Monday, September 28, 2015

MULGREW'S EMAIL TO MEMBERS TROTS OUT THE SAME OLD TIRED LINES

While UFT members are waiting an extra fifteen days to see money that is contractually owed to us on October 1, 2015, our union president is pulling out the oldies but goodies as he explains the delay in the retro payments in his latest email to the members (see below).

First, President Michael Mulgrew pulls former Mayor Bloomberg out of his hat by saying, "Michael Bloomberg set aside no money in the city budget to pay for the two 4% increases for 2009 and 2010 that other city workers received." What President Mulgrew neglects to mention is that while the labor reserve was left empty by our former Mayor, the actual city budget has been in great shape.  In fact, the city recently ended the 2015 fiscal year with a $5.9 billion surplus.  Moving that money over to pay us what we are owed based on pattern bargaining would have been easy.  By yet again bringing up the implication that the city was broke and couldn't afford to pay us the money they owed us from 2009 and 2010 right now, our union President really thinks we are not that bright.

Mulgrew then states: "All active UFT members who worked for the Department of Education between 2009 and 2015 (plus those who retired after June 30, 2014) will receive a lump-sum payment of 12.5%, representing one-eighth of the amount they have accrued between 2009 and 2015. The payment, which will be added to a regularly scheduled paycheck, will be the first of five lump-sum payments between this October and 2020."  We understand that we have to wait until 2017 for the next payout and then the bulk of the money will come in 2018 and then in 2019 and 2020.  Half of the money is scheduled to come after the contract has already expired.  Mulgrew then once again shows he is working more for Mayor Bill de Blasio than for us.

The contract says in Paragraph 1E, "Lump sum payments stemming from the 2009-2011 Round and schedule for actives for those continuously employed as of the day of the payout.
i. 10/1/15 - 12.5%
ii. 10/1/17 - 12.5%
iii. 10/1/18 - 25%
iv. 10/1/19 - 25%
v. 10/1/20 - 25%"

Now I am not a lawyer but it says pretty clearly that the date of the payout is October 1, 2015 so any reasonable interpretation of that language would mean that the money should be deposited in our accounts on October 1, 2015 but that is not how Mulgrew reads this language.

Instead, he tells us, "For active teachers, paraprofessionals and other pedagogues, the money will be part of your Oct.15 check, the first regular paycheck after Oct. 1.  For nurses, therapists and other members who are paid on the H-Bank, the money will be in your Oct.23 check.  If you are on leave this October, you will receive your money on the date of the next scheduled payment that you are back on payroll.  Per session and F-status will be paid on Nov. 2."

The contract doesn't say the money will be paid on the first regular paycheck after October 1 Mr. President.  It says the date of the payout is October 1.  I wonder if the city will accrue interest by holding our money for two more weeks or three more weeks or over a month in the case of per session?

If I was the UFT President, I would be holding the city to the letter of the law and demanding two days pay in fines for every day they are late in paying us our money.  This is a breach of contract. The city would have no qualms about fining us two days pay for every day we are out on strike.

As for employees on leave having to wait until 2017 for any retroactive money, it says in the contract that members are owed money if they are "continuously employed as of the date of the payout."  Why does going on a leave mean that someone is no longer continuously employed?  Those on a leave have not resigned.

The city took us for such a ride with this inadequate contract where the UFT set the pattern of 10% over seven years (extended to 7 years, 1 month by an arbitrator to pay the lump sum retroactive money to retirees who left before July 1, 2014) that other city workers have had to swallow.  (Other city employees received their 2009-11 money in those years.  They aren't waiting until 2020.)  Why can't the city throw the UFT a little bone and pay people who are out on a child care, medical or other unpaid leave now?  How much would it cost?  I would have hoped the UFT would fight for these members, many who are the most in need of the money.

Mulgrew then tells us the calculations could be complicated and then truly insults us by saying we have a piggy bank that we can make our first withdrawal from on October 15. Let me tell you something Mr. President: having the city hold our money until 2020 while the city budget is producing whopping surpluses is crazy.  In addition, the Mulgrew piggy bank pays us 0% interest so inflation eats away at that money.

