My per session retroactive money for work I did from 2009-2011 just came in the mail earlier this week. Contractually, this money was supposed to be paid to us on October 1.
Contract Article 3P1:
Lump Sum Payments Stemming From the 2009-2011 Round of Bargaining
1. Schedule for actives for those continuously employed as of the day of 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%
My 2019 per session lump sum payment was over two months late. I didn't do that many coverages or have much per session so it is not a significant amount of money for me personally. For anyone who did a great deal of per session and was depending on this money to be paid on the date it was contractually obligated to be paid, the UFT was once again ineffective in getting the Department of Education/City of New York to do what they said they would do.
Why does the DOE/NYC get away with not living up to what they agreed to. The answer is simple: There is no accountability for DOE under Mayoral control and there is no accountability at the UFT where elections are decided before they begin. No group in opposition to Michael Mulgrew's Unity Caucus could possibly get to all of the retirees spread out throughout the country and beyond.
Anti-union comments here will say teachers should make a statement by leaving the union and not paying dues. I say that is a dead end that will do nothing but make the union weaker. There is no historical example where a weaker, substantially smaller union has improved working conditions for the rank and file.
For a complete explanation of why dropping out of the union is an anti-worker action, please read our May 15, 2019 piece entitled: NOT PAYING UNION DUES WILL NOT IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS.
UPDATE: Just deposited the per session retro check so now I can make another contribution to Bernie Sanders' campaign. It looks like Labour will lose badly tonight in the UK so Bernie is the great left hope to contain right wing populism as an alternative to neoliberalism.
33 comments:
Ok, and paying, as proven, also will not improve working conditions.
Bottom line, not changing either way. May as well not pay if you will be screwed anyway...
Active employees don't even get the retro on that date it's in paycheck 10/15 and per session in normally first pay check in November. JOKE!!!!
James, you dont seem to understand, despite hearing the neverending complaints, and you keep repeating the same thing. With 100% membership, this is what has been happening for at least 20 years. Even if we agree that not paying may weaken the uft more, it is already a paper tiger. What more proof do you need? We are going around in a circle forever, with things only getting worse, see medical payments, 1% raises, retro, grade fraud, no discipline code, no hardship transfer, open market fraud, and all the other stuff you and others write about, etc...My way at this point, is my only option. They fooled me for long enough.
The UFT could be a really strong union once the sleeping giant that is NYC's teachers wake up. It will happen. I don't know when but it will.
I stopped COPE many years ago nd also stopped union dues. More money in my pocket.
Selfish scab.
When I grieved the delayed lump sum payments per contract, the UFT sat in front of the hearing officer and said nothing. Afterwards, "We pick what we want to focus our attention on."
What is worse, you calling me a selfish scab for not paying for the ship to sink or you contributing when nothing will ever change?
James please do not waste your retro money on Bernie Sanders. He has 0% chance. The cheating DNC stole his chance in 2016, stole it.
He just had a heart attack and his policies will kill us all. Stick to the union and fighting the UFT.
It’s simple. Neither
@SenKamalaHarris
nor Corey Booker spend any time in the ghetto. They’re too busy hobnobbing among DC elite circles. Both should have skipped the HUCKSTER Al Sharpton photo op and gone to a black church or a school choice classroom.
It will change 8:24 just maybe not as fast as we like.
Anon 2323, I voted for Bernie in 2016 and am happy to support him again in 2020. His education and labor plans are very favorable toward us.
I am doing my best to change the union every day. Email, text or call and I will be there as best as I can.
The UFT reminds me of the NY Knicks under Dolan. The Garden sells out so he doesn't have to improve the team. James is spitting in the wind. I'm not in favor of leaving the union but this blog no matter James' objections keeps making a case for leaving by its content by picking at every critical scab of what the UFT doesn't do until they bleed. Thus creating an emotional bridge to make people want to stop paying dues. I mean - does the content of this blog build or tear down the union in terms of outcome? James pleads for the sleeping giant to rise up. This blog probably attracts a core of people opposed to Unity. Where are they rising up? No matter the complaints about salary, there is no way people in the UFT will give up that salary and take action against the leadership. The opposition doesn't even have a breath of life and there are no signs of revival. Individuals taking action don't lead very far. But imagine a mass leaving the UFT and putting the dues saved into building an alternative? But that won't happen because the same reader keeps posting how he left the UFT over and over. By this time he's save thousands of dollars in dues savings.
