New Action – UFT

President’s Report

Moment of silence for Chapter Leader Roderick Daley from District 18.

We have to figure out the end of our own school year and we don’t have our budgets yet. But we have the calendar now. Election Day is instructional. Horrible. What happened to Easter Monday? How come we’re not recognizing the first night of Passover? Horrible. Last day of school is on a Monday. I’m upset, too. The one and only answer – do you want to extend the school year? That calendar is exactly 180 days. It’s the latest Labor Day can be. A lot of holidays fall on Saturdays, which means they’re not recognized. Good for us because if those holidays didn’t fall on Saturdays, we’d have a whole challenge in front of us. Next year’s calendar will be tough but this is toughest year. Have modeled out calendars up to 2034. We need to go back to three year agreement for the calendar. We want it and the parents want it. Enough with waiting for the calendar when we know we have the models. They’re all very tight. All 180 or 181 days.

But we do not have our budget. No school can move. Can’t recruit, know how many teachers they can hire, they don’t know what to do with class size plan. Should be starting SBOs. 1100-1200 schools doing certain SBOs. We must follow proper procedures for SBO votes. Don’t need additional stress over SBO vote. They’re pretty simple. Keep track, make sure ballots are secure.

Today is a special day. Administrative Professional Day today. Thank God for our secretaries. They keep us moving, keep our schools running.

National Autism Acceptance month. April is the national month for Occupational Therapists. Amazing the work they get done.

Federal

Not a lot on federal government today for obvious reasons.

State

Waiting for State budget. This admin is saying they can’t send out school runs until budget is done. I disagree with that. Tough time for us. Class size requirements. We believe we can reach 80%. Think we can get there. Need to figure out shortage areas. Special Ed, Math, Science are traditional ones. But also Foreign Language and need more librarians. This State budget thing is getting annoying. Progress being made but it’s hard progress. Back and forth. The new issue in Albany is immigration. A bunch of protests around the capital today, people arrested. But need to get the budget done. Tier 6 is a big, huge piece. School aid is very important to us. We need to set up our school system for September. Chapter Leaders supposed to have conversations with principal but how can you do that without a budget? We were hoping to see more progress this week, but better than two weeks ago. Nothing getting finalized though. Saturday at Somos conference in Albany, the governor said significant changes were coming in the budget. Need the budget process to move faster. Tier 6 push through a social media attack.

Many here and online lobbied. Foundation aid formula still needs reform. Homeless students. Not just about language. Fear and anxiety for students. We supply services. Services aren’t free. Our members are constantly looking after children and need to be in foundation aid formula. That is being discussed at this moment.

Class Size: Albany saying they need more years to come into compliance. We asked where the proof is for that. Schools that don’t have space don’t have a plan. We don’t want elected officials in Albany giving them any relief. We need to see a real plan and timeline. We’re currently in the mid 60s. Know we’re going to be over 70%. We know schools just need help with programming. Some schools don’t know how to program. I don’t believe DOE can help them program. There are schools that don’t need a significant construction project. Just modifications inside current building. We can do those things through school facilities. Much more responsive and quicker since COVID. We should thank them for doing things better. Some schools just need minor construction. Some need significant projects. Where are they, how have they been identified, and what is the plan to deal with it? We can’t move until those questions are answered. We need to be provided with data. Not asking. It’s a requirement of the law. Made that loud and clear to everyone in Albany. Don’t let them extend class size time limit until they’ve used all the tools first. Won’t discuss until we have data and a plan of how we’re getting to the end of this law. Class size is now permanent. It doesn’t mean we’re at 100% compliance. It’s a permanent, yearly process. NYC neighborhoods change. Large schools might shrink. Small schools might grow.

In terms of titles (teacher certificates), that will change. Needs to become part of our collective bargaining process. Shortage areas mean you can’t comply with law. Need to look at that.

Tier 6 – Everyone agrees something needs to get done. Pushing off until the end. Usually not a good sign. Complete loss is off the table. We need to push. Want to fix now. It’s a recruitment and retention problem for all public sector agencies. Battle of us vs. actuaries. An actuary doesn’t have to look at what it costs. They don’t care about the ramifications of the costs. Actuary has to calculate how much revenue Tier 6 was supposed to raise for pension fund. Our job is to make sure pension system gets all the revenue it’s supposed to get. For us, the argument has always been that Tier 6 went way overboard. Don’t need all of this money. Tier 4 people pay 3% for 10 years. Pension funds were fine. Never a problem. Never missed a check. Now people pay 3, 4% for 30 years. Do we need all of this money inside of our pension systems? That is the big debate.

