The Delegate Assembly is Wednesday, April 17

The next Chapter Leader Update will be Friday, May 3

This Week's Focus

Members who still need UFT election ballots can cast their votes in person

As a result of our successful Get Out the Vote strategies, we have received many requests for duplicate ballots from people who did not receive or misplaced their ballots. The April 8 deadline for requesting ballots has passed, but the American Arbitration Association has informed us that UFT members can appear in person from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, April 15, or Tuesday, April 16, at its office at 120 Broadway, 21st Floor, New York, NY, 10271, to request a duplicate ballot.

To receive a duplicate ballot, the UFT member must:

1. Present photo ID;
2. Be present in person at the American Arbitration Association office to make the request — a member cannot request a ballot on behalf of someone else.

In addition, UFT members may hand deliver their own ballot in person to the American Arbitration Association by 5 p.m. on April 16, as long as they present photo ID. No one can deliver anyone else’s ballot. For voting instructions and information about who is running, see the UFT Election 2019 section of the union website.

New DOE-UFT contract provides stronger protection against harassment

No one should have to tolerate workplace harassment, discrimination or retaliation, which is why the DOE-UFT contracts have long contained protections against a wide range of discriminatory or harassing behaviors, including sexual harassment. The 2018 DOE-UFT contract requires the DOE to maintain an environment that promotes an open and respectful exchange of ideas. It explicitly prohibits retaliation, harassment, intimidation and discrimination of any kind because an employee has raised concerns or reports a violation or a suspected violation of any DOE policy, rule, law or regulation and/or contractual violation or participates or cooperates in an investigation. UFT-represented employees can file grievances in response to violations of this new contractual clause. If unresolved, the union may take the matter to final and binding arbitration. If a supervisor is harassing or intimidating you, another option is to file a special complaint under Article 23 of the teachers’ contract and corresponding articles in many other DOE-UFT contracts. If you feel you are being harassed, intimidated, discriminated against or retaliated against, keep an anecdotal log indicating the place, time, date and any witnesses who were present during each incident and contact your UFT district representative.

Apply for summer school positions now

The summer school application is available on the DOE website. Before beginning the application, everyone must register as a new user, even if they have previously registered as an applicant for the Summer School Instructional Program. Members should claim retention rights if they are entitled to them. If you believe you have been improperly denied retention rights, use the “Contact Us” form on the left column of the Summer School Instructional Program website and email Michael Sill at Msill@uft.org. The deadline for applying for summer school is Thursday, April 25. Please note that if you edit your application after you have submitted it, the date of the application is reset. So, if you edit your application after the April 25 deadline, the application will be marked late.

Share how the union has made a difference in your life

As a chapter leader, you know the importance of being part of a strong union. Let’s share our stories with fellow members so they can see the value of union membership in its many facets. For Chapter Leader Jonathan Nuwesra, the union helped him get a student removal policy established at his high school. Chapter Leader Antonio Jacobs got support from the union’s Member Assistance Program after his wife died from breast cancer. Chapter Leader Anthony Valentino got quick action from the UFT after a contractor doing work on the school’s roof caused serious flooding. Read UFT members’ stories on our Union Proud website. When you subscribe to stories, you’ll get an email notification each time a new story is posted on the Union Proud site. What story do you have to tell about the importance of the union for you or your school? Use this online form to share your story. Thank you!

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Your Chapter Leader Checklist