What is truly baffling is why anyone would be happy with this deal and how Mulgrew and his Unity Caucus can stand for reelection in 2016 based on it.



Dear James,

Our previous mayor tried to make it impossible for the next administration to give educators the raises they deserve. He failed in that mission. This October, you will receive the first lump-sum payment associated with those raises in your paycheck.

Michael Bloomberg set aside no money in the city budget to pay for the two 4 percent increases for 2009 and 2010 that other city workers received. Despite the virtually empty labor reserve that Mayor de Blasio inherited, we figured out a way in the 2014 contract to make our members whole.

All active UFT members who worked for the Department of Education between 2009 and 2015 (plus those who retired after June 30, 2014) will receive a lump-sum payment of 12. 5 percent, representing one-eighth of the amount they have accrued between 2009 and 2015. That payment, which will be added to a regularly scheduled paycheck, will be the first of five lump-sum payments between this October and 2020.

For active teachers, paraprofessionals and other pedagogues, the money will be part of your Oct. 15 check, the first regular paycheck after Oct. 1. For nurses, therapists and other members who are paid on the H-Bank, the money will be in your Oct. 23 check.  If you are on leave this October, you will receive your money on the date of the next scheduled payment that you are back on payroll. Per-session and F-status will be paid on Nov. 2.

You don’t need to have been on the job in 2009 or 2010 to be eligible for this payout. Every UFT member who has been continually employed by the DOE at any time between Nov. 1, 2009, and Oct. 1, 2015 and is active on Oct. 1 will receive a lump-sum payment in October. Teachers who have been on top salary for that entire time will receive a gross payment of between $5,000 and $6,000.

Your TDA will be updated, along with all other payroll contributions and deductions.
While the calculations can be complicated, the truth is simple: You deserve this money.

For every check you have received since late 2009 until today, lump-sum money has accrued representing the difference between what you would have been paid if your paycheck had reflected those two 4 percent increases in 2009–10 and what you were actually paid.

Think of it as a large piggybank. If you have been continually employed, you have been depositing money in this piggybank since Nov. 1, 2009 and will continue to deposit money until the two 4 percent increases are fully phased in in 2018. This October, you’ll make your first withdrawal.

Check the special Contract 2014 section of the UFT website for more information about the pay increases in the contract. If you have questions about your lump-sum payment, we encourage you to speak to a salary rep at your borough office. For issues that cannot be resolved in this way, you can file a Lump Sum Inquiry Form.

Thank you for everything that you do.

Sincerely,

Michael Mulgrew

18 comments:

  1. I guess it sucks a bit that we have to wait a whopping two weeks to get a few pennies owed to us. But look at it this way, we all gotta stick around till 2020 to get all the money owed to us. Are a bunch of people planning on quitting after Oct 15th? I don't think so.

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  2. James do you see the rest of your retro in the future if you retire 0n 9/2016 ?

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  3. 5:31,
    50-75% of teachers now in the system will be gone by 2020. That money is still owed to us. (Please correct me if I'm incorrect, James.) Don't forget the ATR dog and pony shows start this afternoon. If someone brings a violin, there will be a wonderful opportunity to accompany the UFT lamentation singers.

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  4. Although the letter says that those who retired after June 30 will also see the money, it makes no mention of when whatsoever.

    Retirees do not get a "paycheck", or any sort of check, on October 15. The amount of the Oct. 1 pension check does not reflect the retro. In any case, I can't imagine that TRS will be tasked with paying us that money.

    It would be nice if the UFT would make this clear. This is a significant amount of money that we have been owed a long time, and it would be nice to know when we can expect to receive it.

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    Replies
    1. Retirees will be paid their 12.5% lump sum on October 16th

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  5. The money is still owed to you, ATR teacher, if you retire. If you resign or are fired via junk science, too bad for you. That's the way the system is designed. Also, if a piano falls ahead on your head, you'd better hope UFT can work something out for your heirs, because that isn't in the agreement either.

