Thursday, December 07, 2017

UPDATES AND PREDICTION ON NEXT ROUND OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

In an otherwise rather uneventful Delegate Assembly meeting on Wednesday, the UFT basically revealed to us that the framework for the next contracts for all city unionized workers will probably be hammered out by two groups. One is DC 37 whose contract is up in 2017 and they are in serious talks with the city. The other group is the Municipal Labor Committee, an umbrella group of all public sector unions in the city, who will be negotiating health benefits with the city for the next round of collective bargaining.

The city is in a rush to settle with DC 37 so they won't have to deal with the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association who are heading for talks with a mediator and then probably arbitration. The PBA has a very strong case that police officers in NYC are paid much less than their colleagues in the suburbs. They won't get far in arbitration, however, because the city will settle up with a weak union such as DC 37 or the UFT to set a pattern for raises and then  negotiators for the other unions will be basically stuck with that pattern. Arbitrators will use the pattern too if a union reaches an impasse with the city.

The PBA and other uniform unions usually get up to 1% over the civilian pattern but the pattern sets the framework for all unionized municipal workers as it has done for over forty years.

For those wondering what is on the table, DC 37 and UFT President Michael Mulgrew have pretty much told us what the parameters are. DC 37 has a letter out that is also on their blog that the UFT gave out to the Delegates yesterday. It shows where their negotiations stand. Mulgrew in his report to the DA gave us more information.

We learned from our President that the city is crying poverty (no surprise there) because of the tax reform bill in DC that will lead to budget cuts for NYC. We also found out that the state pattern is about 2% raises per year.

It's interesting how Mulgrew didn't even mention that the stock market is setting record highs and the city is doing very well financially. It was all gloom and doom from the chair.

We also found out from DC 37 that they are seeking a three year contract and that the city wants another $2.4 billion in healthcare savings from the MLC. We saved the city over $3 billion in the last round.

ICE-UFTBLOG predicts that DC 37 will have a contract in the next few months that will set a pattern for city workers of around 2% a year and there will be more healthcare givebacks. To put it another way, we will pay for much of our raise. Our contract will be done on time and it will mirror DC 37. Also, the UFT will soon agree to paid family leave paid for with a slightly smaller raise for all of us that will adhere to the state law  that set a pattern in the private sector.


Some highlights from the DC 37 blog:
Union wants a three-year contract.
The union’s 13 demands include a three-year agreement with a fair wage increase.

“We are looking to improve our standard of living,” David Paskin, DC 37’s director of research and negotiations said, commenting on the union’s overarching concern in these negotiations.

Paskin noted that members feel under a lot of financial pressure because of high rents, rising food and transportation expenses, and skyrocketing drug prices. Members are also anxious about their future because of the nationwide attack on public employee pensions and benefits, Paskin said.
The negotiations committee members met in caucus before the session to discuss the demands and the union’s bargaining strategy. They caucused again after they met with city negotiators to review Linn’s responses and to continue to evaluate the bargaining climate.

Linn said he would respond formally to the demands at the next bargaining session. But he did share his initial take on the demands with the union’s negotiating team, which includes the council’s executive officers and local union presidents.

Health care will be a major topic of discussion as the union aims to protect the benefit while the city seeks a three-year agreement with municipal unions to find $2.4 billion in health-care savings. City unions agreed to a $3.4 billion saving plan linked to the last round of bargaining, which helped fund DC 37’s 2010-17 contract.

Garrido is urging the Municipal Labor Committee — which bargains health care on behalf of all city unions — to hammer out a savings plan with the city. Without an agreement on health-care, negotiations will likely be more complicated because the city would not have a clear picture of its future financial commitments.

Linn expressed concern about the city’s $88 billion obligation for retiree benefits. In response, Garrido said, “Don’t mess with our retirees. They have paid their dues.”

The union’s demands include getting rid of the reduced hiring rate. Other demands include paid family leave; an annuity plan into which the city would contribute $5 a day; funding to reduce pay inequities; a floating holiday; an increase of meal and mileage allowances, and an increase in the city’s welfare fund contribution for each member and retiree.

43 comments:

Harris L. said...

"Surrender R Us."

James Eterno said...

We surrender before we even start the process.

Francesco Portelos said...

They'll find some easy to put veteran teachers on the chopping block. They'll pin paid family leave against ATRs. Just my prediction...

Anonymous said...

With a sawdust-for- brains leader, you can expect sawdust for a raise.

Anonymous said...

What you do not mention is that the police union is demanding 29% over two years. We should all demand the same.

Anonymous said...

So no mention of ATRS? What about fair student funding? What about a better rating system? What about the right to challenge file letters? What about teaching in licensed disciple area? What about drive by observations? What about endless mindless PDS? What about more time for preps? What about real mentoring for new teachers? What about the scarlet letter for those who won their cases?

The list goes on.....

James Eterno said...

Read DC 37 demanding a fair wage increase. That is what we will do. The other unions will basically sell out the PBA.The city loves UFT leadership and DC37. We are so compliant.