Boris won
I’m tired of hearing about the UK and their Trump wannabe, Boris. Everything we assume about England , and to a much lesser extent its consortium of subject nations, has been fed to us from the media. Almost all of it is false.
11:12, you said it: "...the same reader keeps posting how he left the UFT over and over." We are not making the case to leave the UFT unless you can organize something better, then I would consider supporting it.
As for the UK, the left parties (Labour, Liberal Democrats, Green, Scottish Nationalists) won the majority of the votes but Boris Johnson easily won election as the right was united and the electoral system is like how we vote for the House of Representatives.
Opposition needs to be united to win in the US too but many on the left care more about ideological purity than winning elections. Maybe I will do a full posting on it.
I made this prediction on Facebook yesterday:
"I hope Corbyn wins but I am not betting the house on it. Too many white, working class, anti-immigrant males who are usually reliable Labour voters who will vote for Boris Johnson to get Brexit done, even though it will take years." New trade agreements need to be negotiated.
Another lesson for the US: You ignore the white working class at your peril.
Mulgrew thanks us—first full year of paid parental leave. Set our goals—Only two unions in city with contract done, headed into tough financial times. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for most important people in union—chapter leaders. Everything we do is to support you. Huh?
All class size grievances are now finished. Huh? the term is almost over?
Misbehaving students is nothing new to teachers. After all, they spend the better part of their lives with kids from all walks of life. And they welcome each and everyone with open hearts and a will to make sure they improve in one way or another every day. There was a time when parents recognized this and showed teachers the respect they deserve for the impossible tasks they take on every day. There was a time when the teacher warning a student to call home would be enough to get them back in line. There was a time when teachers did call home that parents made sure that was the last time their child misbehaved again in school. There was a time when children were raised to respect their elders, especially the ones who care so much about them the way teachers do.
That time has faded. Nowadays, misbehavior and lack of respect has evolved into a much more serious situation.
We tell women (and men) that if someone hits you, screams at you, tells you that they’re going to kill you, tells you their going to bring a gun and shoot you, steals from you, destroys your things, threatens your friends, curses at you, mocks you, makes fun of your physical appearance, GET HELP. RUN AWAY. IT IS NOT OKAY. LEAVE THE ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP. CUT TIES.
YET when a student does any of the above to a teacher, we don’t acknowledge it as a red flag, we give them no consequences, we allow it to continue without any regard to a teacher’s well-being, safety or mental health.
In such toxic situations, we continue to ask teachers to show up with a smile on their face, ignore the issues, reward dangerous and toxic behavior and do as your told.
Teaching is the most toxic profession I know of.
I am so SICK and disgusted of seeing young, fresh, energetic, bubbly, WONDERFUL teachers think that being assaulted at their workplace is OKAY.
I am so SICK and disgusted of seeing experienced, wise, INCREDIBLE seasoned teachers think that being assaulted at their workplace is OKAY.
I love all my students. I love the students with trauma. I love the students with mental illness. I love the difficult students. I love the violent students….
because I’m a teacher and my heart is made of glitter and marshmallows and happiness and rainbows. Loving little people with abandon is what I freaking do.
But sometimes, loving someone looks like setting boundaries. Consequences. Hard conversations. Seeking additional support. Reporting dangerous behavior. Standing your ground. Finding alternative placements.
Apparently she’s not alone in her thoughts. She goes on to urge teachers who are in this situation to put their foot down. That this is not okay, and we can’t keep letting it happen, no matter how hard it is to confront, no matter how many ways we’ve tried to get it to stop. It all starts at home, teachers need support from parents, friends, administration, and society.
Stop worrying if you’re tenured.
Stop saying “they’re just kids”.
Stop being scared of the parents or of administration.
Stop wondering if you should tell someone.
Stop giving up because no one will do anything.
Stop thinking you should be PHYSICALLY assaulted and VERBALLY berated at your job.
Stop thinking that having intense anxiety and depression surrounding your workplace is NORMAL.
It is not okay. This is not what we signed up to do.
You are a wonderful, caring, amazing person who has the biggest heart for wanting to help little people….
but don’t you dare think that it is OKAY to be ABUSED and TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF at your workplace.
We would never tolerate it in any other area of our lives. This is no different.
If you have teacher friends, check on them.
If you’re a parent, please ask your child EVERY DAY what happened at school that day. Please speak up for the well-being of teachers. We are trying so damn hard for your kids. You are more powerful than you realize. You can help protect our teachers. You have the power to call our school systems to something better.
We have GOT to do better.