• NewConsider attending your school’s parent association meetings: The union’s close work with parent groups has forged strong bonds and support that benefit both our students and our members. Consider attending your school’s PA meetings to strengthen these bonds.
• Donate a long-sleeve shirt to honor farmworkers at the April 17 DA: The AFT National Latino Caucus asks chapter leaders and delegates attending the Delegate Assembly on Wednesday, April 17, to donate a long-sleeve shirt to the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs to raise awareness about the dangers of working with pesticides and exposure to the sun. The Long-Sleeve Shirt Drive is also accepting monetary donations. The drive’s overarching goal is to honor farmworkers and the important contributions they make to our daily lives. For more information, see the Association of Farmworkers Opportunity Programs website.
• Enroll new hires in the UFT: Because of the Janus v. AFSCME ruling, we must now enroll every new hire in the UFT as soon as possible or lose the union dues we need to service and support all of our members. Schools continue to fill vacancies throughout the school year. Please check to see if any new hires in your school have not yet signed a union enrollment card or filled out the online enrollment form on the UFT website. At the same time, take the opportunity to introduce yourself to these new staffers, if you haven’t had a chance to, and offer your help and support. If you don’t have any union enrollment cards, please let your district rep know. In the chapter leader-only section of the website, you can now view the Nonmember Report for your school and see if your school has any staffers who need to be brought into the UFT fold.
• Peer Intervention Program vacancies: The Peer Intervention Program (PIP) provides voluntary, confidential assistance for tenured teachers who believe their teaching would benefit from such assistance. PIP is accepting applications for full-time positions as Peer Intervention Program Intervenor. Applicants for the position must have a minimum of eight years' full-time teaching experience, demonstrate outstanding classroom teaching ability and have successful experience working with adults. Priority will be given to teachers licensed in special education. For full selection criteria and responsibilities, visit the DOE and/or UFT websites or email PIP@uft.org. The application deadline is Friday, May 3. Please post the Peer Intervention Program job posting on your UFT bulletin board.

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Share with Your Members

New Caregiving 101 flier

Peer Intervention Program job posting

Money Moves flier

5K Run/Walk flier

Daniel Dromm Scholarship Brunch flier

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You Should Know

Community Service

Create a school team for our 5K Family Run/Walk on May 11: The UFT will host its sixth annual 5K Family Run/Walk on Saturday, May 11, in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Put together a team from your school for this untimed walk/race sponsored by the UFT Middle Schools Division. Proceeds go to the UFT Disaster Relief Fund. The 5K Family Run/Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs to noon at MCU Park, 1904 Surf Ave. We’ll provide complimentary water, snacks and giveaways for each participant and a chance to win raffle prizes. The fee to participate is $25 for adults and $15 for children age 12 or younger. You can run or walk as an individual or as part of a team. Sponsors can also pledge money for your participation. Information about sponsorship and registration for family and friends can be found on the 5K Run/Walk flier, which you can post on your UFT bulletin board. UFT members may register online on the UFT website. Please note: You must be logged in to the UFT website to access the registration link. Here is a map of the route. The registration deadline is Wednesday, May 8.

Health and Safety

Make changes to your NYC health benefits in April: In-service members may take advantage of a special open enrollment period for NYC Health Benefits this month. Members can make changes throughout April. Changes take effect July 1, 2019. This period was offered to give members the opportunity to enroll in the restructured HIP HMO Gold Plan but any change may be made at this time.

Opportunities

NewFree summer program for current 3rd-graders: Teachers of students born in 2010 and entering 4th grade in the 2019-20 school year may refer struggling readers to Catching Up and Getting Ahead, a free three-week summer collaboration between Everyone Reading and the Museum of the City of New York. This program helps 30 rising 4th-grade students with basic reading skills and provides a jumpstart on the 4th-grade social studies curriculum. Teachers can download the application for parents. For more information, see the program description in English or Spanish.

NewWin a chance to teach in zero gravity: Science teachers of grades 8-12 are encouraged to enter Mission: Microgravity, a nationwide competition sponsored by Zero Gravity Corporation. Contestants must create a video that chronicles a creative and thought-provoking experiment to be conducted under microgravity conditions. The winner will test their experiment in a weightless science class aboard the company’s specialized aircraft, G-FORCE ONE®. The submission deadline is Tuesday, May 7. For more information about Zero Gravity Corporation, see the ZERO-G website. To enter the Mission: Microgravity contest, see the online application.

New Attend a zine event: Educators are invited to attend the second annual Zine Fest (dot) EDU event on Friday, May 17, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Blue School, 156 William St., in Lower Manhattan. Zine Fest (dot) EDU is a gathering of teachers and students who make zines, which are digital magazines with content on a variety of subjects including social justice, politics and poetry. Participants will have the opportunity to read and purchase zines created in classrooms across New York City. Please note, CTLE credit is not offered for this event. For more information and to register to table at the event, see the online form. You can also view the Zine Fest (dot) EDU page on Facebook.

NewDay trip to Philadelphia Museum of Art: The UFT Social & Recreational Committee invites members and their friends and family to a day trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to view the exhibit, "The Impressionist’s Eye," an examination of Impressionism. This trip is on Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The bus leaves from and returns to UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. The cost is $105 (add $1 for handling) and includes round-trip motor coach, driver’s gratuity, admission to museum and dinner at Positano Coast restaurant. Please make check for $106 payable to UFT/Philly Museum. This trip is limited to 48 participants. For more information and to download the mail-in flier, see the Just for Fun page on the UFT website.

