From the UFT:
The city will not offer an early retirement incentive this year.
We are disappointed to inform you that despite all our efforts, City Hall has refused to offer an early retirement incentive for any DOE employees this year. Under the legislation passed in Albany in April, the city had until May 31 to finalize details of an early retirement incentive program with the UFT and it failed to do so.
With the influx of federal COVID relief funds for education, the city is now focused on hiring more educators, not reducing its workforce. We know this is disappointing and yet another way we feel let down by City Hall this year. They were just not able to offer us an early retirement incentive after the economic picture changed.
We know how hard you work and will always fight hard on your behalf.
89 comments:
Sad! All of you and the uft.
From my point of view it sucks. From the city’s point of view makes the most sense from a fiscal and educational point of view. That’s just the maturity we must bring to this. Otherwise some of u will become even more embittered. This would have been a great gift but it’s not something that I ever counted on.
Surely this pro union blog will have a pro union statement after another victory. Then make a statement about about Medicare being lost.
Why, thanks Unity for fighting so hard on this...
So since their financial picture changed...
How about some interest on the delayed retro?
How about being reimbursed for our days last Spring?
oh and what's the plan for the raises for the next contract? Are we going with another 1%/year averaged over 15 years with some 0%'s thrown in? or like will we actually have raises that reflect the cost of living for a change?
No matter what, I'm sure the increase in our union dues will be more than worth it for all the hard work you do (for the DOE anyway).
Thank you again for working hard for us! You're the best!
Love to unity & Amy
While sad that many members will not be able to reap this benefit it is clear that our Union has little or no negotiating power. Our next indicator of lack of UFT power and influence will be the mayoral election in which Stringer got the kiss of death; the "endorsement."
I hear there's talk of a "UFT for Trump in 2024" to make sure Harris wins the presidential election.
Come on, james. Don't clam up now. Use your teacher voice. Tell us...
Everyone will trash Mulgrew and say how incompetent he is, or evil, for not getting the ERI. Meanwhile, he had no leverage on it at all. With zillions pouring in from DC, it would have been a stupid move. Too bad. It would have helped me, but it didn't make sense.
Well... duh. Why would they get rid of teachers right now? This was a free year anyway.
So what leverage, if any, does Mulgrew still have with these Medicare/Healthcare negotiations? Will the UFT also send out a similar letter on June 30–indicating that it’s now Medicare Advantage for retirees along with changes for in-service members—effective July 1 or September 1?
Vote. Tell your colleagues to vote. Vote him out.
Did he ever have leverage with anything? He loses every time. Keep making excuses.
Vote him out. I understand that it's hard to get the masses to act but that's how we can get him out. Every educator must vote him out. Put him out of misery lol--our misery. Medicare is next. You may not need it now, but you'll need it one day. Vote. Him. Out.
No more givebacks. No more extended hours. No more waiting 10 year to receive payment from the last contract. No more nothing. The gloves have come off. Next contract 5 percent raise with no give backs. Also take the city to arbitration for the time we worked over the Easter vacation in 2020.
Mulgrew always snatches defeat from the jaws of victory - I’m sure it was a done deal until he got involved. Ya think it’s time to vote da bum out?!
Wait, you mean the city has more money for the budget next year and needs more teaching staff??? No way!
Does this mean that DC 37 will not get any early retirement benifits either?
Next year at this time, the city budget gap will be so massive you can drive two trucks through it. Our union may have a lot more leverage with no bailouts coming from DC. However, I'm not betting on it. I am psychologically resolving myself to working my final two years. Although I am bitterly disappointed, I know the end is near in two years, ERI or not. That's the perspective I'm taking. I feel bad for my 50 year old colleagues who are burned out and have to stick it out a lot longer. That being said, this union needs to be busting their ass getting us that spring break pay, and a decent contract next year.
The bald bastard was full of shit. Not surprising. May a million bedbugs bite him.
This was never meant to be a "gift" to workers; it was a sensible way to cut costs by replacing tier 4s with tier 6s, most of whom would never last long enough for a pension anyway.
The apologists here sound about as bad as mulgrew himself.
