The New UFT Contract
This page organizes the writing on this website (and maybe some external links?) relating to the UFT / NYC Department of Education 2007 – 2009 contract.
Considering the new contract:
UFT 2007 Contract
New UFT / NYC DoE Teacher Pay Scale / Salary Charts
UFT Contract Agreement – First Thoughts
Next UFT contract? Coalition bargaining update
Writings on the Previous Contract (includes commentary, a link to the previous Memorandum of Agreement, a link to the teachers contract, links to the paras, guidance counselors, and secretaries contracts, salary chart, and applications for salary differential and Salary Step Placement.)
JD2718 
The latest contract was disasterous for new, untenured teachers. The fact that teachers are unable to grieve letters in their files invites a situation where many young teachers will be shown the door. Even more important is that many young people and especially career changers, will not want to go into the teaching profession if this unbelieveably dangerous rule is not overturned.
I am myself a probationary teacher who has had the misfortune of being in the wrong school with the wrong principal. My case is currently being appealed, but as of today I cannot teach. My big fat “U” has made finding work virtually impossible. I spent years of my life and thousands of dollars to become a teacher and right now that is wasted.
Principals are not held up to strict standards when it comes to rating their teachers. This allows them to fabricate lies about the people in their staff that they want removed.
This is the biggest issue. Not class sizes. Not money. Teachers no longer have rights in the workplace.
The same thing happened to me just recently. You said it all in a nutshell. I am extremely upset that this goes on and no one is doing anything about it! If you try to defend yourself in court you are blacklisted from the profession. They target you, set you up, twist what you say and have cart blanche to fire you!!! Amazing. And of all professions, this is so twisted. The administrations are bigger bullies than the students! What kind of example is that setting? And the nepotism within the districts is another major factor as to why things are so corrupt. Something has to be done to protect the untenured teachers out there. I sunk $60,000 into student loans and worked very hard to get my certifications. In addition, now I am over-qualified. They replaced me with a student teacher just out of college! Despicable!
what can we do to stop these principals who get away with a lot of wrong things
Teachers should go on strike and demand investigations for principals!
I agree. As a teacher who never received a “U” rating until the last week before school ended I appear to not have any recourse. The appeal process was denied and I have been unable to obtain work as a NYC teacher. Has anyone else had this experience?
Anonymous
I have also been a target of “U” by a principal who is on the ropes and trying to save his own skin by skinning others. 82% of my students passed my regents subject(earth sci)..It was one of the highest in the school. I have changed the lives of so many students for the positive. I stayed after school with students every day until 6pm(I didn’t apply for a dime of per session).
My principal NEVER did a formal observation. The AP did one formal which was “S”. The principal came in for 10-20 mins of a 100 min class a few times and that is it.
He told me he didn’t want me back in Sept, but cannot fire me because I have nothing negative in my file. I am having trouble finding a job. Many students told me they would testify that he never came in for an observation.
To make things worse, I NEVER SIGNED any “U” paper at the end of the year. He gave me his word he would take the rating off, but didn’t. I know I am a good teacher and many students say I am the best they have had.
What can I do?
I was recently discontinued because, like the first post said, I was in the wrong school at the wrong time with the WRONG principal. He had it out for me on day one. I would love nothing more than to have a rally, protesting the unjust process it takes to strip a first-year teacher of his/her license.
Curious because I will be recieving a U and possible discontinuance. I am wondering what did you do or what was the process.
I agree 100 per cent. I am also sick of reading about the few teachers who shame the profession, when the system holds too many bullies, and incompetent administrators. Some only hire their girlfriends, cronies, and friends to corrupt the system, and deny teachers their rights.
Speaking of big fat U’s, go after those who rate teachers unfairly. They should be fired themselves for bias ratings. Administrators of this type are a disgrace to the entire school community, and are the true thieves of the next generation. Our national security is being compromised by these unfit, corrupt, and immoral pretenders who leave our children last, while the rob the system blind.
Why are so many computers being stolen from schools? Why are our future generations still being handicapped by their selfishness, and greed?
I would like to contact you
my email is macizinho@gmail.com I have similar issue as a teacher. How long takes to get appeal and review final verdict I am so anxious !!
