Monday, June 07, 2021

PLENTY OF EXEC BD NEWS TONIGHT: RETRO COMING 7/22, ERI EXCUSES, MAYOR'S RACE, SPRING BREAK ARBITRATION, BRYANT HS, TIME SCHEDULE

 Tonight's Executive Board report from Arthur Goldstein is a must-read. There is plenty of news that Arthur reported on. We'll try to highlight what we think is important and give some commentary.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew--ERI--Problem was city wanted to increase rather than decrease head count--lots of federal money. Wasn't about titles anymore. They just didn't want to cooperate, and do not want people to retire. They can't fill the need in many titles. It was us, DC37 and DSA. Once federal money came in, city changed position. 

The UFT knew the federal money was on the way in January when Ossoff and Warnock gave the Democrats control of the Senate. The stimulus was passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in early March. Why push for the ERI in Albany in April and waste political capital if theUFT knew de Blasio was no longer behind it? 

We are expecting teacher evaluation to be waived again. Not passed yet. Thanks to everyone for staying on top of issues. 

So after everyone has useless observations, waive the evaluation. Why didn't the UFT-NYSUT spend some political capital to get this done much earlier?

Next year--not sure about masks for next year.

Politics--very stormy out there--Thanks to people who are doing phone banks. We have challenges on mayoral side. No one knows what to do with ranked choice voting. We have some bad people trying to stop us. 

I'll have more on the mayor's race when I have time. We should be ranking more than one.

Retro--Agreement said we would get it on second paycheck in July. City has agreed to do it on separate check July 22nd. People have been asking for that. Worked for both them and us. If you want to change TDA you have to move quickly. 

Debra Penny--Email will come tomorrow. You can change back from July 1 to 15th. Will be email tomorrow. 

Retirees and per session will probably be late as usual but at least that is the end to this 12 year fleecing of UFTers.

What will happen now is if ATR has a positive rating, they will be placed permanently. Has cost a lot of money. Principals were reluctant to hire senior teachers.

Mike Sill--Has been a long fight. They tried to make people miserable via weekly rotation and senior teachers had it rough. Now they will be placed permanently and their positions will be funded. Amazing how principals' issues disappear when money comes with them. Our enemies won't be able to use existence of this pool against us anymore.

Mulgrew--This is common sense. Talking with DOE, trying to open up everything officially. Governor said today that all COVID safety procedures are gone when everything hits 70%. We have an agreement that when this ends, grievances and arbitrations are open. First will be spring break. 

No apology from the UFT for agreeing to the ATR pool in the first place in 2005.

Thanks to Mike Schirtzer for bringing up Bryant and the time schedule:

Bad principals--Keep filing things, stay on top of them and shine a late. Less than normal craziness this year, but always bad apples. 

Bryant--lots of turnover, terrible ratings, what can we do?

We will keep pushing issue, and at end we usually get result. Shame it can't be automatic. Principals say we make things up. Bryant on radar.

Single session--Will we go back?

This was about getting parent teacher conference remote, and we also got pre-approved SBOs. You don't have to fight at school level. Elementary can have 30 minutes in morning for planning. We can sunset it on yearly basis. We are filing impact bargaining claim against principals who insist on digital classrooms for next year. Sent letter today.

No, Mr. Mulgrew, you do still have to fight it at the school level because the default schedule is marathon Mondays and Tuesdays so if a principal doesn't want the SBO, it's dead unless I am misreading the Contract. If so, we will gladly update.

Another issue was June 26th being a full day. The UFT is working on getting time to pack up rooms.

82 comments:

Anonymous said...

So, the city does not want teachers to retire? Does that mean that the DOE will stop targeting veteran teachers? Evaluations getting waived? Hmmm, does this also mean that targeting of veteran teachers is coming to a close? Ohhh, so ATRs will not impact a principals budget? Does this mean that maybe principals will want to hire veteran teachers who actually have vast experience in the classroom? You want to know what this means? I WILL TELL YA: It means that for next year, due to the federal funds, principals can once again respect and desire to have veteran teachers in their buildings due to the no cost policy. However, it also means that veteran teachers will be be targeted yet again once the federal money dries up in the summer of 2022.