Not that upset personally that it didn't happen, not sure I would have taken it, but seems inexcusable that they didn't announce this last week. Maybe I'm missing something.
When the federal one infusion of money is spent next year get ready for lay offs. diblasio spent like a lottery winner on this years education budget. He will fade to nothingness in November and the new mayor will inherit a MESS .
Hi Mr. Eterno,
How can I get in contact with you to discuss an important UFT matter?
Mulgrew or successor might be in a position to get eri when money dries up.it looks foolish now to ask.also if we have so many tier 6 and fewer tier 4, our collapse will come.tier 6 not invested in this career.live with mom and pop and don't care cuz they are not in it for the long haul.
Also if money runs dry and they need staff maybe they will incentive us to stay..idk.maybe we can get a good contract now with the money flow.better with di b than another teacher hater.di b is incompetent and dumb but not hateful.ill take him over bloomiechaters haters...but it's a tuff choice cuz the city is ruined.well his heart was in the right place on many issues.we have the outdoor dining.they must fix the crime and homeless issue before its too kate.the squigee men are back.oy...
Likely the non DOE unions, DC37, have no clout when it comes to the ERI. I’m sure they are not getting it either. However, DC37, and the others, should just come out with a statement now and not string their members along until June 30 and on July 1 it’s announced that it’s dead.
You are a fool. That's what you are missing.
You can email me at iceuft@gmail.com.
Too bad. No teaching jobs for all those recent college grads. Crucial earning years in their early twenties lost. Starbucks is going to have their pick of baristas!
Why would any of us think there would be ERI on the table. We cant even get out retro money that was owed to us years ago. Six more for me and Im outta here.
Well, NYC Teachers—‘No Soup For You’!!
11:53
Is your secret worth sharing to others on this blog ?
I need something to think about to get me through my disappointment over the ERI .
HammerToe
LOL. What did you all expect? You are so naive. 1 more year to go for me, and I'm 40 years old. This job is nothing but a death-trap Good luck...Oh, don't worry, I hear arbitration for spring break 2020 is opening in July.
A teacher from my school just said a student who hasn't shown up since early May is still passing because he had a strong early term performance, in Global, a regents class. Wow. And my school managed to add a new person to my roster on June 1. No-shows can still pass. Grade fraud? Nah. Just a high grad rate.
2:19 Here’s something to take your mind off ERI—instead think of ERA. NY Mets pitcher Jacob DeGrom as he has an amazing 0.71 Earned Run Average and is on his way to another Cy Young award. This summer and fall could be fun because the Mets could be in the World Series
Just hope that makes you feel better.
P,S. Please don’t tell me you’re a Yankee fan.
If the city is flush with cash I would expect a big infusion of money for teachers choice.
No less than 275 dollars per teacher. Also I would expect to be paid for the four days that we worked over the Easter vacation in 2020. And the next contract will be for one year increments in time. no more 16 months as is the final year of this contract
Not a Mulgrew fan but cant blame him here. An incentive is to get people to do something they normally might not. So many threaten to quit or retire. No need for ERI from city's perspective. Spring break pay may be his only bargaining chip. Save it for something better and more beneficial.
Hey Mike:
When ERI negotiations were "stalling" (lol), why didn't the UFT mobilize its membership to pressure city hall to accept the offer they claimed to want?
Teachers are PISSED about this. Go check out the posts about it on the Facebook teacher pages. You know why they are pissed? They are pissed because this job has turned to complete shit ever since Bloomberg took over over. What was once a great and decent career is now hell for all. Teachers just want out.
I was told in my school that if a kid had a 56 average for the semester you could round them up to 65 and passing! 😂😂😂 What a joke!
Oh no, teachers are pissed. Remember the 2005 contract? 2014? Ok. And mulgrew got 86% in 2019. Gimme a break.
56? My students don't even log in but we are told it is good enough. 0% attendance. From home. With a $900 school computer.
I CANNOT WAIT to see the ATR's FINALLY teach 15, 20, 25 kids in a class. Whatever it is I don't care. I just can't wait to see the Danielson Framework applied. Like I said years ago, if you want ATR's to retire just place them back in the classroom. Oh man this is going to be entertaining with non stop complaining of begging for the ATR pool to reappear.