Report about the mayor and comptroller using our pension funds to create a bunch of housing. Can they take our money and use it for what they want? No. See, you remember, so why all the craziness? Why all the social media craziness? They can’t do it. Our trustees will look at it, analyze it, do everything they need to do, and make a decision. One more time: UFT has three trustees. Others unions want trustees. We are the largest bloc, by far, inside TRS. From 1960 until now, it’s been three UFT trustees. That means we make decisions on pension funds. The three trustees have to work together at all times. Otherwise, if mayor can peel off one of those votes, they can use trustees for their own agendas. Our trustees have been very clear. They protect, maintain, and allow our pension system to flourish. Don’t let others use it for political purposes. We need the three trustees. They won’t meet people, investors individually. We’re proud of them. In charge of our money.

Pension amortization – We did this last year. Called it “smoothing.” Have we smoothed our pensions in the past? Yes. Don’t do it every time. We leave it to the trustees. Their decision at all times. If it’s in the best interest of our system, they move in that direction. If it’s not in the best interest of our system, we don’t know move in that direction. We’re the only union that has a rule that president will never be a trustee. There’s never been a missed payment in history. Well-funded.

City

$1,000 retention bonus check comes May 1. Everyone except H Bank. They get it May 7. This never stops. Here forever. Now it grows according to collective bargaining. Will always go up for collective bargaining. Even though it’s a set amount, normally we prorate it. We said no. All titles get the same money. Depending on DOE payroll getting their act together. May Day celebrations on May 1. Picked May 1 for that reason. Should be a thank you to the members for our union.

We will be participating – NYSUT delegates are preparing tonight – for NYSUT RA next weekend. May Day celebrations and demonstrations in Albany.

TRS elections moving forward. Done by May 13. Tom Brown is our candidate. We are hoping and praying that DOE doesn’t screw up the election.

Healthcare – Glad to report that the strategy of negotiating as a triumvirate – insurance companies, NYC, MLC – is paying dividends. Saving on hospital costs in way we haven’t done before. It extends the amount of time where we won’t have to deal with any threats about premiums. Hospitals excuse is that they already budgeted for the year. So, you budgeted to rip us off. We are not funding your expansion or administrative bonuses. Looking at real costs – what does a procedure cost? How good are you at a procedure? MSK and Hospital for Special Surgery have been the two hospitals the really prove they’re into healthcare and don’t try to gouge anyone. We’ve come to agreements with Northwell and NYU. Using City and MLC and bargaining table for leverage. When it comes to this stuff, it’s serious. Still have long way to go. Just about settling up with NY Presbyterian. They think they’re elite. But again, you’re not ripping us off. The NYCE PPO – there was a lawsuit from a group called Hands Off Our Healthcare – tried to stop the NYCE PPO transition. Judge dismissed their case yesterday. The odd part is that it came to light that this group were being funded by different LLCs. Lo and behold, both LLCs who said they were separate entities had the same address with no phone. Thank you for any members working with them, because that is known as Dark Money. It could’ve been a group of people who think public workers shouldn’t have good healthcare. We don’t know. They’re allowed to be private. Same address – an empty storefront in a strip mall in Virginia. Thanks to Geof Sorkin. Set up call line for any problems you’ve been having. Problems with prescriptions, doctors, etc. Many doctors don’t know they’re in the plan because it’s brand new, but they are in it. Thanks healthcare committee for keeping us on point.

A phenomenal victory in Queens. There’s a lot of difficult and agitating administrators in our school system. Different between difficult and mean and those trying to hurt. You know how horrible it is going to work every day when that happens. It’s rough. It’s not like most of this country where our colleagues have no ability to push back. We do. But it’s not easy. People get intimidated. People say “I’m going to get retaliated against.” The truth is this happens. But if we don’t fight, we can’t win. Only way out is to fight. Every now and then they’re so bad, they end up in the papers. But that doesn’t happen often. Tough fights. I want to bring up people – Calls up Tabio DaCruz, Karen Alford, P.S. 35 Chapter Leader. CL recalls story of filing grievances against principal and principal retaliating with bad observations. Had 68 members, 24 signed the grievance. Had to prove union animus. Retaliation. Consultation committees were a bloodbath some months. Deshanna Barker was great. UFT showed up. A little over a year ago got the call about going to arbitration for this. Shouts out UFT Queens members. Got the ruling on Monday – we won. We destroyed them. Their case was built on her lies. Ours was built on facts. Now a cease and desist. Lots of oversight from district team. Hopefully it’s the beginning of the end for her. If you’re in a school like this, I hope it inspires you and your members. Stick together and you can make a big change in your school.

Michael Herren (special rep, grievance dept) – Three things to know about this case. The arbitrator explicitly called out that CL has right to form a consultation committee, hold union meetings safely. Cannot be retaliated against for doing the job they are there to do. When we started our closing statement, we said there’s a reason we spent this amount of time on this case, because if we don’t protect these rights, there is no union in the school. Two: Even regular managerial decisions can be union animus if it impacts union activity. Principal tried to enforce 7:30 building start when union wanted to meet earlier. It’s not what they do, it’s why they do it. Can ask why they’re doing something when they haven’t before. Three – there doesn’t need to be an adverse act to prove union animus. Doesn’t need to be a letter to file. It can be the threat. When John filed a grievance, he got a letter to file. The arbitrator said she did that to intimidate him. We called these all out. The group stood together, got support from Queens office.