Attend the DOE’s Sustainability Showcase: UFT members may attend the third annual DOE Sustainability Showcase on Wednesday, May 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brooklyn Expo Center, 72 Noble St., in Greenpoint. This event celebrates school efforts, actions, innovations and dedication to sustainability across grade levels, topics and leadership. Participants will survey the extraordinary efforts of students, teachers, administrators, building staff and partner organizations to pave the way to greater school sustainability. The Sustainability Showcase features student projects, interactive explorations and raffles. Register online. For more information, see the Sustainability Showcase flier.

Free ballet classes for elementary school students: All students in grades 2–4 may audition for Ballet Tech’s six-week Introduction to Ballet Program. Ballet Tech has worked in collaboration with the DOE since 1978, providing free ballet training to tens of thousands of students. Auditions for its Introduction to Ballet program are ongoing. Staff from Ballet Tech will visit your school and hold auditions for students on your day of choice. Auditions take 10 minutes. Speak with your supervisor if you are interested in this program. To schedule an audition for your school, please contact Janel Rayome at 212-777-7710 or email jrayome@ballettech.org. For more information, see the Ballet Tech website.

AFT National Latino Caucus scholarships for high school seniors: UFT members are invited to join the AFT National Latino Caucus to learn about Latino culture and history. The caucus, a strong advocate for our schools and students, is the sponsor of the annual Maria Portalatin National Freedom Scholarship — named for the longest-serving chapter chair of the UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter — which awards three Hispanic high school seniors a $1,000 book stipend and a laptop to use in college. High school teachers, school counselors, paras and chapter leaders should encourage eligible seniors to apply for the scholarship through the mail-in application process. The application deadline is Wednesday, June 12.

Attend a financial wellness workshop: All members are invited to attend the Money Moves: Financial Wellness Workshop for UFT Members. This free event is on Thursday, May 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 19th floor. Participants will learn how to live within their means and save for short- and long-term financial goals. Topics include budgeting, reducing debt, investing basics and saving for retirement. Register online by April 26. For more information, see the Money Moves flier.

Recognition

NewChapter leader shoutout to Lucas Rule: Chapter leaders are on the front lines, defending members’ rights, ensuring members have a voice in school decision-making and mobilizing members in political action to benefit public schools. Congratulations to Lucas Rule, the chapter leader of Pathways College Preparatory School, a school for grades 6-12 in St. Albans, Queens. When one of his members struggled to resolve a workload issue with an assistant principal, Rule immediately took advantage of a new provision in the DOE-UFT contract that helps chapter leaders address violations of systemwide standards governing workplace issues. When five days passed without a resolution to the problem, Rule’s UFT district representative escalated his report to the superintendent, who then got in contact with the principal “within two hours,” Rule recalled. The principal quickly agreed in writing to Rule’s request. You can read more about Lucas Rule’s achievements on the UFT website.

Salary and Personnel

Severance offer for UFT-represented employees in the ATR pool: The DOE is offering a voluntary severance to all UFT-represented employees in the ATR pool and in Title I-funded positions in the nonpublic schools. To be eligible, you must be either a member of the ATR pool in a rotational or provisional assignment, in a Hardship Transfer Status not yet assigned to a school, or a UFT-represented DOE employee working in a Title I position in a nonpublic school. Anyone who agrees to take the severance will receive $50,000 before taxes, on or about Oct. 1, 2019. Employees who accept the severance offer must agree to either resign or retire (if eligible) no later than Aug. 23, 2019. Please keep in mind people who resign forfeit their right to the 2019 and 2020 lump-sum payments stemming from the 2014 DOE-UFT contract. Those who retire will still get those lump-sum payments, assuming they are eligible. Eligible employees who agree to take the severance must return the Voluntary Severance Agreement and General Release form by Friday, May 31, at 5 p.m. For complete information, read the article on the UFT website.

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This Week in Education and Labor News

Sacramento teachers stage one-day strike: Sacramento City Unified School District teachers on April 11 took to the picket lines over what they say are unfair labor practices, including an allegation that the district is not honoring their contract, reports the Sacramento Bee. The 2017 agreement was supposed to pour $22 million over three years into pay increases, the creation of smaller class sizes, the hiring of more art and music teachers and other improvements. Two years into the contract, the Sacramento City Teachers Association says not enough progress has been made. The majority of the district’s educators participated in the strike.