Anonymous said...

"We are expecting teacher evaluation to be waived again. Not passed yet. Thanks to everyone for staying on top of issues."

So why did they bother with observations and waste everybody's time with having a MOSL committee meeting?

Anonymous said...

Another nice, pro union post.

Anonymous said...

All I can say is Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb.

Here they are posing together:

https://imgc.allpostersimages.com/img/print/u-g-F3MM1T0.jpg?w=900&h=900&p=0

Anonymous said...

James gives his opinions, but to an above comment, James is pro-union.

I am, too, but I don’t always agree with the UFT and with James.

However, people like James and Chaz are where I have been receiving better and more accurate information than from my reps in the building. I will never forget the late, great Chaz and James for putting in time and energy to get us reliable information.

I feel weingarten should apologize for creating the ATR pool(she won’t). So, I can’t blame mulgrew for the creation, but he goes along with nonsense.

I will not blame the UFT if evaluations are waived. I called this months ago. I am pro-union, but there are a decent amount of teachers who milk the system and get away with really being slackers and if they knew evaluations were waived, they would be showing movies from February until June and not doing much work at all(heck, I was that way in my 20’s when I had a borderline drinking problem lol).

The UFT failed us with ERI, extended day, Monday PD and lack of grievances this year as well as not going after dwarka.

Educat said...

Sorry this is off topic but has anyone noticed that the group b l m offers to solve one of society's great problems (and just coincidentally creates demand for its services) by espousing that tripe known as CRT, which in turn just creates more racists?? Brilliant!

James Eterno said...

Educat, I printed it but we aren't solving that problem here so please get back on topic. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Regarding the ERI, I know that DC37 is still negotiating as a friend shared an email from Henry Garrido. I am curious how this plays out as the non DOE agencies are under a modified hiring freeze for the foreseeable future. DeBlasio is spending the stimulus money at an incredible rate so I think the UFT faces layoffs next year and once again the ERI will come into play.

Anonymous said...

1013 pm made my point. He comes here to get his union news. You guys are sad. So is this job.

Anonymous said...

James, stop being a cuck. People would respect you more.

Bronx ATR said...

The UFT should at least try to make an appearance of competence; it is June after all, ironically the month the two faced Roman god of January, Janus rules supreme in the UFT/NYCDOE.

Anonymous said...

7:42 you couldnt have said it any better.

James Eterno said...

Cuck is a brand new insult. Thank you for expanding my political vocabulary.

The comment was way off topic but I printed it. I want to ask you a question Mr or Ms. "James is a cuck."

Would you rather I make up my views to please you or tell you what I honestly believe?

Please no right wing rant. Just an either or answer to my question.

Anonymous said...

Cuck you 10:12!

Anonymous said...

There is also the important issue of a privatization of Medicare to Medicare Advantage for RTC members and potential for overall Healthcare changes for in service members. These negotiations are being done behind closed doors between the city and MLC. Mulgrew has gone on record that he promises better healthcare benefits.—no matter what. How is that possible? So once again, all eyes are on you—Mr. Mulgrew.
In the meantime, assuming there was an ERI this year or next year—all future UFT retirees should get ready for an almost certain more expensive out of pocket costs—especially when you are eligible for Medicare.

Anonymous said...

I think people still come to this blog just to laugh at the embarrassment the doe and uft are. These are the smartest people in NYC? Gimme a break.

Anonymous said...

If you wanted to convince people to never become a teacher and how bad this profession is, this is the place to send them.

TJL said...

If anyone is a beta cuck it's the Unity CL or delegate who signs the blood oath and doesn't even get the free trip or the prawn sandwich.

Anonymous said...

I thought people are supposed to be teaching now. Anyway, NYC is on fire right now. The uft is a complete failure. Teachers hate the job. Students don't attend school whether it is in person or on a computer. Shootings, assaults, attacks are through the roof. And your fix, oh wise one, is...?

Anonymous said...

Eri gone. Medicare gone. 1% raises. Retro held for 12 years. Fake election. Fake grades. Fake attendance. Nice work everybody. Dues well spent.

Dave said...

