UFT negotiating team has been formed

In answer to our call, many UFT members volunteered to work on the negotiating team for the upcoming contract negotiations with the city and the Department of Education. We let applicants know this week if they were selected. The UFT will train hundreds of members representing the union's different divisions and functional chapters on negotiations and then the team will begin to discuss priorities for the next DOE-UFT contract. Functional chapter subcommittees will soon begin formulating their own unique bargaining demands.

Seniority lists now available

The DOE has issued the seniority lists for both pedagogues and paraprofessionals. These lists come into play when excessing occurs at a school. The principal is expected to provide the seniority list when the chapter leader requests it. If your principal refuses, you should speak to your UFT district rep. You should show the seniority ranking of any member of your school chapter who asks to see the seniority list. Find out how to read a seniority list (you must be logged in to the UFT website to access it) and read a Q&A on excessing.

Teachers' Retirement System to divest Russian holdings

The trustees of the New York City Teachers' Retirement System have voted to "prudently divest" from Russian securities "to ensure the long-term stability of our pension system." TRS holds about $90 million in Russian securities out of its total portfolio of $104 billion. "We have to stand up for justice," said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. "Russia's invasion of Ukraine is an attack on democracy. There must be consequences for this kind of offense against international peace."

UFT president testifies on mayoral control

The one-house budget resolutions recently issued by the state Assembly and the Senate did not include a proposal to extend mayoral control in New York City, indicating that school governance may not be addressed as part of state budget legislation. In testimony before the joint education committees in Albany on March 4, UFT President Michael Mulgrew testified that mayoral control should not be extended without revisions. He said the UFT does not want to see the return of a school-board governance structure, but the state should alter the current governance structure to allow for greater educator and family input while implementing stricter limits on the mayor's powers. The UFT recommends balancing the composition of the Panel for Educational Policy so the mayor no longer controls the majority of appointments and parents have more representation.

Read the full testimony