James Eterno said...

We can demand everything. What leverage do we have to get anything?

Anonymous said...

Great point James.

We have zero leverage and we have 24 year olds who would work until 10 pm every night if it meant more money

Anonymous said...

James,

Do you think Uft leadership will add extra parent teacher conferences or an even longer work day?

James Eterno said...

I don't think a longer day or more parent conferences are city priorities now but one never knows.

Anonymous said...

Longer day is a great idea. Not like these kids have trouble focusing now as it is. I know my teaching will be amazing if I have to endure more time and stress at work. Hope they go for it. Get rid of summers while we're at it.

Anonymous said...

Fuck a longer day. The UFT hashed out a longer day in exchange for a "raise" in 2005. Working a longer day for more money is not a raise, it is working a longer day for larger pay. As a veteran teacher, I would not be as peeved if we got a smaller raise but nobody better mess with my CAR or reduce my sick days or get rid of Feb break.

Anonymous said...

QUESTION: Can the UFT and DOE really come up with a maternity leave plan where the rank and file DO NOT get to vote on it? I am wondering if the deal includes changes to our CAR, etc, these are things that are in our contract. As such it would be a change to our contract. Thus, any changes would have to be ratified by the rank and file. Thoughts???

Anonymous said...

I would take a minimal raise if the day were 8-220 Monday to Friday. The mondays and tuesdays and extra conferences suck ass.

But the millennials will vote for that

James Eterno said...

The Delegates represent us. The Unity majority will vote for the paid family leave. We will pay for it with part of our raise. Opposition will demand a membership vote on it and we will get voted down by Unity.

What are you willing to give back fora shorter day?

Anonymous said...

Shorter day is fine and all but what really needs to change are the 4 observations/Danielson crap. If anybody from MORE gets on the 300 committee, please, please, make a push for that change!!!

jeff said...

You are all wasting your time, at this point, who cares? It will start at about 2% a year then add in paid parental leave and medical givebacks, it will be 1% per year, maybe a bit more at the end of the deal, with givebacks, and maybe a small signing bonus. Call it 1.5% average raise with givebacks taken away, net almost 0.

Anonymous said...

As mentioned by posters above, the money is not a big issue for some of us. Our working conditions are. If we are getting shitty raises the least the City can do is throw us a bone on working conditions. (Less obsos, shorter day on Mon-Tue)

James Eterno said...

The extended time on Monday and Tuesday amounts to about 7% of our work week. You see the city cutting our time by over 7% without a 7% salary cut? It won't happen.

Let me again explain how the bargaining process works. The city puts out a potential financial package that the weak unions like the UFT and DC37 basically accept.That will set a pattern that all municipal workers are stuck with.

Non financial parts of contracts need to be negotiated in our case with DOE. If the UFT wants something like fewer observations or seniority transfers, it has to give somewhere else to get that benefit. We have zero leverage to make gains without giving somewhere else.

Having People from MORE or even the Pope on the Negotiating Committee won't change these parameters. Well, maybe the Pope could pray for us. That is the best hope for getting what some people here are asking for.

Anonymous said...

If we agree to a shitty raise then why can't we get something that costs the city nothing such as less obos and seniority transfers? If we have no leverage, what is there left to give up?

Anonymous said...

A few thoughts on contract negotiations.

1) If the DOE isn't willing to offer PD that counts towards CTLE requirements then the UFT should demand that those 80 minutes are eliminated from our workday so that teachers/paras can fulfill their CTLE requirements on their own time. It's a conflict of interest for UFT to be in the business of providing CTLE hours at a profit when they should be working to have this burden on members' time and wallet lifted.

2) Observations. The Danielson observations and the way they are use (misused) by administrators is destroying our profession. At way too many schools, administrators use these observations to keep all teachers off balance so that nobody feels confident enough to stand up for other issues. We need to throw out Danielson and APPR and either go back to the S/U system or find another system that works for teachers.

3) Parental Leave. If UFT/Unity cares so much about our new mothers then why are those on maternity leave denied the retroactive payments that THEY EARNED and could use while they are home with their newborns? The contract also denies these retroactive payments for members on sick leave, include those suffering from terminal illnesses which I find outrageous. Even when members return to active duty, they are still behind on the retro payments. By agreeing to the terms of the contract, UFT Unity showed that they don't care about our young mothers and they don't care about our ill and dying members. It's absolutely disgraceful and before any maternity leave is discussed this wrong needs to be corrected.


Mary Ahern

Francesco Portelos said...

It would kill us, the members, to raise many other issues that also hurt our profession.

Class size. There should be no more than 20 students per class in K-3 grades; 23 in 4th through 8th grades and 25 in high school classes in order to comply with the Contract for Excellence law and the original class size reduction plan submitted by DOE and approved by the state in 2007.

Grievance procedures. administrators should not be able to attend step two hearings over the phone. They want to volley the contract? They should haul their ass over to the city as well . Just like the member. The more difficult you make it for them, the less likely they will make the violations and a nice step one.

