anonymous said...

I am not a NYC teacher, having left that district in 1981 to teach in another state, and I sure don't know all the ins and outs of your tentative agreement, but I do have a question.

If you reject this agreement, what are you going to do differently to get a better contract? That seems to me the big question.

What leverage do you have to get a better deal? Will you be able to get more than a handful of non-educators to support you? Will you be able to apply any pressure on the mayor and the chancellor? These are the real questions that need and I don't see any of you asking them.

Anonymous said...

At this point it cant get any worse. We've given up almost everything. Things we have fought so hard to earn. Even if we have nothing to gain it is worth voting down this contract. We are all disgusted as it isl. They want to run the schools like a corporation. They should know better than to bring down morale in the workplace. In corportations where morale is down productivity lags...........

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