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  6. I think in a world where every rank and file ass kicking is another Mulgarten/Magoo Victory this email should be read as fresh, empowering and filled with the Spirit that made Seattle strike. You're not reading the packaging correctly.

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  7. If you like this deal you don't understand math and know nothing about economics. This egghead Mulgrew is a disaster for our union and it will be evident when the Supreme Court opens the door for members to leave freely on their own. We have $106 extorted each month from our paycheck and then we are insulted.

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  8. James:
    Originally, we were told the retro-pay for teachers of top pay was about $6600(12.5%) this time around. But MULGREW'S EMAIL said something between $5000 and $6000. Am I missing something?

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  9. ANON 8:51 Just remember it is 12.5% of what has accrued to this point. Not 12.5% of the examples of retro payment by 2020 UFT gave. The city is still adding to the final retro 6% this year, 4% next year and 2% the following year. That is why its is less then the example given back then.

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  10. I am an ATR and was on medical leave last school year for 3-1/2 months. I did not get an email from Mulgrew. I have been employed since 2006. Is this a sign of problem with my retro?

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  11. ACTION NEEDED: James, Can you post detailed instructions on how we can grieve this?

    I already visited the Boro office, but was told they are all in a meeting downtown. Do people have to schlep over to the office in person? Not very convenient--not surprising.

    How about someone design a nice flier that people can distribute or place on cars outside their school. I was thinking the image of an emaciated pig might be more appropriate. Some interesting facts to put on the 1/4 page flier might be the excerpt from the MOU and the #'s about the city budge surplus. I would happily distribute something with teeth...and a link to this blog of course.

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  12. Is there anyone out there who knows how to figure out the gross amount, to the penny, of this upcoming check owed to us by New York City? Or are we just supposed to take it on good faith that it is correct? Everyone I have spoken to doesn't have a clue. This is disgraceful that a union would keep its members in the dark like this. It further fuels the idea that this union is in bed with the city.

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  13. Grieve or bring suit.. (now mediation) for delayed payment?

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  14. I have been working with a math teacher on figuring out a simple formula to figure out the pay. Unless you have been on maximum all along, it is not straightforward as you need to know your salary each year and if you have been up moving up the salary steps and longevity lines, it is not easy to figure out the amount of your payout to the penny.

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  15. you can find out how much you've earned between a specific date range at payroll portal, go to payroll register then, total earnings/deductions. It computes your earnings between any two dates fairly quickly and also gives gross and net. I have googled "teacher back pay calculator" and found two blogs that give a formula for figuring out what you've owed (they are not exactly the same). Although they are well intentioned, there's nothing to say that it's the SAME formula the city is using since no information on how to make the computation is coming from the city or the UFT. The most basic formula is

    The amount you made between 11/1/2009 - 5/1/2015 x .04 plus
    The amount you made between 11/1/2010 - 5/1/2015 x .0416

    One of the blogs adds additional interest which I'm not sure I completely understand. However, this formula is essentially correct and you can easily find out you earnings on payroll portal. Hope I've been helpful.

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  16. Why do we have to deal with this ? Why are we constantly under attack? Why do we have a labor union in the first place? Why do we have to have sleepless or restless nights because of Advance or some other nonsense? Why is there never any money for books or paper or materials or dare I say per session? Why do we have to fight for parking passes? Or to get out of the building to go to PD? Why does the UFT post things on their website when it's convient for them? Kinda like the links to the lump sum chart and then inquiry form in this article... That wasn't there before on the union site... The largest school system in the county in the capital of the world and we are just so out of wack it's sad... Why do we have either powerless chapter leaders or fearful to rock the boat chapter leaders? Why do we all hate the job lately and are already wishing for June to come? When are we going to have a real union leadership that handles business ?? Why are we getting nickel and dimed on this contract that most of us didn't vote for? Why are there so many new teachers that know nothing and are being taken advantage of? After 12 long years this teacher is starting to wonder a lot.... There was a reason we all did this career path and every year that reason gets eroded...

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