New Action – UFT

1. Big news on the Fix Tier 6 front. The retirement age to receive an unreduced pension was lowered from 30/63 to 30/58. This shaves five years off retirement for Tier 6 members who started in their late 20s, or younger. This will help tens of thousands of UFT members.

2. However, while all other Tier 6 workers received slightly reduced pension contributions, we (NYCTRS and NYSTRS members) were excluded.

The new pension contribution rates for all other Tier 6 members are as follows:

$45,000 and under: 3% (same)

$45,001-$55,000: 3% (down from 3.5%)

$55,001-$75,000: 3% (down from 4.5%)

$75,001-$100,000: 4% (down from 5.75%)

$100,001-$125,000: 5.25% (down from 6%)

$125,001 and up: 5.75% (down from 6%)

The money saved doesn’t amount to much (although members making between $55,001-$100,000 benefit decently), but it doesn’t bode well that we weren’t included in the contribution decrease. Tier 6 contribution rates are astronomical. Tier 6 teachers conservatively contribute $150,000 more towards pension contributions over the course of our careers than early Tier 4 members. And in most cases, that number is low. Imagine how much that comes out to if Tier 6 members had the chance to invest that money over the course of their careers. By the way, this is not a knock on Tier 4 members. They deserve what they have. But it needs to be equalized. More than half of active educators are in Tier 6.

3. There was a change in the Foundation Aid formula, which will increase the amount of funding for ELLs, homeless, and foster students. As a result, NYC schools are expected to receive nearly $900 million in additional funding.

4. Mayoral control will be extended for two more years. Regardless of who’s in office, mayoral control has been a disaster for educators and students alike. It’s been around for nearly 25 years, and whether it was Bloomberg, de Blasio, or Adams, it’s never turned out well for us.

5. Governor Hochul has expressed her support for the federal tax-credit scholarship.This is a school voucher program that will rob tax money from public schools and public works in order to fund private schools. This is a blatant, anti-public school initiative that could have serious consequences. In January, Chalkbeat published an alarming piece about the school choice tax credit program. The author explains, “families can donate up to $1,700 to scholarship-granting organizations and receive an equivalent tax credit back.” Allowing families to receive tax credit to basically fund private schools reduces the amount of tax dollars that go into our communities. In fact, in 2022, Kentucky’s Supreme Court “ruled that Kentucky’s tax credit scholarship program is unconstitutional.” As Peter Greene explains, “In a tax credit scholarship program, corporations or individuals contribute money to a ‘scholarship’ fund that will pay part of some student’s tuition at a private school. The state then counts that contribution towards taxes.” In other words, tax dollars are reallocated to private schools instead of going to public schools, projects, and programs that would otherwise benefit our communities.

6. The Class Size mandate will be extended two years. Under the original agreement, 80% of all classes were supposed to meet the compliance threshold next school year, followed by 100% the year after that. Instead, the expectation is that 70% of all classes will meet the Class Size mandate next school year, 80% the year after that, 90% for the 2028-2029 school year, and 100% for 2029-2030.

Class Size wasn’t even accounted for in the state budget. The city was supposed to hire 6,000 new educators for next year in order to comply with the Class Size law. Instead, it looks as though only 1,000 new educators will be hired. Additionally, there will likely be fewer openings for those looking to transfer. Speaking of which…

7. If you’re looking to transfer for the next school year, you may do so between mid April and early August without having to get a release from your principal. Open Market is officially open, but don’t expect to see many postings yet. Schools often/always wait to get their budgets for the next school year before releasing their postings. June, July, and (very early) August are the most opportune times to find a new position. After early August, you will not be able to transfer unless you are granted a release by your principal.

8. If you are interested in earning your +30 differential, the cheapest option is usually ASPDP (aka A+) credits. Summer registration opens June 8. Courses begin on June 15. You can take up to 12 credits per semester. Each three credit course costs about $300 in total, meaning you can get your +30 for $3,000. It’s a great deal if you have the time and money, considering the sizable pay bump we receive.

Recommended providers: Teach & Kids Learn and Long Island Learning Institute for Educators (LILIE),

9. The TRS Trustee election results were revealed yesterday. Tom Brown won decisively. David Kazansky came in a distant second place with Frank Panebianco bringing up the rear. Hopefully next year’s trustee election will garner as much attention as this year’s.

10. You can request to view your file at any time. Email your principal to arrange a suitable time. You can have any letter(s) removed three years after the latest incident referred to in the letter. If there is a disciplinary letter in your file that you were never informed of, take a picture of it and send an email to your principal (cc your chapter leader) stating that you want the letter removed. If this happens, be blunt in your email. You can say that you found something in your file that shouldn’t be there and ask them to let you know when to check your file again to make sure it’s no longer there, or else you will file a grievance.

11. Special Education complaints: If there are compliance issues, whether they be students not receiving services, lack of substitute teachers when colleagues call out, IEP issues/violations, or anything else, please file a special education complaint with the UFT here.