This excerpt is from a Queens Chronicle article called "Budget Bonanza." That title should tell us something.
The retiree health benefits trust fund will gain an additional $100 million, bringing it to $4.2 billion. The general reserve will receive another $200 million and will now be at $1.2 billion. The capital stabilization reserve will continue at $250 million per year over the next four years. De Blasio said the total reserves of $5.65 billion are the highest in city history.
He also said the city since November has identified an additional $3 billion in savings from sources including employee health insurance, a partial hiring freeze and reduced debt service.
Even with all of that extra money in an $85.2 billion budget, the city still couldn't spare around $1/2 billion to pay UFT members back now the money we essentially loaned to the city interest free that we are getting back in dribs and drabs until 2020. Other city workers received that money from 2008-2010 and it has been in their paychecks ever since that time.
Since the Department of Education wants newer teachers so badly, why didn't the UFT ask for these retroactive payments up front for UFT members who leave the system. Perhaps there could be a severance package of $50,000 for everyone and not just the Absent Teacher Reserves to help the city hire those new teachers the DOE wants so badly. In fact, the city is still swimming in money so why didn't the UFT demand the retro for all of us up front and tell the city it has been proven totally wrong that the payments were budget busters?
No, our big increase for next year is in Teacher's Choice as this article praising the city budget on the UFT website explains.
The boost for Teacher’s Choice was part of a wider investment in public education in the $85.2 billion budget.
“With this budget, the City Council protected all sectors of New York City and invested in our children, our communities and our families,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. “In these trying political times, it is important for people to know that New York City’s elected officials are standing up for all of us.”
Nothing against Teacher's Choice, but seriously how much of that "wider investment in public education" is going to go to the classroom?
Do you feel the "New York City's elected officials are standing up for all of us" as Mulgrew says?
As stated many times, our job is to babysit, often lousy students, get abused, cursed and threatended by all, and take our paycheck and shutup. The 2014 deal, we got shafted at every aspect...
ReplyDeleteWe know the answer. There are several simple things that could have been done to make it a better deal to us lowly teachers. Just like the 2014 deal, why was retro delayed till 2020, why none in 2016, and no interest, and the 8% raises given 2% at a time, why 0 in raises 2011 2012, why such tiny raises 1.5% per year from 2013 till 2018? Any of those things could have been better but none were, and the jackass teachers all voted for it. So here we are again, forced placements, no choice, no list to submit, people like me who live in Staten Island and work in brooklyn stll cant get a change, the hardship travel clause is still ignored, the buyout is garbage...
ReplyDeleteHow can the city continually claim poverty when they can come up 50,000 per ATR? Why not extend this incentive to other teachers in the system? How can Mulgrew say with a straight face the city is broke when they can pay off the lump sum payments right now? This is why there is so much disenfranchised members.
ReplyDeleteYah but they want us not to sue, when we should sue the UFT for having field supervisors to harass us.
DeleteMulgrew, Farina and DeBlasio are laughing at the biggest bunch of fools in NYC - public school teachers.
ReplyDelete1257, yup, been saying it all along. While pension, tda are good, medical is good but worsening, everthing else, including daily routine is nothing but suffering.
ReplyDeleteWhy not get a 2 year contract extension from 2018 to 2020 at 4 plus 4 since we gave up so much in the last one?
ReplyDeleteThe UFT should have given DeBlasio the endorsement with the condition that the retro would be paid in full in October for everyone. The City wants all new teachers so they should also pay everyone who would retire or leave the system all their retro. That could be an incentive for people to leave. It's not fair that people who resign forfeit their retro.
ReplyDeleteThe City is saving a bundle by making us wait until 2020 for all our retro. How many teachers will resign and how many retirees will pass away before all the retro is paid. It's not fair but the UFT let it happen. I guess the City will be broke when it's time for the next contract.
You guys also not understand in the back door deals the executive group gets perks for being loyal.
DeleteTWU set next pattern, expect 5% over 28 months, or roughly 2% per year plus $500 upfront.
ReplyDelete2% a year is the going rate for raises these days. Think Michael Mulgrew beats that? No way and all the teachers will vote for Mulgrew and whatever shit contract he puts in front of us.
ReplyDeleteThats why, 5% over 28 months is about 2.3 per. If we get 5% over 2 years plus 750 bonus, compared to last, would be victory. That is my baseline.
ReplyDeleteBaseline? That is a very high ceiling for Mulgrew.
DeleteAccording to Mulgrew the city is in dire straits (the cup is bare). How did they find money for each and every ATR? The union should have pressured the city to extend this financial incentive to other teachers as well.
ReplyDeleteI know a couple of teachers and other UFT members who want to retire, but they are holding out to 2019. They want the last raise in 2018 and then work a year at that salary for their pension. I don't think the City could come up with a buyout that would make them retire. The City & the DOE are trying to get people to leave - resign, not retire. If you resign then you don't get the retro. If you retire they have to pay you the retro unless the person passes away.
ReplyDeleteJackass teachers get and deserve what they voted for.
ReplyDeleteFor me to resign, need much bigger buyout...
ReplyDeleteI have less than 20 years, I would take a buyout, but do the math, my base is almost 100K per year, plus, immediately after quitting I would miss the next retro payment, and then the 3 biggest ones, plus i would have to pick up my pwn med costs. In reality, I would make the 50k, if i continued working, in 1 term. Would need a much better setup...
ReplyDeleteIt all makes perfect sense once you realize that Mulgrew works for the Mayor, not UFT members.
ReplyDeleteDoesnt matter at this point, thats the offer, just dont take it unless leaving anyway.
ReplyDeleteThank God for 25/55. I will be out of this shit pit in 8 years.
ReplyDelete8 years in this environment? You'd have a better chance of survival doing an 8 year stint in Afghanistan. I give this system 5 years before total collapse. It's happening gradually now, but realize the UFT doesn't have your back.
Delete8 years is long...
ReplyDeleteField supervisors will continue to harass ATRs.
ReplyDeleteSo what? More fear mongering from the UFT to get ATRs to take the buyout? Not happening.
DeleteI have under 20 years, i am an ATR. I do plan on quitting after the retro is paid out. $50K now is not enough to lose the retro and pay and benefits for the next 3.5 years.
ReplyDeleteThe buyout is only good for ATRs that can retire. If the City/DOE is offering 50,000 then there's probably not too many ATRs that can retire. If there was a very high number of ATRs that could retire then the City wouldn't offer a 50,000 buyout because a person that retires still gets their retro but in piecemeal like everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI don't follow your logic. There's a ton of ATRs that can legally retire but like me have young kids, mortgages, and wives that spend money like it grows on trees. The DOE is offering the smallest amount possible that it could get the UFT to go along with. Any lower and even Mulgrew would have said I can't present this and Amy would have been nominated for sycophant of the decade.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is it...Just decline it and keep sucking in the salary, retirement accounts and medical benefits. I am not eligible to retire, so I would lose the retro and everything else. FORGET IT.
ReplyDeleteOf course, none of us are sucking in anything - ATRs contrary to what many believe, work very hard. That's why very few of us are running for retirement at the prospect of being placed. I would much prefer having my one classes and a set routine. The DOE should offer early retirement and the same deal to all teachers that want out.
ReplyDeleteBuyout for all.
ReplyDelete