UFT members are often shocked to learn that all they receive upon having a child is six weeks of UNPAID maternity leave. Teachers who devote their lives to fostering the growth and development of our city’s children find that they receive no real support from their employer when they have a child of their own.
Members can use days from their sick bank (CAR) for birth and child care purposes but is this adequate? It is nonsense that a progressive union and a progressive city administration did not address this in the last round of negotiations. We should not wait until 2018 before members get a chance to weigh in on this all-important issue. New Action/UFT calls for a six week, paid leave to be negotiated NOW between our union and the progressive de Blasio administration.
New Action - UFT 
Yes, excellent idea–
Sent from my iPad
>
“Members can use days from their sick bank (CAR) for birth and child care purposes but is this adequate?”
From what I understand, only female staff members can use days from their sick banks for childcare purposes. Are male teachers, such as myself, allowed to do the same? (I’m getting conflicting information on this point.)