Problem #1-Some of you think you are actually teachers. You aren't. You are getting paid so "students" have somewhere to go everyday. Like a babysitter. School must exist even though it serves no purpose. It is documented that in most schools, students are learning nothing. School X has amazing number but the average SAT score is 880. Yeah, ok, seems legit.

Anonymous said...

You mean the open market transfer is a fraud too?

Anonymous said...

I know this is from a previous topic but... What do you think will happen to excessed teachers in the future? Will they be placed in schools will they bump lower seniority teachers, what about during possible layoffs?? Are ATRS a thing of the past or a temporary fix?

Anonymous said...

11:42, man you're really missing out. I've never made so much money in my life between the extra per session and coverages each day. Holy Cow! My A.P.'s would love to make my salary. This has been like the best year. What planet are you on?

Anonymous said...

407 pm is right. Permanent 6th class for me. $7k per term extra while sitting in my bedroom.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Milquetoast,

New numbers from the National Association of Home Builders shows that since mid-April of 2020, lumber prices have risen by 130%, and those increased costs have increased the cost of single-family homes more than $16,000 on average.

We can not afford to buy a home here in the NY metropolitan area. We can barely make ends meet,

What do you not understand or appreciate about the hardship that your incompetence has
caused all of us. Why do you despise the UFT membership and treat us like fools?

Anonymous said...

452pm,

Ask James. He should answer that. He seems to believe the uft is worth something.

Anonymous said...

Hot off the press. Cuomo signed legislation to waive appr this year for educators. Glad we went thru all the bullshit for nothing.

Anonymous said...

Same story over and over. How is this going to change? James refuses give a legitimate answer. But now that he got Shelley to leave and got the right wingers out, he is happy.

James Eterno said...

You folks are still here. Page views still doing well.

Anonymous said...

Moron, his answer is the same as it has always been. Teachers unit and vote out Unity! James is giving the ideas but the teachers have to mobilize the ideas. If the teachers do nothing to act, how is that James’s fault? What are you not getting?

Anonymous said...

And thats all you care about. Sad to think you spent this much time trying to change the union and its only gotten worse. Sounds like a failure. You ran in 2010 and your opponent got 91%. And you didn't even get the other 9%. Thats not the point. So what's next? Vote for Lydia next year. Give me a piece by piece set-up of how change is coming.
I come here to laugh at the complainers and the people who think they're teachers.

James Eterno said...

It was a two person race in 2010, 5:32. I got all of the opposition votes and would have done better if New Action was truly in opposition and not endorsing Mulgrew.

I see you don't mention 2016 when New Action was again in full opposition and I won a majority of the HS teacher vote as HSVP candidate. Under previous rules, I win. I was elected for a decade by high school teachers to UFT Executive Board. I don't need to restate my record every time the anonymous attackers who are probably the same person attack me.

Union needs change and I keep up the fight. Besides making anti-union anonymous comments, what have you done, 5:32?

Anonymous said...

A lot of people here seem to be unable to separate the logistical nature of a union, from the leadership in charge. The union is a tool. The problem we face is those operating this tool; the leadership. A union, in and of itself, is not the problem. And, certainly, which should be obvious, James is not the problem.

I'm starting to wonder if these trolls are Unity members.. I'd imagine not all of them, but maybe some.

Anonymous said...

532.. apparently you come here to complain. anyway, how did your run for leadership go, and all of your attempts at change?

Marc said...

You are missing the point, I think. We agree, unity sucks. Now what? I'd rather you just say that it can't change rather than telling us to vote in an unwinnable election in 2022 and making excuses and telling people to hope and pray for change.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't waste my breathe. The election is rigged.

John said...

Me: The UFT and NYCDOE are both involved in historic failure.

James: I get a lot of page views and I hope for change.

Me: But nothing ever changes.

James: Well, I ran for president, what did you do?

Me: So we both did nothing and changed nothing. Why are you responding with a question?

waitingforsupport said...

I believe they are educators. I'm not surprised one bit that they don't understand the difference between a union and union leadership. It wouldn't be the only time they have been clueless.

Anonymous said...

With the wrong leadership, the Union is a shipwreck. Accept the loss and and don't try to search for buried treasure. You might drown. Align your moral compass with reality.