DeVos unclear on her department’s affirmative action policy: U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on April 10 told a House of Representatives panel that she is “not familiar” with affirmative action guidance for schools that her department rescinded last summer, reports Politico. The Trump administration in July scrapped Obama-era guidance that called on school superintendents and colleges to consider race when trying to diversify their campuses. DeVos also claimed to be unaware of a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling on which portions of the guidance were based.

Supermarket chain workers go on strike: Roughly 31,000 employees at 240 New England locations of the grocery store chain Stop & Shop on April 11 launched the largest private-sector strike in the United States in years, reports the Huffington Post. Leaders at the United Food and Commercial Workers union declared the strike after months of negotiations with the company failed to produce a new contract. The union says that Stop & Shop has tried to increase employees’ health care costs and cut pension benefits for new hires.

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Events Calendar

Featured

Saturday, May 11: The sixth annual Middle Schools Division 5K Family Run/Walk will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon at MCU Park, Coney Island, 1904 Surf Ave. For more information, see the item in Community Service, above.

Saturday, May 18: Online registration is available for the Spring Education Conference, the union's signature annual conference that celebrates, supports and inspires members' work as public school educators. This year’s event is on Saturday, May 18, from 7 a.m. to 3 pm., at the New York Hilton, 1335 Sixth Ave., Manhattan. It includes breakfast, a morning town hall, a large exhibit fair featuring CTE programs, workshops and a gala luncheon. Participants may attend a two-hour workshop of their choice on topics including new technology, advancing literacy skills, teaching the new math learning standards and the Student Debt Relief Program. You can read detailed descriptions of the six workshops. The registration fee is $50 per person. For teachers who take a workshop for two CTLE hours, there is an additional $30 charge, for a total of $80. For paraprofessionals and other UFT members who want to take a workshop for two CTLE hours, there is an additional $15 charge, for a total of $65. School Leadership Team members may use funds allocated to the team to pay for registration fees by using the Spring Conference Purchase Order. For more information about paying by purchase order, see the UFT Purchase Order Memo.

This Week

Monday, April 15: The School Counselors Executive Board meets from 4 to 6 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 19th floor.

Wednesday, April 17: REGISTRATION CLOSED — Student Debt Relief Program information sessions will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the UFT’s borough offices in Staten Island, 4456 Amboy Road; and Brooklyn, 335 Adams St. See the Student Debt Relief Program page on the UFT website for upcoming sessions in May.

Wednesday, April 17: The Delegate Assembly will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. Remember to bring a long-sleeve shirt to donate to the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs to raise awareness about the dangers of working with pesticides and exposure to the sun.

Wednesday, April 17: The UFT’s Member Assistance Program invites those with family members affected by mental illness or addiction to Weathering the Storm: Self Care. This support group meets from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 50 Broadway. You'll learn how to keep cool under pressure. This support group is led by a trained mental health professional and is held in a safe and confidential space. In this session, we'll discuss the role of medication in mental illness and addiction. Register online.

Thursday, April 18: REGISTRATION CLOSED — The Student Debt Relief Program information session will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the UFT’s Queens borough office, 97-77 Queens Blvd., 5th floor, Rego Park. See the Student Debt Relief Program page on the UFT website for upcoming sessions in May.

Thursday, April 25: Queens-based members may attend a paid parental leave workshop from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the UFT’s Queens borough office, 97-77 Queens Blvd., 8th floor, Rego Park.

Sunday, April 28: Educators and parents are invited to the Association of Black Educators of New York’s general membership meeting from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Bedford–Stuyvesant YMCA, 1121 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, where we will celebrate National Poetry Month. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Dr. Sheilah Bobo by email at sbobo@schools.nyc.gov or sbobo@gmail.com or by telephone at 917-412-9099.

Tuesday, April 30: Queens parents are invited to a free workshop about how to bring more fun into your life. Child care, dinner, coffee and tea will be provided. This event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the UFT’s Queens borough office, 97-77 Queens Blvd., Rego Park. Register online. For more information, see the How to Bring Fun into Your Life flier.