I have to round up from 0, 10, 20, 30 to 65.
"We know this is disappointing and yet another way we feel let down by City Hall this year. They were just not able to offer us an early retirement incentive after the economic picture changed."
City Hall has let all NYers down by destroying the city.
Your job, Mulgrew you fn putz, was to represent your members.
What was your concern--lost dues?
So the "economic picture changed" huh--meaning it got better, that there was TOO MUCH $ from the Feds to justify a cost-saving ERI?
This must have been a kind of reverse "cupboards are bare" argument you used when negotiating the previous pathetic contracts and from which we have still not been made whole.
I honestly don't know how you can live with yourself.
You and UFT leadership should be...ashamed of yourselves.
"They just were NOT ABLE..."
So now mulgrew you are an apologist for City Hall? Press Secretary for DeBlasio?
Pathetic stooge.
You who believe mulgrew are the same who insist that white Trump fanatics are refusing the vaccine the most.
7:47: I'd love to be in the classroom full time but permanent placement at a school doesn't guarantee a full program. Also, don't forget we were full time teachers before. I'll be laughing seeing all these teachers that got remote having to return.
Some of the 55 and over teachers just two years from the magic 30 years of service or the magic 25 years of service may be disappointed there is no ERI this year.
Meaningless to everyone else.
(Now, if the ERI was going to allow folks to retire and collect a pension prior to affect 55, we would have heard great enthusiasm for it.)
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb madeoff with your ERI.
@7:40PM - Educators in the ATR pool did not create the ATR pool. Don't be cynical. It's not the fault of those in the ATR pool if they don't receive the support they have needed. Usually the comments that you just wrote are from those that pray to be in the ATR pool. That's called envy.
😂😂😂
😂😂😂
We were instructed that the lowest grade we can give on any assignment, even those not submitted, is a 55. For the report card grade, any average between 55 - 64 is to round up to a 65.
The DOE corruption is so obvious and out of control. If I felt protected by the UFT, I would fight this grade fraud. Yes, we need to vote out Mulgrew and drain the entire UFT swamp. Is there anyone there that is decent?
As long as Mulgrew is in office, there will be an ATR pool. You’ll get a buy out in a year or two after Tweed burns through all the Monopoly money. Unity is starting the retooling of the the Uft for tier 6 only, and I do believe they’re hoping many drop out - especially the folks that read this blog, retirees and vets.
740,
I have been an ATR for a decade and been subjected to a bunch of awful principals. I have interviewed and heard nothing g afterwards.
I’m happy I will be at the same place next year and will do what is asked of me.
You are envious. I’ll make you more envious right now. During the first two years of rotation, I took probably between 30-35 days off both years combined and was charged with maybe five days out of my CAR. So, in essence, I had two years off while you guys were working hard.
Food for thought.
With so many negative comments about this profession its amazing and sad. However this site offers educators a forum to speak but most of the conversation is about how awful this job is and it seems like everyone is here now but looking to escape asap.
The question is why? Why is a good profession that offers good compensation being trashed like the posts on the site represent. Is it really a case of management at the corporate level is just so corrupt and dishonest? Could be. Maybe Bloomberg started it. Mike Bloomberg has been gone from TWEED for just about 10 years now.
I am not sure what can make the educator masses happy any more maybe stringer wants to clear out tweed as the answer. The consensus however is that there are some really awful human beings in our society and the human race is a species that carries much adversarial and mean spirited personalities. I am just sorry we have so many of them around us.
I'll say something positive about teaching to perhaps add a positive light to the justified negative comments. As a PE teacher I really felt this year would be a challenge. How do I make it work every week when kids are remote? How do I keep class fresh when we can't touch the equipment in person? Well because of small class size, less interaction from other teachers and administration, and given the freedom and creativity to design class I have had a great year. I have actually enjoyed these classes and not having to interact with my colleagues. I feel like an independent worker left alone to do what I do best without administration or anyone else breathing down my neck. I also received my most highly effectives that I ever have. My stress level is also way down. I can't complain about the past year.