Staff Director’s Report

– Tomorrow and Friday, Manhattan Borough Office. Phone banking for Carl Wilson.

– 9:30 this Saturday (missed)

– May 1 – May Day mobilization

– Meet & Greet w/ Tom Brown SI borough office May 6.

– Middle school awards night May 7

– May 8 6:15 (missed)

– Academic HS awards May 15

– May 17 – AIDS walk NY in Central Park

– Brooklyn new member meet the president

– Asian Heritage banquet – May 22.

– 42 instructional days left in the school year.

Question Period

1. Small class size. Some principals having hard time how to make this work. Weaponizing it. Quality of instruction going down. Lab teachers, music teachers dragging materials class to class, etc. What support for principals who can’t envision things like scheduling? New Chancellor believes in class size. Some principals need help thinking outside the box.

MM: There are principals who have problems when they’re told what to do because it wasn’t birthed from their brain. Dealing with a bunch of schools with programming issues. If you’re programming to cause problems because you’re angry, that’s a separate issue. Need to look at on a case-by-case basis. Asked Chancellor his thoughts on people learning to program in a different way. Big mistake is that they take care of big numbers first, then specialty stuff second. Should be done the opposite way. Two issues – are principals doing it because they don’t know what they’re doing or because they’re being malicious? Chancellor says people at DOE Central know how to address programming issues. I don’t think so. Instruction should not be diminished because of class size. You must see the class size plan for your school.

2. Had a student who I suspected was using AI. Where should the line be between academic integrity and equitable grading when AI use is suspected but not provable?

MM: First, real conversation. Second, make sure AI detection software is up to date. Third, ask student what they were thinking. What were you trying to prove in your paper? At that point, you pull away the curtain. Students are going to use AI. People want a ban on AI. Can’t set a law you can’t enforce. Have kids do presentations. You do that a few times, they’ll back off the AI but it will be a constant battle. AI not going away, especially high school and middle school students. Should look to DOE to provide up-to-date AI detection. Constant problem for our profession. A much more nefarious version of Cliff Notes

3. Consultants and publishers impacting curricula. We have so many experienced and capable teachers that can create curriculum for our students. How can we use the next contract negotiations to provide Teacher’s Center or something to help with effective curriculum for our students?

MM: Teaching for the 21st Century makes it clear that it’s the responsibility of admin to supply us with curriculums. Having freedom is a beautiful thing but I always knew my job was to get them to pass the Regents. Went from all decisions based on tests ot these companies selling curriculums. A district based thing – a series or menu of curriculums chosen. When you get to higher grades, it’s about concepts and issues you’re trying to teach them. At younger grades, it’s reading comprehension and development. Trying to create a foundation for their learning. If we want to get rid of Teaching for the 21st Century, DOE would jump at it. But we should look at each district coming up with a menu of curriculums. Need to figure out pros and cons. One thing we don’t want is a new flavor of the month. These curriculum companies will tell you the curriculum they sold you three years ago sucks and they have something new. I don’t want consultants in the schools. Has to be addressed in negotiation but also in legislation.

Motions directed to the agenda

1: Motion to add a resolution to next month’s agenda. Resolution to stop the sale of bombs and bulldozers to Israel.

Vote – Yes: 509 No: 370 (online) Yes: 175 No: 122 (in person) 58%. Placed on next month’s agenda.

2: Motion to add a resolution to next month’s agenda. Resolution honoring 45 years of education to end the HIV/AIDs epidemic.

Vote – Yes: 721 No: 114 (online) Yes: 280 No: 16 (in person) 89%. Placed on next month’s agenda..

Resolutions

AGENDA ITEM #1 – RESOLUTION ON MEMBER ENGAGEMENT DURING 2027 CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

RESOLVED, that the UFT will survey all members to identify needs, shape priorities, and set contract demands; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the negotiating committee shall be formed promptly, allowing sufficient time for training on collective bargaining; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will continue to mobilize and elevate collective member action through member-driven engagement, organizing, and public efforts, to build widespread support and strengthen our ability to achieve a fair, just, and representative contract.

AMENDMENT PROPOSED: UFT should release survey results to all membership.

ARGUMENT AGAINST AMENDMENT: We don’t want people knowing our playbook.

Vote to add amendment – Yes: 335 No: 382 (online) Yes: 91 No: 200 (in person). DOES NOT PASS.

Vote for the resolution as originally presented – Yes: 595 No: 116 (online) Yes: 253 No: 31 (in person). 85%. PASSES.

Meeting ends.