Protecting our newest teachers needs to become a much higher priority. But our union is so weak, that even if we made it our highest priority tomorrow, we could not immediately do much more, not yet.
Our chapters need to be stronger. Principals’ growing arbitrary authority needs to be checked, and needs to be checked in the schools, at the point where they are abusing it.
But how we do this, how we change, that is key. Wanting to be better does not make it so.
I am sorry about your job. I wish we had been able to do more. But maybe we will for the next new teacher in that position.
Thank you for taking the time to write, and thank you also for maintaining an interest,
I am a NYS state certified teacher in Reading and Education N-6 and have a NYC Common Branch license from 20 years ago.I have worked for NYC Bd. of Ed.as a per diem sub and half a year as maternity replacement in the late 1980’s.t.I have only about three years total in this respect.I have also since worked as a diocesan full-time teacher for 2 and a half years in Queens,NY before my children were born.I stayed at home for 14 years raising them with only an additional 2 and a half years as a daily sub for a public long island school district( in between children as they are many years apart) I have not taught or worked for 6 years now and need to return to work in 9/07.I have completed a Masters and Professional Diploma atleast 12 years ago but have no full time experience teaching for so long. My education is wonderful and I try to keep current and consider myself an intelligent,dedicated teacher.However, my experience and references are quite old (almost 15 years ).I am not sure where to begin my job search and if I have any real chance at returning to NYC or elsewhere to teach full time.Wondering if anyone has any helpful advice.I have so much more to offer and do not want to spend much more time subbing.Appreciate any help one can suggest! Thanks and hope to hear back!–K.–
I really don’t know much about how you get your first NYC DoE if you already have certification. At some point you need a NYC License, but I am not certain when. There are hiring fairs, but I neither know how they work, how they are advertised, or who they are open to. If there was an individual school that wanted you, they could answer some questions, maybe. Or if you were interested in a particular school, you could write a letter or walk in the door. And the NYC Department of Ed has a website at http://schools.nyc.gov with hiring information at Certified Teacher Overview. But they can be out of date, and hard to understand.
I don’t understand why I worked for a Title 1 very violent JHS and now for a city HS that is Title 1 and considered high crime, and I don’t receive any medical care coverage as I am on my partner’s plan, and yet I get no money back in my paycheck related to these things, and my pay decreased rather than increased with the new contract. Is that how teachers of one year of less are treated by the NYCBOE and or UFT? Is it because I am older or mostly White, or something else? Should I be paranoid about it? I was happy before I was excessed and love the HS where I had and am currently working. I like tha administrators and the other teachers and students. For once I felt at home and in the right place, and then I was excessed and now my paycheck is shrinking rather than growing.
Very depressed
I am a Paraprofessional with the NYCDOE for 19 years. During the 19 years I managed to complete a BFA in art and I am now working on a Masters in Creative Arts Therapy. Everyday that I go to work I am depressed and the pay really stinks. I cant afford anything and I have two children that need more and more everyday. I don’t want to waste my 19 years in service. What can I do in the DOE once I graduate? Help!
SLOAN KETTERING HOSPITAL IN NYC WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU! I HEARD THAT
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOME ONE WITH THIS TYPE OF EXPERTISE. IT MAY EVEN HELP YOU IF YOU WANT TO EVENTUALLY BE A SPECIAL EDU TEACHER!
Moving to NJ
I am a teacher in Springfield, Missouri. I have been teaching Spanish for the same district for 18 years. Does any one know how many years of experience NJ districts recognize for out district employees, for the purpose of the salary schedule? On what step would I come in?
I can’t seem to find that info any where. Thanks.
ADD 3 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO WHAT NYC OFFERS, THIS IS WHAT JERSEY CITY OFFERS, I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER PARTS OF NJ, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON TAXES ON THE HOMES IN THAT AREA, HOWEVER, THE CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ABOUT 3 THOUSAND MORE THAN NYC TEACHERS IN ANY GIVEN CATEGORY.
I know a few teacher’s in NJ, they have a top salary of approx. 75,000.00. NYC has 102,000.00 and may soon be receiving a new contract worth 4% per year for two years..
