DC 37 reaches a tentative contract agreement

DC 37 reached a tentative five-year contract agreement yesterday after its members have been working without a contract since May 2021. Their tentative contract offers 3% increases in each of the first four years, and a 3.25% raise in the fifth year, plus additional money for salary adjustments, a child care trust fund and a ratification bonus. While we know the financials of DC 37’s tentative agreement will have implications for all municipal unions because of pattern bargaining, the fight must continue in our own negotiations. We will be closely analyzing the tentative agreement, which must be ratified by DC 37 members before taking effect, to determine its full value and see how we can maximize that financial package to get the most for our members in our own negotiations. We will also continue to push at the bargaining table on our noneconomic working-condition demands. Among our priorities are paperwork reduction, health and safety, time and autonomy, and special education.

Day of Action shows labor unity in fight for fair contract

On Thursday, in schools and worksites across the city, UFT members wore black and green in solidarity with their DC 37 co-workers as DC 37 met with the city at the bargaining table. As part of their campaign for a fair contract, DC 37 asked its members to wear their union colors that day. By standing with them in this Day of Action, we sent a clear message to the city that municipal workers are united in our efforts to get the contracts we deserve. While DC 37 has now reached a tentative agreement, our fight for a fair contract continues. Over the past five months of our contract campaign, we have made ourselves visible throughout the city, and we want to build on that momentum with more citywide actions after the break. Our 500-member UFT Negotiating Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 28, to discuss how the DC 37 agreement affects us and our path forward.

Public does not favor charter expansion

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to lift the state’s charter school cap and significantly expand the number of charter schools operating in New York City is badly out of step with the wishes of New York state residents, according to a new poll by Hart Research Associates. Opposition was overwhelming across all parts of the state, among both Democrats and Republicans, and across all racial groups. “Parents and the community really do not want an expansion of charter schools at this time,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew during a Feb. 9 press briefing to announce the poll results. According to the poll, 81% of voters said the state’s educational emphasis should be on “strengthening neighborhood public schools,” not increasing charter schools. Read the news story on the UFT website.

See the poll results

UFT presses state lawmakers to reject charter expansion

In state budget testimony on Feb. 8, UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford applauded Gov. Kathy Hochul's commitment to fully fund public schools but warned that any expansion of charter schools in New York City would come at the expense of public schools. Alford noted New York City diverted a whopping $3 billion in its education budget last year to fund charter schools, seven times higher than the $418 million diverted in the 2009-10 city budget. Alford pressed the legislators to pass two pieces of legislation to address glaring problems in the charter sector: a bill to make the state Board of Regents the sole charter authorizer in the state and a bill to increase transparency in how charters raise and spend money and hold them accountable for the high number of student suspensions and the under-enrollment of students with disabilities, English language learners and students in temporary housing. UFT members head to Albany on Monday, March 13, for UFT Lobby Day to support increased state school aid, speak to lawmakers about how public schools suffer when corporate charter chains expand, and appeal for funding for the UFT’s proven education initiatives, including the UFT Teacher Center, United Community Schools and the Positive Learning Collaborative.

Read the testimony

See the union's legislative priorities

Special election in Paraprofessionals Chapter this spring

You should receive a notice of the Paraprofessionals Chapter special election in the mail from the UFT this week. Please post this election notice on your UFT bulletin board. The UFT is accepting nominations for the following seven chapter positions: chapter leader, first vice chairperson, second vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer and two at-large Executive Board positions. Paraprofessionals in good standing who want to run for one of these offices must collect at least 50 paraprofessional signatures on the nominating petition (also available in all UFT borough offices). A candidate may also submit a statement of no more than 75 words, which will be included on the ballot. The deadline for receipt of the nomination petitions and this statement is Wednesday, March 22, at 5 p.m. All previously elected officers and at-large Executive Board members continue to serve. After the election this spring, the newly elected officers will finish the term ending June 30, 2024.

See the special election section

Come to the UFT’s Early Childhood Conference on April 1

Please encourage UFT members who work with children in 3K through second grade to attend the union’s 15th annual Early Childhood Education Conference at UFT headquarters on Saturday, April 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Veteran teacher David Bedard, the early childhood music program specialist for Daniel’s Music Foundation, will bring his unique insights on engaging young learners through music. Attendees can earn up to four CTLE hours in workshops tailored to the specific needs of young learners. Participants can choose from among 10 workshops. UFT President Michael Mulgrew will give greetings, and UFT Vice President of Elementary Schools Karen Alford will deliver a welcome address. The fee is $35 for pedagogues and $25 for paraprofessionals. School Leadership Team members may use a school purchase order to attend this event. Contact Glen Lopez at glopez [at] uft [dot] org (glopez[at]uft[dot]org) for more information. For detailed descriptions of the workshops and other information, see the conference brochure.

Register now