James Eterno said...

Repeat comment from Sunday in case you missed it, John

The many UFTers I have had the honor of helping and supporting just might disagree with you 8:40. If I am just complaining, why do I get calls, texts and/or emails just about every day asking for help.

On a macro level, I am very proud to have sponsored or cosponsored motions that led to Passport Funds, decoupling corporal punishment and verbal abuse into separate regulations, getting the No Rating/NA rating into the contract and Board policy as teachers in the past were automatically rated unsatisfactory when they had any kind of action against them pending. I also introduced a DA motion to get the UFT to join with parents in a State Education Commissioner's Complaint to empower SLTs as not just advisory but policymaking. We won that. After many years of screaming, I wrote the resolution in 2007 that finally got the UFT to reverse its support for closing schools and now the UFT opposes school closings. Remember the lawsuit to keep schools open. Jamaica was a key part of that case. We won and at least delayed our demise. I think I had a role in that case. The DOE even in Bloomberg's last year stopped closing schools en masse.

Jamaica also was the original school that pushed for a standard workday with the same time schedule each day in 2002. I also cosponsored a resolution where I ended up as the co-chair on a UFT Committee.

That is a pretty strong record for a dissident who spent ten years on the UFT Executive Board without ever having a Unity endorsement. Thank you high school teachers.

Ask anyone if I was an effective Chapter Leader,Executive Board member and Delegate but especially Chapter Leader. Did I mention I helped lead the fight against abusive principals?

This blog is in part based on my chapter newsletters. Information and opinion all in one. I do more than sit back and complain. I stepped forward and have done and continue to do my part.

David Suker said...

I just sent this email to the chapter leader at my school. It seems the administration has developed a teaching schedule for the social studies department without first sending out a preference sheet to all the staff, or just the ATRs, I’m not sure. Can someone clarify where we stand in course placement given what we know now about the new status of ATRs.

I’ve never been permanently placed in a regular high school because before becoming an ATR I taught GED preparation and we didn’t do things like this.

Hello Mr. “CL,”

Today the social studies department had a meeting with the administration and we were asked what courses we felt comfortable teaching next year. It seemed to us, the ATRs, that a schedule had already been devised for next year. It is my understanding that at least two of the ATRs will be placed permanently at Pelham Lab and I’m wondering what role seniority will play in course selection for a teacher’s schedule. I haven’t been in a regular high school and I’m not exactly sure how these things work, but it’s my understanding that a preference sheet is circulated before a schedule for the next year is devised and seniority is taken into account when devising it.

Can you please clarify these issues before scheduling is made more permanent.

Thank you.

David Suker


Anonymous said...

From Georgia in the previous thread.
"Many teachers just pass them because they do not want to deal with the pressure."

Anonymous said...

Ok. Same question so you can tell us to vote them out, which is impossible. After mulgrew wins again, by a landslide, then what? You all keep ignoring the question.

Anonymous said...

Leadership that is impossible to change.

Anonymous said...

Before you strain yourself patting yourself on the back...Anything on the 2 worst contracts in union history, the loss of tda, grade fraud, ignored discipline code, I can go on, or were those irrelevant?

Anonymous said...

Hey John you fucken moron, LOL dont even think you can compare yourself to a MAN that leads by action and does more than our union like Eterno does.. no wonder your so fucking confused about the question LOL.... try being part of the solution instead of the problem...matter fact stay in the mindset you are now..fucken loser like yourself seems to enjoy posting negativity on this blog..cause it's all your good for LOL ...THANKS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT LOL

David Suker said...

It turns out that preference sheets were sent by email on May 14 before we learned of the current news.

The CL said “ I don’t believe you receive preference automatically by seniority but if you don’t get your chosen subject for two or three years in a row you can file a grievance. I’ll do some more research into this to find out for sure.”

Is this true?

Thanks.

David

Anonymous said...

https://twitter.com/NYBATs/status/1402006068637704195?s=19


Cuomo signed this morning

waitingforsupport said...

If all teachers 1. vote and 2. Vote him out. You will get new leadership.

waitingforsupport said...

Then what? The SOS

Anonymous said...