Good for you! Everyone needs a break once in a while.
Don't do it. Email the media.
8:24,
You just literally proved my entire point. Thank you! Yes you are correct. You've basically done nothing, gotten away with extra time off, no lesson plans, etc etc. Exactly my point and YES, I envy you. But now sir, you will teach 5 classes at some crap school with however many kids in each class. You will finally be responsible and accountable. You will be graded on the Danielson Framework and you will suffer greatly. However, you have indeed gotten over for a decade so it finally caught up. I would have loved to be in your shoes as an ATR with zero responsibility, fake ratings, and no accountability. Well Good Luck in September. You will be in for a shock (but you know this already).
@ 9:17.
One could write a book on the question, but I'd boil it down to a few points.
(Not saying any or none of these things apply to me personally or my school, but looking at the big picture.)
Living in NYC is inherently stressful, compounds all other stressors like work, money, etc.
Cost of living means teacher salary is too low.
Frustration over constant give-backs in contract negotiations.
Overcrowded schools.
Overcrowded classrooms
Underfunded programs.
Poor management in many schools.
PD is mostly BS.
Economic disparities in segregated populations creates extremely difficult teaching and learning conditions in many places.
Etc.
And yet the joy of teaching when everything clicks, and the positive impact you can have on students, is quite rewarding. It is possible to love and hate the job at the same time.
Why are you so disturbed by 8:24 and his/her attitude? Don’t you have more than enough stress within your own existence to worry about them and whether they’ll be miserable in September.
I hope no one is miserable in September personally.
10:09: Where are you getting that this teacher will teach 5 classes. If the school he/she is in now doesn't have a vacancy in that teacher's department, the teacher is still just going to cover classes. The letter to principal also said that ATRs would not take up vacancies. We are not guaranteed full programs. What they want to do is eventually phase out the ATR pool. We will still be ATRs just at a permanent site. I don't understand why nobody gets that.
10:46
Thanks for sorting it out and many of the points you outlined are definitely true. I guess NYC is a cesspool of stress and overpriced merchants screwing you over and the only explanation you get is "hey this is NY". What the heck does that mean?
New York is given a pass from the rest of the country as the mecca of the country...the financial capital of the world....Sinatra sang about new york new york....but the truth is New York is a game for the fools who play the game then realize the game is rigged against you and that is when many leave for the hills
10:09,
I was you at one point in my doe career. I was not happy, spent too much time worrying about who was and was not doing work and getting away with certain things.
This was before I was an ATR. I worked in a bad school with a miserable principal.
Then, I was excessed and after a few years I am in a good spot with a fair principal and it has changed my outlook on the doe.
Before you ridicule an ATR, maybe look at the path they have taken.
Hopefully, in September everyone can be in a spot where they are appreciated and can do a good job.
For me, now knowing where I will be makes me happy.
Finally, I did get away with a lot of stuff as an ATR, but I have less stress and feel better about myself knowing I’m in the same spot next year and will be expected to work.
Be well and I hope peace and happiness finds you all!
Dear Colleagues.
Our administration did not just cross the line giving us all these Developing ratings, they trampled on us. Think of what we went through, think of how long we spend on our computers for over a year now. They came in to observe what we prepared with love and care, and they went out of their way to find faults. We did not get Developing because they were not good lessons, we were downrated because our lessons were not exactly what the administration envisioned. We even got Developing in growing professionally when in the last year we rewrote the book in instruction. The contribution of the administration was to enforce the expectation of the breakout rooms, and we do it when we know that for the most part IT DOES NOT WORK.
It seems to me that the administration is trying to figure out the most surgical and scientific way of structuring a lesson. But we are dealing with children, and they have needs, and we have a relationship with them that you cannot wrap in a protocol. We are asked to experiment, but even when we see that something does not work, we keep on doing it. Yes, if we do what they want, they may leave us alone, but do we believe it is the most effective way to teach?
Why are we selling our profession so cheap?
Please think of the students and refuse to be scared. They went through a pandemic that turned their world upside down. They deserve strong teachers. They deserve to be taught by heroes. We need to be their heroes, not scared and intimidated. The truth needs to be told, and the truth is liberating. We will win because we are saying the truth.