Tuesday, April 30: All members providing care for a loved one are invited to Caregiving 101, a support workshop for caregivers, from 5 to 7 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 19th floor. This workshop, presented by UFT Welfare Fund Medical Learning Series in partnership with PSS Circle of Care, helps participants learn how to shoulder the impact of caring for a family member and explores the effects on a caregiver’s career, finances and health. PSS Circle of Care’s Senior Director Sonja Shute and Executive Director Rimas Jasin will be our presenters. Light refreshments will be served. To register, please call Christine Jittan at 212-539-0667. For more information, see the Caregiving 101 flier.

Wednesday, May 1: Members in years 1-3 are invited to the UFT's Member Assistance Program art therapy group from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 2nd floor, room A. Art therapy involves the use of creative techniques such as drawing and sculpting to help people express themselves. It can help you explore your emotions, improve your self-esteem, build self-awareness, manage addictions and relieve stress and anxiety. There is a $10 registration fee. Register online.

Thursday, May 2: Manhattan-based members may attend a maternity workshop from 4 to 6 p.m. at the UFT’s Manhattan borough office, 52 Broadway, 10th floor. Register online. For more information, see the Maternity Leave Workshop flier.

Thursday, May 2: REGISTRATION CLOSED — The Money Moves: Financial Wellness Workshop for UFT Members will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 19th floor. For more information, see the Money Moves flier.

Save the Date

Saturday, June 1: The second annual UFT Pride Committee Daniel Dromm Scholarship Brunch takes place at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, 2nd floor, from 12 to 3 p.m. The registration fee is $75. For more information and to download the mail-in coupon, see the Daniel Dromm Scholarship Brunch flier.

Upcoming LearnUFT workshops

LearnUFT, the UFT’s professional development institute, offers an array of affordable workshops and professional learning opportunities for UFT members. The cost to register, unless otherwise indicated, is $30 for teachers seeking CTLE hours and $15 without CTLE hours. The cost for all paraprofessionals is $15. Participants will earn two CTLE hours for each workshop, unless otherwise specified.

These workshops will take place at UFT borough offices, unless otherwise indicated:

See LearnUFT courses in the Bronx »
See LearnUFT courses in Brooklyn »
See LearnUFT courses in Manhattan »
See LearnUFT courses in Queens »
See Learn UFT courses on Staten Island »

For a full listing of upcoming LearnUFT workshops, see the LearnUFT page on the UFT website.

For more events, go to uft.org/calendar.

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In Case You Missed It

Photo Gallery: Meet the President for Queens 2019

Photo Gallery: Jewish Heritage Committee Labor Seder 2019

Photo Gallery: Mulgrew visits IS 72, Staten Island

Photo Gallery: Gallery Walk at K396 in Brownsville, Brooklyn

Team High School newsletter – April 2019

Queens Parent Newsletter – April 2019

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Professional Committees

UFT Professional Committees offer a wide range of workshops, presentations and exchanges, enabling all members to take an active part in their professional growth. Unless indicated, meetings are at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, Manhattan. Check in the lobby for exact locations. For further information, contact us at 212-598-7772 or visit us online.

Asian American Heritage Committee

• Wednesday, May 1, 4 to 6 p.m., General Membership Meeting.

Association of Teachers of Social Studies

• Saturday, April 13, Greater Metropolitan New York Social Studies Conference. For more information, see the Greater Metropolitan New York Social Studies Conference flier.

New York City Association of Foreign Language Teachers

• Saturday, May 4, 9 to 1 p.m., NYCAFLT/UFT Spring Professional Development Conference.

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Editor: Peter O’Donnell

Executive Editor: Bernadette Weeks

Contributors include: Karen Alford, George Altomare, Amy Arundell, LeRoy Barr, Jackie Bennett, Hannah Brown, David Campbell, Joseph Colletti, Catherine Creegan, Evelyn DeJesus, Crystal Deoraj, Doug Friedlander, MaryJo Ginese, Anthony Harmon, Sarah Herman, Janella Hinds, Junior Linton, Joe LoVerde, Samantha Mark, Deidre McFadyen, Michael Murphy, Gabriel Nott, Suzanne Popadin, Debra Poulos, Jeffrey Povalitis, Nadine Reis, Sterling Roberson, Chris Santoro, Michael Sill, Anne Silverstein, Geofrey Sorkin, Rosemarie Thompson, Liz Truly, Miriam Vega, and Shelvy Young-Abrams.