No, you ignored the question. Why haven't the problems been solved? And why did mulgrew get 86% last election. And what happens when mulgrew wins again? Will you tell me to vote in 2025?

Anonymous said...

https://www.nysenate.gov//legislation/bills/2021/S5576

waitingforsupport said...

@ David...it may have been before WE learned of the current news however didnt the admin know of it? They should have done the right thing and sent you a preference sheet. A 2-3 year long wait sure seems like a long time to me. What a mess
Good luck

Anonymous said...

7:18, You can't vote because you are not a UFT member. Get outa here.

Anonymous said...

718 said "Before you strain yourself patting yourself on the back...Anything on the 2 worst contracts in union history, the loss of tda, grade fraud, ignored discipline code, I can go on, or were those irrelevant?"

Did all of you vote? Did James vote? Why did it all happen? How did it pass? You mean the people who allowed it all are still in power and the vote didn't help? The janus case was very recent. There was 100% membership during all of that.

Anonymous said...

8:40, You don't know what you're talking about. UFT never had 100% membership. There were always agency fee payers. Get a brain and a life.

Anonymous said...

"Weak minds like 8:40 are the problem... the Time is NOW to FIGHT BACK .. with your mindset and poor attitude... nothing will ever get us the UNION we deserve

Anonymous said...

More name calling, no answers. So when shall i expect to see this change?

David Suker said...

Thanks Waitingforsupport!

Anonymous said...

When you and every other teacher gets off their ass and votes, that’s when.

Anonymous said...

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb at Tweed here. You choose the better image!

Here:
https://static.politico.com/da/13/7a4c9d5948fbb6eee748c7ae291e/mulgrew-and-de-blasio.png

and here:

https://imgc.allpostersimages.com/img/print/u-g-F3MM1T0.jpg?w=900&h=900&p=0

Anonymous said...

The scumbag had to fight tooth and nail to get the retro 12 years later with no interest. But thats good enough for all of you.

Dear Lisa,

Eligible DOE-employed UFT members will receive the sixth — and final — lump-sum payment connected to the 2014 DOE-UFT contract in a separate paycheck on July 22 or 23.

With this check, you will be made whole. We had to fight tooth and nail to make sure you got the money you deserved, and the city with this final payment has fully met its financial obligations to our members.

If you want to save this money for retirement, you can make a larger-than-usual contribution to your Tax-Deferred Annuity. Due to the payment schedule that the city chose, you will have to make the same increased TDA contribution from your July 15 and July 30 regular summer paychecks in addition to the July 22/23 special check.

If you want to increase your TDA contribution rate in conjunction with the lump-sum payment, you must:

go to your retirement system’s website and increase your TDA contribution no later than next Tuesday, June 15
go online again between July 1 and July 17 to resume contributing at your regular rate thereafter.
How TRS members change their TDA contribution rate: Enter your username and password at www.trsnyc.org, choose TDA in the main menu bar, and then use the Change Rate feature.

How BERS members change their TDA contribution rate: Enter your username and password at www.bers.nyc.gov, choose TDA in the main menu bar, and then use the Add or Update TDA Election feature and change your TDA contribution rate.

When Bill de Blasio became mayor in 2014, he agreed with the union that UFT members were entitled to the two 4% raises that Mayor Bloomberg gave other city workers in 2009 and 2010, but he said the city could not afford to pay the money owed all at one time. So we negotiated a contract that phased in the raises and money owed over six years.

Members were supposed to receive a final lump-sum payment of 25% in October 2020, but City Hall claimed it could not meet the obligation due to the loss of revenue triggered by the pandemic. The UFT immediately took the city to arbitration, and an arbitrator ruled in October 2020 that UFT members should receive half of their final payment last fall and the other half this July. The arbitrator also awarded a no-layoff pledge for the rest of the school year and a guarantee that the city would not challenge the 3% contractual wage increase you received in May.

The July payment represents the final 12.5% of the overall total owed.

Teachers, paraprofessionals, school counselors and all other UFT pedagogues on the Q Bank payroll will receive the payment on July 22, while therapists, school nurses, education officers and analysts and other UFT titles on the H Bank payroll will receive the payment on July 23. All active members will receive their checks by direct deposit if they are enrolled at the time of issuance.

