DOE-UFT contract talks to begin on Oct. 13

The city has agreed to sit down with the UFT for the first negotiating session on Thursday, Oct. 13. Under state law governing public employees, the terms of an expired agreement remain in effect until a new one is reached. Salary steps and differentials remain in effect, but we need a new contract to secure the across-the-board pay increases we deserve. The current DOE-UFT contract expired on Sept. 13. The union’s 500-member negotiating committee is meeting on Sept. 28 to prepare for the start of bargaining. The results of our all-member survey will direct their discussions. 

Determining your school’s MOSL assessments 

Chapter leaders should form their Measures of Student Learning (MOSL) committee with their principal as soon as possible. The chapter leader should select half the committee members and the principal should select the other half. Be mindful to include a variety of perspectives on the committee. Your school’s MOSL committee will decide on the measures of student learning for each grade and subject in your school. It will also choose the assessments, the target population and the measure. State assessments are not required for any teacher’s measure of student learning, which gives the committee more latitude to choose measures that align with your school’s instructional program. In addition, individual measures are no longer required so consider using grade and school-wide measures. The UFT is holding a virtual MOSL training workshop for chapter leaders and MOSL committee members on Thursday, Sept. 29. The agenda will include MOSL assessments versus screeners, the growth model versus goal setting, the default MOSL assessments, and making MOSL recommendations. Look out for your email invitation. See the key dates for this year’s teacher evaluation system.

Create your team for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks are back this year on three Sundays in October. We are asking chapter leaders, if they have not already done so, to create a team to allow their chapter members to fundraise together and support each other. You don’t have to personally participate to create a team. If someone else in your school community is traditionally responsible for creating your school’s team, please remind them to create it. Every UFT team should have “UFT” in its title so we can compile the total amount that UFT members raise. It’s a great event to build chapter spirit and solidarity. The Brooklyn walk is on the Coney Island Boardwalk on Sunday, Oct. 9. The Long Island, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island walks are on Sunday, Oct. 16, at the customary locations. The Bronx walk this year will be at the Bay Plaza Shopping Center on Sunday, Oct. 23. Read the UFT Team Leader Kit for more helpful information.

Create a team

Oct. 31 deadline for limited waiver on debt relief for public employees

Public employees have until Monday, Oct. 31, to take advantage of the Biden administration’s limited waiver for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Under this waiver, public employees may receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify for this program. This waiver is separate and apart from the debt cancellation initiative that the Biden administration recently announced for all student loan borrowers who meet income eligibility requirements. Let your members know they can attend one of the one-hour webinars offered by the Student Debt Relief Program for UFT members to learn more about this waiver and to help them determine if the waiver applies to them.

Register for a webinar

Training begins for new chapter leaders

New chapter leaders are encouraged to attend chapter leader training, part 1, at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel & Conference Center on Saturday, Oct. 15, and Sunday, Oct. 16. This weekend training session, the first in a three-part series, is designed to give recently elected chapter leaders the tools and resources they need to effectively lead their school chapters. On the agenda at the first weekend are sessions on the rights and responsibilities of chapter leaders, the consultation process, teacher evaluation, and filing grievances or operational issues complaints to address contract violations. UFT President Michael Mulgrew will speak at the plenary. Eligible chapter leaders received an email invitation earlier this week. Space is limited so register early. Seats will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.