Salaries differ from district to district in New Jersey. You can browse some (slightly dated) salary schedules here. They include pointers to the NJ state website where many more are posted.
In general the scales in Jersey close to NY are close.
I think it varies district by district. In some cases they may actually negotiate the number of years of credit.
Good luck.
from the time immemorial,
the contract from 2007 was disastrous for psychs and social workers. Having to put in time and clustering for a school based on seniority was the only device that protected us from age-discrimination, from crazy principals who want to fire more experienced teachers (who, in fact, have paid Union dues for longer periods), mostly seniority transfer and cluster protected us from cronyism. As is, the new contract only protects new teachers, but new teachers will become old and targeted — not because they are getting more money, we know it isn’t that much more money. It is because principals and administrators want to bend the rules and regulations based on their interests, budgets, and their salary (which is a rather large amount) plus bonus. In the process of these principals and administrators protecting their interests, the students, children of a low socio-economic class will never get the education to compete in the market. Indeed these children will fail. They will drop out. We may see them on the news in increasing numbers. Teachers, we psychologists and social workers need your help in bringing back seniority transfers as a means of controlling the nepotism and force bullying principals to adjust their posture or be left with a high turn over.
I have worked first as per diem teacher for five years and then as a math teacher for four and half years for the New York City Board of Education (1992-2002) In June 2002, I was awarded Disability by the Social Security Administration. I believe I am entitled to a pension from the Board of Education. I would appreciate your response. Thank you.
I cannot answer your question. I would contact TRS, BERS, the Board of Ed, or the UFT (in that order).
What are class size limits in NYC?
I am a NYC teacher and have been in the system for over ten years. All I see is that if you are over 50 and have tenure you will be bullied and harassed. You will be constantly written up but mostly you will be “set up.” The class room arrangement is very important. Unfortunately, don’t have excess furniture in the room even if your principal will not remove it. It is a plan to have you fail.
I can’t understand how NYC DOE can harass teachers and get away with it. You get put into the rubber room with falsified charges to get the teacher out of the classroom. Bloomberg and Klien are getting rid of “tenure teachers” since Mulgrew doesn’t want to deal with it. He has not shown his support for the teachers in the rubber room and that is why 100% of the teachers are anti-union and are demanding that union dues be returned. The union is weak, that’s how many of us ended up in the rubber room. Mugrew knew this was going to happen to the teachers and did nothing to stop this. Teachers are losing their homes and can’t pay their bills.
The best part of all is the NYS DOE has approved the city to fine teachers to get back their jobs only as ATRs (substitue). This is illegal and they are getting away with this. Innocent teachers are being targeted because of age and tenure. It is a disgrace that the teachers’ due process rights are also being violated and the courts are not doing anything to stop this.
King Bloomberg needs to call it quits since he paid people off to get another term. Klein needs a reality check and needs to teach once in a while to see what the real world of teaching is all about.
The problems that teachers face being victimized by principals, e.g. being rated U’s do not necessarily have to reach the Appeal process if the superintendents do their jobs. Most superintendents know those principals who bully teachers and they deliberately support the principal’s recommendation because it is an easier escape for them. The teacher is discontinued and life goes on with everyone else. Most superintendents do not read the teacher’s responses or rebuttals because if they do, it will be clear that the principal is making personal judgments. Even the pattern of write ups is a clear cut indication of abuse of power. The superintendent obviously does not want to undermine the principal’s decision no matter how transparently wrong it is.
When it comes to a teacher’s dismissal, it should never be so easy for a principal. There should be consequences in place for principals who deliberately fabricate and exaggerate so called evidence, support and write ups against teachers; the same should also be implemented for superintendents who allow principals to get away with such heinous behavior. After all, superintendents are responsible for everyone within their district not only the principal and so, constantly favoring principas’ decisions even when they come so suddenly should not be encouraged…..Overall, both principals and superintendents abuse their bureacratic powers.
They aren’t just targeting teachers who have tenure. They go after untenured teachers as well (I am one of three in my building) because it’s easy to go after us and they do everything they can to prevent us from getting tenured.