Investigative procedures. you can bring a lawyer to an SCI interview , but not in OSI or disciplinary meeting. However all three can be used against you for discipline and termination, so why not be able to bring an attorney if you would like? Cadet rights.

Also, no students' written statement can be used against a UFT members unless a parent or guardian was present or approved the investigation if they are under 18. How many times are students used as pawns against their teachers?

That's just for starters. Members have been adding more and discussing the ones you have mentioned above at www.uftcontract.com.

The members should frame the conversation, not the small percentage that's in leadership.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand why some are saying we have no leverage. How about we all report to our buildings at the exact time we are required to report? What if we all leave the building during our lunch and actually use our prep periods for ... you know... preparing and grading instead of seeing students? How about we all work during our contractual work hours and not a minute more? This included taking work home. What if we all walked out of our buildings at the exact second of the end of our contractual work day? How about no one work per session? PM school? - sorry, no can do. It seems to me we do have leverage. Am I missing something?

James Eterno said...

12:54, If we did work to rule or didn't do anything that we normally do it would be considered a job action. We could face the 2 days pay for 1 day on strike penalties that the Taylor Law provides for. The DOE would file PERB charges in about half a second if we did work to rule. It is a great idea but do you think the UFT would risk it? I very much doubt it.

Francesco, Why would the DOE give on any of these when they know they can just say no and nothing happens? I agree on the CFE law and class size numbers but the Union hasn't tried to enforce it in ten years. What makes you think they will do it now? There's no pressure on them from anywhere.

Mary, You make some excellent points. I very much doubt Mulgrew and Unity are listening even though some of them are probably reading.

Nothing will change until there is a massive teacher rebellion against Unity.I'm happy to do what I can.

Anonymous said...

I would take double zeros for no more late days on Monday and Tuesday, and 2 observations. Hopefully, I will retire before the stress kills me.

James Eterno said...

You would need a 7% cut for the end of marathon Monday's and Tuesdays. The only hope to change any of that is if Farina retires and deBlasio appoints a chancellor who is reasonable. Possible, but don't hold your breath waitng.

Anonymous said...

HEY UFT!!!!!

Just like teachers in Long Island I want......


TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

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TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR
HEY UFT!!!!!

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

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TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR
HEY UFT!!!!!

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

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TWO NOT FOUR
HEY UFT!!!!!

TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

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HEY UFT!!!!!

TWO NOT FOUR

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TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

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TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR

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TWO NOT FOUR

TWO NOT FOUR
HEY UFT!!!!!

TWO NOT FOUR

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TWO NOT FOUR

Anonymous said...

I'll take Long Island salaries while we're talking about them.

Anonymous said...

Look how,pathetic we and this job are...Willing to take years of 0 raise just to get what we should already have.

James Eterno said...

Sadly, 8:28 has a strong point.

Anonymous said...

And now read the next article on paperwork, Mulgrew says he got a reduction after every single contract...

JR said...

We are a bunch of fucking jokes, yeah, 100k and medical is ok, but the abuse is neverending and getting worse. And i cant wait to quit, wont make it to retirement, how sad.

Anonymous said...

Once again, I don't care about a big raise. I just want sane working conditions. S/U would be the biggest relief ever in this stressful and shitty job.

Anonymous said...

Honestly,

I feel mulgrew and Arundell and all the other Uft unity apologists read every word of these blogs.

They laugh at us and wish ATRs would go away.

So, Mikey mulgrew, most teachers will sacrifice money. Get rid of the Monday and tuesdays for a low raise. Even zerobpercent I’m fine with.

Get 2 observations.

With salary steps I’m fine with no raises.

Anonymous said...

I am not fine with no RAISES.

caprice240k said...

And they'll probably get 2.9%

Anonymous said...

Is it true that a New Action High School rep has not been attending executive board meetings and will be replaced with an exec board election? When I heard I thought for sure that Unity would now take another seat, but heard this rumor that Unity will not contest it and just give it to MORE New Action? What are the facts here?

Anonymous said...

I am not fine with zero raises, particularly when the economy is booming.

Anonymous said...

Anyone fine with zero % raises needs their heads examined. The cost of living is approx. 3.5%, why oh why should we always settle for the least amount. PBA 29% wow, no give backs, and so much more. Get rid of the Mon. and Tues. extended day, its a total waste of time. No more work at home, match what we put into our TDA's and give us more paid sick leave. Working in and with sick children requires more sick time not less. Advocate for a four day work week, let teachers teach and have administrators who worked at least 10 years in a classroom and then supervised a program for at least 5 years. Get rid of mandatory 55 for any student who shows up to school. BAN cell phones enforce the rules in the school disciplinary booklet.
Oh my I could go on and on.

James Eterno said...

My question is what leverage do we have to get what you are looking for?

Anonymous said...

We have no leverage. 2/3rds is teachers are under 35. They will take more money over anything(even if it’s not a lot)

FYI. I’m 40 and can’t relate to the millennial teachers. They hate the union and feel admin is good

Anonymous said...

I thought millennials were all Bernie Sanders fans.