Dear Colleagues,
The UFT chapters of Birch Family Services came into being with the signing of the first contract at Nazareth Early Childhood Center in 2013. They have grown to include more than 200 members in four bargaining units across four work sites. Below is a list of these bargaining units and their respective chapter leaders:
- East Flatbush Early Childhood Center (formerly Nazareth Early Childhood Center), Brooklyn
- Chapter Leader: Arelis Peralta
- Springfield Gardens Early Childhood Center, Queens
- Chapter Leader: Robyn France
- Phyllis Susser School for Exceptional Children, Queens
- Chapter Leader: Ira Kaplan
- Soundview Early Childhood Center (formerly Watson Avenue), Bronx
- Chapter Leader: to be elected pending conclusion of negotiations for first contract.
Birch Family Services empowers individuals with autism and developmental disabilities to lead fulfilling lives. The agency supports more than 2,000 individuals and their families each day throughout New York City. The UFT represents teachers, teacher assistants, one-to-one aids, clinicians and administrative support staff.
Each bargaining unit has its own contract reflecting both the shared and unique concerns of the members at each location. Each bargaining unit has its own contract reflecting both the shared and unique concerns of the members at each location. As of August 2024, we are close to concluding negotiations for successor collective bargaining agreements for the Birch East Flatbush Early Childhood Center, Springfield Gardens and Susser bargaining units, as well as an initial collective bargaining agreement for the Birch Soundview bargaining unit.
If you have any questions, reach out to me, your chapter liaison, at iweinerman [at] uft [dot] org (iweinerman[at]uft[dot]org).
Sincerely,
Ilene Weinerman
UFT Special Representative