I would love to hear from people whose U rating has been overturned at the appeal. I have read a lot of blogs and most of them indicate that the board usually supports the U rating. I have heard complaints that most members of the board are retired or former administrators so they support the principal. So I wonder, what is the significance of the Appeal? Is it a mockery?
Well This is why Columbine and Virginia Tech can happen .. Administrators are allowed to be un-ethical mis-using and abusing thier position and the Mayor Bloombery and his croonies are also behind this .. so that when bullying of teacher happen and they are being set up how can they help students or truly report when bully occurs .. oh well lets wait for the next Columbine and Virginia tech to wake up America to the real criminals Bloomberg
There must be a conspiracy that goes way above the principas the superintendants that allows a school system this large to go on the attack of people who are over 50 years of age and are unfairly being attacked by Principals who are most likely in the same age range or close to it. The people that suffer the most are the students because these principals are spending so much time trying to attack other staff members. They forget about the effect all of this has on the quality of education our students are getting and then they wonder why students our not doing well. They are not provided with consistent quality education and it is reflected in the way the school system is now following apart and will continue to do so until somone other than my self adddress this mess.
I am a recently U-rated and fired teacher. I am working on a film about what happened to me at the hands of the NYCDOE. I would love to talk with anyone on this blog who might be interested in hearing more or perhaps telling their story. I had my appeal hearing on December 19, 2011. I have yet to hear anything! Please feel free to contact me at lachattenoir@gmail.com
Curious because I will be recieving a U and possible discontinuance. I am wondering what did you do or what was the process.
March 8 2012
I do not know if you are aware but suddenly there has been a spike of teachers rated U in their lessons, we feel that the assistants principals at Bryant High School are being pressured to give Us to teachers who have always been rated satisfactory. We believe that is part of the agenda of the mayor in order to destroy careers of senior teachers before they form part of the pool of ATRs, the UFT leadership must be aware of this and Stop it
I am not a teacher nor do I work for the Dept. of Education but I have family and friends who are tenured teachers and I hear this type of behavior from principals on a daily basis. One particular school in Coney Island has a principal to blatantly violates chancellors rules and yet if a teacher speaks up they become the principals target. The principal has been heard of saying, and I quote “We have ways of dealing with teachers we don’t like”, and that couldn’t be more true. Teachers who have received nothing but S’s on their rating year after year all of a sudden start getting U’s. Letters in their file for nonsense, being made to follow rules that appear not to be enforced for others. In one situation the principal has been heard coercing students into writing false statements. The HARASSMENT in unbearable and it forces teacher to retire early and or leave, if their record hasn’t been tarnished too much. Principals are given way too much power. They become the judge, jury and executioner, teachers have no chance. These are careers we’re talking about; you can’t give principals the authority to destroy someone’s life… Teacher have to unite.. Class Action Law Suit anyone????
letters in the file have increased like never before. the principals union have seen the writing on the wall…..their next. So keep the ed reformers away, fo now, by focusing on silly teachers who would never before been spoken to about crap that is part of this job. teaching is now only for those young enough to stay 2-3 years and then change careers.
We definitely need one! This is outrageous and is still going on. Millions are being wasted and pocketed among the administration elite. The teachers, students, community and future of neighborhood schooling free education is nearly completely destroyed. Because great talent is being fired to hide the misguided leadership who are scared about their own retirement! It’s disgusting and sad.
Hi
I am substitute teaching 11 years in the NYCDOE. I am trying to get an answer if I am entitled to retro pay. Any suggestions. The business manager in the school I sub i does not know and the UFT rep also has no answer.
why are per diem teachers not entitled to retro pay from contract for years 2009-2013 they are just as qualified as full timers often having more difficult tasks than the regular classroom teacher just ask any full timer how they faired when they had to cover a class that was not their own and how hard it was. why then are we not entitled to the same settlement from the con tract as others who worked during these years???. Since subs did get a daily pay raise why then should it not be retroactive. Let’s unite .we are just as human as the others who got big checks.
Let’s see how well the schools would fare without the per diem subs who take their lives in their hands daily and are treated as inferiors by other staff members. Remember we have the same credentials.
Uft says no retro to per diems lets take action now
Creative comments . I Appreciate the points , Does anyone know if my assistant might be able to find a sample a form document to type on ?
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