Next Delegate Assembly is on May 12

Preference sheets now available

The DOE has asked principals to start distributing preference sheets for next school year. Each spring, teachers request classroom assignments through the program preference process indicating what they would like to teach in order of priority for the following school year. This process has not changed except with respect to Integrated Co-Teaching classes and SETSS. (See item below in Contract Empowerment section.) Chapter leaders should consult with their principals to ensure a smooth preference-sheet process. All teachers should ask for assignments in their license area; this is especially important for probationary teachers, who could have their tenure delayed if they teach out of license. Although some preference sheets may survey teachers about their interest in cluster or compensatory-time positions, cluster positions require a separate posting and application to the principal and some compensatory-time positions require a school-based option (SBO) vote. Before submitting the preference sheet to the principal, teachers should make a copy of it for their records. If a teacher believes their program assignment violates the UFT contract, the teacher can informally attempt to resolve the issue with the principal. Reorganization grievances will be opening shortly; further guidance will be forthcoming.

Read the DOE guidance

3% salary increase in May

The salaries of UFT-represented Department of Education employees will increase by 3% effective May 14. This increase is the final pay increase that the union negotiated on behalf of its members as part of the 2018 DOE-UFT contract. The increase will first be reflected in the May 28 paycheck for pedagogues, H-bank employees and all paraprofessionals. Pedagogues who work per diem or per session will see the 3% pay rate in the June 2 paycheck. The first paychecks that include the raise will also include arrears reflecting the increases back to May 14. The first paychecks that include the raise will also include arrears reflecting the increases back to May 14. Members can log in to the DOE payroll portal as of May 24 to see the first check that reflects their raise.

Read the story

Additional stipend for chapter leaders in June

Chapter leaders are the backbone of the UFT. You have helped members navigate this challenging school year, reported and resolved safety and operational issues at the school level; and motivated and mobilized members into the powerful force that we are. All chapter leaders received a base stipend in December 2020. As with the prior school, chapter leaders who qualify will receive a second stipend check at the end of June to show our appreciation for participating in union activities and spurring member engagement. You will receive points for having 100% union membership; holding regular chapter meetings and consultation meetings with the principal; attending the Delegate Assembly and district representative meetings; encouraging members to participate in COPE; and having active school-based committees. You will receive an additional payment ranging from $250 to $1,000 based on the number of points you accrued this school year from your leadership efforts.

See the details

Show your appreciation for teachers and nurses

It is Teacher Appreciation Week. If you helped organize an activity this week to show appreciation for your school's teachers, please send your best photo (large-size resolution) with caption information, including your school, neighborhood and borough, to uftphotos [at] gmail [dot] com (uftphotos[at]gmail[dot]com) so we can share it on the UFT's social media platforms. Thursday, May 6, is National Nurses Day, and National School Nurse Day is May 12. Please remember to thank the school nurse at your school.

Next steps in school chapter elections

Next week, we will ask your chapter's election committee chair to post on the UFT bulletin board the names of members running unopposed for union office, those running for any vacant positions and the names of candidates competing for other positions at your school. If you are not running for re-election as chapter leader, you can share this information via email on behalf of your election committee chair. If you are running for another term, please consider sharing your email distribution list of chapter members with your committee chair so the chair can inform the rest of the chapter about who is running for election. About 10 days before each school chapter's election, the American Arbitration Association will mail members the date of the election, the group ID number and the unique PIN number that each member will need to vote. Once this letter arrives, your chapter chair should add the election date to your chapter's Election Notice on the union bulletin board and share the date of the election with members via email if feasible. Two days before the school chapter election, the AAA will send an email with the same information to members in the school chapter who have a working email address on file with the union. Voting by phone will take place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the day of the election.