Let me first make this perfectly clear. I have no problem with Mayor Bill de Blasio's progressive vision for New York City. Many of his ideas are preferable to Michael Bloomberg's view that closed schools and benefited the 1%. I believe he is pro education and doesn't demonize teachers like Michael Bloomberg did. However, I don't like the fact that our union, the UFT, sold out the members to help the new Mayor with his agenda. What did the union leadership do that sold out the members? Let me count the ways.
First, the union leadership agreed to defer the two 2009-10 4% raises until October of 2015 and not get the last part until October of 2018. I don't mind the retroactivity being deferred but the raises themselves? The union should have negotiated a 10% wage increase for September 2014 Instead we are getting a paltry 2% raise and a $1,000 bribe to sign the contract in October 2014. Moreover, the union leadership agreed to eighteen months of "0" raises and that's unacceptable to all the Municipal unions and should be to us.
Second, the lump sum retroactive pay was even deferred further into the future with the bulk being paid from October 2018-20. Interestingly, we do not receive any lump sum retroactive pay in October 2016 that further helps the City to fund other programs.
Third, The union leadership has agreed not to demand the interest built up in the almost five years that the union did not get their two 4% raises as was done in previous contracts. Moreover, according to a math teacher, the retroactivity calculated is based upon the end of a calender year rather than the end of the previous contract and there is as much as a $5,000 difference between what the City owes us and what the union claims we are getting by October 2020.
Fourth, any teachers that resigns, are terminated, or die before retiring will not receive their retroactive raises or lump sum payments. This is just like an annuity where the City and union is hoping something happens to the teacher before he or she can collect the money. Already, discontinued teachers won't receive any retroactive pay even if they worked in the 2009-10 period to the second semester of the 2012-13 school year.
Fifth, the disgusting targeting of the ATRs by diminishing their "due process rights" and offering them an inferior severance package. This new teacher "caste system" is simply a ploy by the City to terminate as many ATRs as possible abd save money. Moreover, to allow the DOE to punish ATRs who won their 3020-a termination hearings is a moral failure on the union's part.
Finally, the union's failure to change the termination procedures in the teacher's evaluation system is proof that the union leadership is not interested in protecting teacher "due process rights" as they so claimed.
Obviously, to make the new Mayor look good and support the " its a beautiful day" Chancellor, the union leadership sold out the members and that's a crime.
22 comments:
It is a crime and should be addressed with a lawsuit.
My attorney mentioned this during consultation, when proposed contract was brought up. More specifically the ATR agreement is in violation of state law.
Our union used our COPE money to support Thompson in the failed 2013 primaries and now our union is using our much-deserved raises to push deBlasio's progressive agenda. I called this progressive sell-out in an oppressive union.
I agree with you 100% on this article. We were sold out because of the mayor's political agenda. This is a disgrace. The sad part is that the contract may pass and members think we are getting the best possible deal. After 12 years of abuse the members think anything thrown at us is good. I hope any member who hasn't voted yet reads this article. We deserve more because the members have earned it.
Chaz, you and Norm andceveryone else can write story after story on blog after blog .............. It just doesn't matter. Things will progress in the DOE as usual. I took a moment over this glorious gay and holiday weekend to see if you write a new post, which you did. Some advice, enjoy the day and the incredible weather. No one is changing anything on your blog or anyone else's. The vote will pass and you guys can complain another 5/10 years, whatever. Never seen such a bunch if complainers. You have the most complaining, annoying, bitchy, and irritating people reading your stuff. What do you think the marriage rate on this blog is from all these complainers? Imagine being married to someone who reads this blog? I would say the divorce rate by the readers of this blog is 3/4, easily 75%. Bunch of crybaby bitches. ATR=AssinineTroublesomeRetards
Why the hell do you read this marvelous blog if it annoys you (Anon 3:31pm)? Don't come to the site. Don't read the blog. Simple. What a moron you must be!
Anon 3:31
It seems that Chaz struck a nerve in speaking the truth. Maybe you should go back to your "Unity" masters for further instructions.
Just wait until your targeted. Will then you be a crying bitch?
When they make you an ATR will you feel good that you voted to slit your own throat.
I'm sure you won't mind being at a different location each week. You also won't mind taking over two and a half hours each way to get to a place where people just as smug and overconfident as you will treat you like a paraiah.
I'm sure that when you are rushed through a termination hearing in one day I order to remove you from payroll that you will be glad that you voted for abrogating your own due process rights.
It's easy to be hateful and condescending now. Just wait until you have put in many years and the dogs are hunting you.
I think that you will find that karma is a bitch.
It's because of sycophants like you that the Vichy collaborative actions of the crooks in unity are at all possible.
It will be usefull for you to have that understanding when they finally come for you.
My money is on the premise that you will not last another five to ten years. That means that you will never see the raises that you think are worth selling out your union brothers and sisters out for.
What goes around comes around, and don't you forget it.
With absolute contempt.
Angry Nog
Is someone married to you 3:31? Why are you reading the blog if you are so virtuous? You should be at a barbecue.
6:06, my principal is a friend. We're all friends. The network shmucks, several principals, bunch of AP's, much more. I really can't wind up like you because I am able to maneuver, able to strategize. Now let's review again. Ready? I work in an A rated school. If you closed my school, about 750 schools would have to close first, prior to mine. We have over a 90% grad rate with thousands of applicants each year. My school is not closing. Got it? Unlike you, I was able to set myself up. I did not wait 4 years to be told my school was phasing out. I actually left my shit school the 2nd year in phase out, like you're supposed to. Obviously, this is a strategy of how not to become an ATR. Secondly, schools will not be closing under this new administration. It will continue when DeBlaz is re-elected and take us to Nov 2021. Me targeted? This is funny. Use your brain and fall down a flight if stairs so you can go on LODI and stay home. Don't be jealous of others who know how to maneuver. You have failed. You were told your school was closing, AND YOU STAYED??? Huhh???????? Nice move????
