Sunday, November 04, 2018

CONTRACT APPROVED BY 13 UFT BARGAINING UNITS INCLUDING TEACHERS BUT REJECTED BY NURSES-OCCUPATIONAL/PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

The other day I set the over-under on the contract at 89% yes. The votes are in and it is 87% yes on the contract overall. No truth to the rumour that I am getting a job in Vegas as an oddsmaker.

Please note, however, that all the numbers are not in yet. There are 14 separate bargaining units within the Department of Education's UFT represented staff so we still do not have results broken down for teachers and others but teacher numbers are traditionally lower than the overall percentage. Therefore, I am optimistic that we will have a lower yes percentage for teachers than 87% so maybe Vegas won't be calling.

I am really interested in seeing the results for occupational-physical therapists. I saw a couple at the latest MORE meeting and they seemed ready for a real battle.

UPDATE:
Here is the email sent to the nurses and therapists from UFT President Michael Mulgrew. What do you think of the tone?

The American Arbitration Association tallied the ballots, and the nurses and therapists contract was the only DOE-UFT contract not ratified by the membership.

As a result, all the new contractual benefits, including the pay increases, will not take effect for the therapists, school nurses and supervisors of nurses and therapists covered by this contract.

Of the nearly 90,000 members who cast ballots, 87 percent overall voted "yes."

We respect the decision of the UFT members who voted not to ratify the nurses and therapists contract, and we will walk with you as you navigate the difficult road ahead.

At an Oct. 24 meeting with your chapter's executive committee and OT/PT chapter members, I answered questions about the reprecussions of voting "no" on the contract. If you did not attend that meeting, I trust the executive committee conveyed that information to you.

Please reach out to the OT/PT Chapter executive committee to share your thoughts about where to go from here. I will be meeting with the executive committee to hear what next steps they want to take.

As always, we will be there to support you and fight on your behalf. Thank you for everything you do.

Sincerely,

Michael Mulgrew
UFT President


13 comments:

ed notes online said...

OT turned it down - I have Mulgrew letter on ed notes. https://ednotesonline.blogspot.com/2018/11/uft-contract-vote-prelim-report-otpt.html

James Eterno said...

We posted too as an update Norm.

ed notes online said...

mulgrew will punish them for saying no as a lesson for future. they have no leverage.

Anonymous said...

Good for them, but it’s not good for them.
I hope they win some of their battles.

Anonymous said...

If ATRs had our own chapter it would have been overwhelming NO also.

Anonymous said...

The UFT seems to throw the "auxillary" members under the bus in order for some gains for teachers. I remember when school secretaries lost sabbaticals for a raise for teachers. I sadly, also remember that teachers in that school didn't make a fuss about it. I also remember a teacher close to retirement couldn't wait to vote for the raise, in exchange for 5 extra days of work. Several years earlier, the cops said "no" to the idea of more time for a raise. The auxiliary groups generally benefit by being in a large union, but their priorities are pushed to the side at the end. I just wish teachers would support their co-workers.

Anonymous said...

One idea is to leave the UFT and find another bargaining agent for the small groups.

Anonymous said...

Deals smaller unions get are usually worse. Police officer contracts are better than lieutenant contracts.

Anonymous said...

CSA admin contracts are a lot better than UFT teacher contracts.

Anonymous said...

We all need to opt out and bit tolerate the garbage they give us. Teachers are stupid

Anonymous said...

CSA contract is virtually the same as UFT contract

Anonymous said...

Much better looking out for their members.

Anonymous said...

I remember about 20 years ago a principal I worked for was afraid when I said that I was going to call the union. Somehow, within 10 years, principals didn't care. Could be that CSA got stronger-or at least the city had CSA's back. Or just that the union no longer "fighting" at the school level for the members.