Teachers, you’re amazing and when I leave the classroom, I will still always have your back for as long as I live. ��
If you’re a teacher who deals with physical or verbal assault in school, this viral Facebook goes to show that you’re not alone. Reach out to your coworkers, your friends, and your family. No one deserves to be treated that way, BY ANYONE, especially a student. We’ve got your back, too.
Wow, sounds like a great career. Uft earning those dues too.
Can you find a set of more unhappy staff members? Again, the discontent is obvious, if you can show me an option other than not paying, please do so. It is clear unity is not doing their job, we are unhappy, while every election is predetermined, as is every contract.
Every time people complain, say they are being abused, schools are out of control, admin screwed me, students disrespected me, cell phones out all day, nowhere to eat lunch, people looking over my shoulder, being pressured to pass kids who either do nothing or dont show up, they can remember they are paying dues for those awful conditions. That is why i dont..
So last Thursday 6000 students and over 240 teachers and staff were terrorized by a bomb threat. The chancellor refused to send student home and had then standing in the cold or concentrated in another potential trap for over 3hours. Two swat teams passed hundreds of students as they went in with assault weapons drawn. The threat was deemed credible by homeland security and others. No one was told anything, or that the threat included a hidden well armed person (or persons). Why weren’t the students sent home? Why hasn’t there been any trauma team to visit the school to provide support?
Perhaps it’s because the chancellor has a vendetta against the specialized schools? This is a failure from the top, and continues to be
Today, I received a Discontinuance Letter. I dont understand how this has happened. Yes, I'm not tenure. I was up for it and instead of an extension I'm getting a discontinued letter. Please help out a fellow colleague. I have always been overall effective. I have done everything that was asked of me. Has anyone been through this and won. I know I can appeal it. Just don't know if it comes out positive in the end. Disheartened teacher here who has always wanted to be a teacher. Any advise would be very helpful. As now, I find myself struggling to even want to go to work tomorrow.
Having a disciplinary hearing next week for verbal abuse.
The allegations are completely fabricated. I have colleagues who witnessed the incident and can attest to it being a complete lie on the parent’s side.
I notified my chapter leader- she will be with me at the meeting.
Is there anything else I should know/do?
I will be calling the union Monday as well. But wanted to get ahead of it and get some more insight from all of you.
How serious is this, how concerned should I be?
My admin is leaving and long story short, has been stoking union animus, harassing employees, and trying to pit teachers against eachother. You could be on the shit list and not even know it. So, it's my turn on the list. I have been documenting harassment and submitting it to uft AND the superintendent. Keep in mind about a month ago, admin stopped communicating with me: verbally and via email. They ignore me when I say gm, and ignore my emails, and now won't even refer to me by name when emailing other teachers to pass the info along to me. (I know) Anyway, there was a f/t, schedule change for a classroom and a sub. Instead of bringing the kids to me (cluster) when I found them, the sub indicated that they were crazy on candy all day and would benefit from being in their home classroom. She didn't even have a schedule regarding the flow of the day from the office. The kids were all sitting and had only been back a few minutes, and it seemed in their best interest so sure. I pushed in and kids were amazing and when they finished their ela we moved into our art project. SO guess who the last 20 mins of the last period of the day comes for an informal obs? My harassing admin. They immediately berate me for changing the schedule w/o permission, and shoot down my response, in front of the kids. Then they demand my LP for the entire week (I know). No prob, I have. So, at this point I don't know if this is an obs, or what. They stay, even though I only have the essentials in materials, and in a completely different environment. It still was an amazing lesson. At the end they demanded to take, and refused to let me give them after the period, my "progress monitoring" Like I said, working with uft on this, but what are my immediate rights? I don't know how this is a valid obs since they didn't provide me with schedule changes, and then can't get me truly authentic feedback since I was not in my cluster environment? They are going to think they got one over on me about this, but it was just a sad display, and I want to say the right things when hauled into their office. Tyia!!!
How sick and tired are you of asking students to take their hoods off their heads? I guess there really is no discipline code.
The hits keep comin
10:42, Please email us at ICEUFT@gmail.com. Teachers have won.
11:08, Please email us at ICEUFT@gmail.com. As a Chapter Leader, I represented members many times on verbal abuse charges. You should not be worried if colleagues were witnesses and will support you.
11:42, File an APPR complaint at UFT.org. You only have 5 school days from date of observation report to file online so don't waste time if you get adverse ratings. You are also welcome to email us at ICEUFT@gmail.com.
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