Don't waste you're time on individuals like 331. I come into contact with them in every school I'm in. They're envious and want us terminated. They're the incompetent, underpaid, overworked, untenured individuals who go around bad mouthing us to anyone who'll listen. Guess what? I don't care. As for what our union is doing, its illegal. Perhaps that's their way of protecting us, i.e like allowing the 88 criteria in Danielson? I hope so.
Chaz, you should do a blog on what schools not to work in for each borough- I have some crazy tales to tell of the ones in the Bronx.
I worked for 32 years at a Queens High School that Bloomberg tried to close 2 years ago. I was not rehired by the Principal and thus landed in the ATR pool albeit for only 2 days. They were the saddest 2 days of my professional career. So 3:31 don't be so smug, you could join the pool at anytime. Althought this contract is a homerun for me I am still voting no, because I have walked in others shoes. PS. When I grew up in the sixties assholes like you would be taken behind the garage and taught a lesson. Care to go a few rounds dickhead.
Chaz, did I just get challenged to a fight from an "anonymous" writer? Should we meet at an "anonymous" location? Congrats on your retirement prior to June 30th. You deserve it. My parents grew up in the 60's too. Enjoy yourself, smoke a little marijuana.
Lynne Winderbaum, former Unity Caucus and Bronx HS Dist Rep wrote:
n the final year of these closing ghost schools, the last students going down with the ship were often underserved as the Department of Education staffed them with a handful of remaining teachers to teach the last seniors. The city abandoned these students. But there was always a cadre of teachers in each school that refused to turn their backs on them. These were usually veteran teachers, nearing retirement, who told me they felt an obligation to the students in a dire situation and would not leave for another school and make matters worse for them. When the doors finally closed, these dedicated teachers were in excess.
Yes, some people went down with the ship. In your world 6:06 they are chumps. In mine they are heroes.
Great article Chaz. You hit the hammer right on the nail with this. The members were sold out over a political agenda. The union has conducted themselves in an unethical way by blatantly putting politics over the interests of the members. How many municipal unions received the 4% and 4% this way? How many unions have different rules for workers under the same job title? Mulgrew is corrupt and unethical. Hopefully this contract is defeated and in two years Mulgrew is voted out of office.
So basically 3:31 is saying he/she is secure because of cronyism. Ya know...there are always a certain amount of ass lickers that survive in life that way. 3:31, hope you're not one of thoseTier 5 or 6 people, who'll NEVER see a pension, or a retirement in this job, because of previous union sellouts.. Also...things change between people.... your "friends" sometime become something else over time. Ass licker...enjoy your peanut contract and your $1,000 snot nose money...
Anon 12:13
I am not retiring! In fact, if the DOE refuses to do what's best for students and continue to have me rotate as a "glorified babysitter" so be it.
Everyday I show up to a school its chaz 1 and the DOE 0. I will be getting my 7% on my TDA, a 2% increase on my pension and more as I get one last final longevity. No Danielson, more CAR days to use and most importantly I am a survivor and the DOE's futile attempt to punish me only hurts the students who would thrive by havinng me as a teacher.
So gloat all you like but if you really cared about the students you would demand that the ATRs be put back into the classroom where they belong.
Right you are Chaz, what keeps me going is pure spite. I loathe the DOE and the UFT. I will never retire or quit- they'll have to pull the coverage sheet out of my dying 100 year old hand.
@Ednotes 12:19, hey brutha, final year of phase out school right now. This has been the BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE. Your post is hysterical!!! I have about 10 kids ALL DAY. 5 classes of English, no one comes the final 2 periods. About 75% of my roster will not graduate. We were lied to 5 years ago my the bitch superintendent who stated "Every child will graduate from this school". Then one teacher asked her, but if everyone graduated, we'd have a 100% grad rate. She was stunned, we all laughed. Anyway, a great year for me. The DOE wrecked these kids unfortunately but at least I show up to work after 9am and my day is done by 1pm. It's a dream. The final year in a phase out school is a true gift. My colleagues and I can't believe we're getting paid. It's unbelievable. It's so funny. What a sick, disgraceful system. Thank goodness my kids attend a school system in Long Island. I'm making 6 figures part time.
I read a sentence on Tier 5&6. I'm Tier 4 but just curious what the main differences might be if someone would care to comment. Is the difference the age you can retire and contributions?
Anon 11:59
Look at my March 22, 2013 post. I broke it down for you.
http://chaz11.blogspot.com/2012/03/newbie-teacher-and-tier-vi-why-teaching.html
Anonymous 3:31 PM
How sad that you spend a holiday going to different ed blogs spewing the same crap. How do I know? You use the same examples, metaphores. You wrote the last one on Memorial Day, I guess no one wanted to hear your drivel at a BBQ. Hey, I just had a thought....you might be Mayor Bloomberg!!!!
I still remember when Al Shanker went to jail in order to protect the rights of UFT members. Mulgrew is not Shanker. Many long-term studies have been done which have proven that by the age of eight, children who did not attend pre-k have caught up with those who did. In spite of these studies, Mulgrew is enabling the Mayor to proceed with Universal pre-K as if it's a panacea, at the expense of those of us in the ATR pool and others who are being hurt by that drain on resources. As for the ATR agreement being in violation of state law, we should have legal recourse to sue in a class action lawsuit for that reason.
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