Pedagogues and paras who are on leave will receive their payment on Aug. 5 while H Bank members on leave will receive payment on July 22. All eligible UFT members on leave will get a paper check sent to the address on file with the DOE.

You deserve every penny of this money. We were able to harness the power of the union to make sure you receive it.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the UFT at 212-331-6311.

Michael Mulgrew

waitingforsupport said...

You're very welcome

Anonymous said...

I did vote, every time. And no election was close.

Anonymous said...

Stop lying, you can't vote, you are not a UFT member.

Anonymous said...

No election was close.

Anonymous said...

Why would one bother when the winner got 86% in 2019 and 91% in 2010? Nothing changed.

Anonymous said...

Joint planning session of the UFT president and the NYC mayor:

https://tenor.com/view/tweedle-dee-an-tweedle-dumb-alice-in-wonderland-gif-11765201

Bronx ATR said...

After reading his email, Mulgrew definitely thinks teachers are very stupid. It would look like that to almost anyone who isn’t or wasn’t a teacher in the New York City system. What it really is, is not having enough time to breathe and allowing those that are paid the permission and fiduciary obligation to take care of what they’re supposed to. Unfortunately, they haven’t and atr remiss on both counts. So I would say teachers are much too trusting and haven’t made the time or effort to change what must be changed.

Anonymous said...

Right winger who disagrees with James a lot here. James fights for what he believes. You don’t have to agree. If you’re a free thinker, you shouldn’t have a problem with that. Insulting him is wrong. No one is forcing any teacher to be a UFT member. James is pro union. Stop expecting him to change because you don’t like it.

Just an endangered CL said...

Getting our retro-check 9 days early and 12 years late is a UFT/Unity Victory by Mulgrew!

" We were able to harness the power of the union to make sure you receive it."
Wow... way to harness power there buddy. Give that man a participation award.
---
ATRs being permanently placed - welcome to ADVANCE, now you're want to retire or flat-leave like the rest of us.
---
Evaluations may be waivered this year: So did the city realize that it is June 9th already and still couldn't come up with a plan for citywide measures? Gotta love not knowing what half of my devaluation rating is based on.

Thanks UFT/Unity for all that you do... for DeBlasio

Anon said...

What is with the summer checks not being posted yet

waitingforsupport said...

@10:20 pm... Again. Those percentages are based on those who voted. I think it would be different if more educators voted.

Anonymous said...

That's not why some of us despise him now.

Anonymous said...

One of the worst things is a double standard. think about it, James.

The summer checks are not posted early this year.

Anonymous said...

Anyone know what percentage of cops vote in their union elections? If teachers aren’t voting, maybe they are satisfied with Mulgrew and friends.

Anonymous said...

But they wont,that is why the vote argument is moot.

Anon said...

Why no posting of summer checks? Especially in light off the retro and applications for an increase in TDA/457 Deferred Compensation plans to max out our money vice taxed to death? It would be nice to see and plan for the summer.

Anonymous said...

Supposedly the ATR pool is being eliminated.

Time will tell beyond the sy 2021-2022.

It needs to be in writing to secure future excessing of staff.

ATRs have fought for this moment. How long has it been? 18 years?

It has been a system to ridicule excessed and senior staff. ATRs would receive the same treatment school after school after school. When the treatment is the same school after school, it's because it's a plan.

Unfortunately, there were staff of educators that treated ATRs not nicely. It's a disgrace to have your own title treat you like you are inferior.

Wake up! When something is being done to a select few, pay attention because it could be you.

Everywhere I went I did not allow administrators to just do whatever they wanted with me. Why? I was not going to allow my title to be treated as not important. I stood up to countless administrators. Result? They would back off. Sometimes they would give me nothing to do and sometimes they would provide me with something to do that was more appropriate.

When I first was excessed and entered the ATR pool I met a teacher that was also in the ATR pool. To this day I credit my ability to stick up for myself to this person because showed me the game the DOE and administrators were playing.

It's a sick game people.





Jeff said...

604, I already answred that. They are not preposting checks this year. Payroll is open this summer. Retro checks are seperate this time, paid 7/22.

Anon said...

Thanks, Jeff.