I know that most of us have been victimized, but please understand that I cannot make an argument that adults, most importantly teachers are afraid to sign an anonymous vote. Nobody will take us seriously.
REVOLT AGANIST TYRANT PRINCIPAL UNFOLDING AT BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL
The DOE, the parents, the students, and the Union need to be involved in this conversation, and they will be when we leave them no choice.
So far 70 of our colleagues voted that yes, this description of the work environment in Bryant is true. Please, join them. It is an anonymous vote. It does not honor us that it is anonymous, but it is. Find the courage to say the truth. If you have a problem logging on, let me know.
Also, please join our meeting Wednesday at 4:00 PM.
In unity,
Teachers are stressed because in the nyc doe up is down. Down is up. Truth is a lie. Lies are truth. But these rules only apply on even numbered days that are not full moons. In other words, the bureaucracy is designed to make you crazy. It’s the actual intent. Keep you guessing, on your toes and in line. Stop giving a shit. Once I did that, my stress level decreased rapidly. It’s a job to pay the bills. If you look at it as more than that, you’re adding to your stress level. As for those who suggest contacting the media..... no one cares. NYC is ruled by one party. They know they have the vote locked. They’ve been exposed by the NY Post before. Nothing changes because no matter what they do, nyc residents will vote them in again. They know it. Why don’t nyc teachers know it. Learn to scam the scammers. Finishing up my per session proposal for my principal. It has all the hallmarks of bullshit that nyc doe bureaucrats love. Fingers crossed I’ll get to cash in big time. Be a better player in the game if you’re tired of losing. Golf guy had it right all along.
Chancellor,
I would love a few clarifications...
My school added a new student to my roster on June 1. Huh?
I have "graduating seniors" who have yet to attend a single class this term. Can they pass?
I have assignments from February that still haven't been handed in. Am I allowed to no longer accept them since they are 4 months late?
Will college allow this?
How about an employer?
Why do you insist on setting such low standards?
Are students incapable? Unwilling?
Please enlighten me.
The DOE is proving, once again, to be morally bankrupt. Are you proud?
Keep flaunting a fake graduation rate.
If you make your children attend, why not the other 1.1 million students?
Disgraceful.
Please respond with the grading policy and attendance policy you'd like me to enforce.
How can a student never attend a class and pass?
Do teachers have no value?
The blame is on the teachers who keep passing the kids who don't deserve to pass. If teachers all gave honest grades and didn't cave like they do, the graduation rate would be real. The administrators are the enablers but the teachers are the real criminals.
If I see the situation correctly, the UFT deferred expected raises to help out in the pandemic crisis. Now, that money is there, teachers will be getting those raises. DC-37, on the other hand, made the Mayor's acceptance of the ERI part of their deferral of welfare funds agreement It will be interesting to see what happens on their June 30 deadline. I want to see how Dc-37 will react to an outright breaking of their agreement
If a teacher says no, they will find another. or just give the kid an independent project that anybody can grade. 65. Still tryng to fiugure out how every kid was given a computer for free, an expensive one, only for them to never use it to log into a class, only to pass anyway.
248. Who are these people who care about graduation rates? The stats are out there. Graduates are illiterate. Having the diploma means nothing. “Teachers are the real criminals” Uh huh. That’s a union I want to join. Real solid members you’ve got.
3:09: Yes, I think those teachers are the criminals. They are not being a team when they pass a lot of kids to make them look like good teachers because they have high class passing percentages when their colleagues give honest grades and have low class passing percentages. THis is when the administrator asks well why does Teacher A have so many passing and you don't. My answer was he/she either had good students who cared, inflated grades or was an easy grader. Trust me it probably wasn't the first reason.
Is there any chance of an early retirement buyout next school year 2022-2023? Any idea. Would love to hear an opinion because I'm looking to retire but don't want to be penalized for it.
Mike C
25 year veteran
Any chance on early retirement next school year 2022-2023?
@943 am...it can be done anonymously. This would light a fire under the DOE and Mulgrew. Educator silence is what they expect. If enough Educators wrote of the grade fraud to the same media outlet, the fraud would end.
@12:02 pm...EXCELLENT. Good for you!!!
Have you considered asking the 70 staffers to individually write letters explaining how this harassing behavior is
effecting students? I would send it to ABC, NBC, CNN, CBS and to:
1. Al Sharpton @ media@nationalactionnetwork.net and ph (212) 690-3070. You can tell everyone how this is hurting black and brown students.
Also,
2. Black News Network anchor Marc Lamont Hill @
MLH@MarcLamontHill.com and send to his assistant too @:
assistant@marclamonthill.com and ph # (215) 204-1730. Stress how this negatively affects the quality of education children are receiving. State that you're fearful of retaliation.
3. Ben Chapman of NY Daily News
BenGChapman@gmail.com and ph (646) 509-4201 and
4. Errol Louis @ errol.louis@charter.com
Some of my colleagues and I did something similar years ago and it seemed as if nothing was done. Lo and behold the principal was told to "retire" or be removed. He retired lol. The AP ended up on the front page. I really think he suffered from some form of mental illness. I really applaud your courage and integrity. This is a hard azz battle that causes stress beyond belief but it will come to a resolution. Stay strong. In unity.
@2:48 pm...say it again for the people in the back.
As a guy who passed most kids who give some effort, I don’t see the big deal.
Have you had a 15 year old in sixth grade or a 17 year old in 8th grade? I have and it is awful. It creates a toxic environment and puts others at risk.
A fifteen year old in a class with kids who are between 10 and 11 is scary.
Let them go to HS. The high schools have more resources.
Spoiler alert: Kids who fail don’t care. They like summer school and being held over in middle school.
Promoting kids who are too old allows me to work with the kids of appropriate age.
Spare me the ‘criminal’ debate. It’s reckless keeping over-aged kids behind and it’s unsafe.
@3:06pm...maybe the students are as 12:07 pm put it, "scamming the scammers". A game is being played all around. The real loser is the USA.
All you have to do to pass a class in my school is type your name in a google classroom box daily. 100% attendance even if you dont attend a single class and even if you don't do the work and even if the work is months late or all wrong. That'll teach them.
w4s is wrong. i email the media, uft and chancellor daily, no response.
@7:23pm... i don't think our having different outcomes doesn't mean im wrong. Our goal was to expose our admin and their harassing, retaliatory behavior so that the students and staff wouldn't suffer under their poor leadership. The principal was given an option--retire or removal. The AP was humiliated in the news and then stripped of his title. New admin came in. All of this happened AFTER i left. Ben Chapman was given info along with NAN. Imagine what would happen if ALL school staff did this? Hey it's my suggestion to 12:02 pm. I respect their effort!!!
What school were you in? Perhaps that's a difference.
Do you mean the staff makes the difference? Our entire staff didn't join in the letter writing campaign. Just us suckers who refused to buckle under the pressure of a pair of retaliatory lowlife bullies. We wrote to everyone and went to EOC and had everything documented. We taped conversations. It was horrible. However seeing the monsters get their just dessert was worth it. Sorry to say but it felt good. Glad we did it.
Grading policies can be appealed to the Commissioner of Education.
Here’s a decision where the Commissioner upheld a student’s grade of zero on a Geometry midterm because the student had a cell phone in his possession:
www.counsel.nysed.gov/Decisions/volume53/d16624
msroscrea12@gmail.com, I believe DC37 is in a better bargaining position than the UFT. Mayoral agencies are still under a modified hiring freeze. They are at a 2:1 backfill ratio. It was at 3:1. There is no ramping up of staff like the DOE. DC37 was smart to get the Mayor to support the ERI when they delayed payments to their welfare fund and now they have a shot at getting some sort of ERI. The UFT never had a shot once the money started rolling in.
I remember grading high stakes middle school exams with teachers from the district at the district office (early 2000s). For the whole week we got both breakfast and lunch-catered! But the stress was horrible. People from the district questioned every decision and never seems happy unless the grade was low. I told them I would never do it again.
Post a Comment