Author: UNiTY Caucus

UNITY/UFT Did It! We Did It! A New Contract Approved By 87% of our Members

UNiTY Caucus

Members spoke. We listened. The UNITY/UFT caucus has been the foundation of our union for over 60 years and we proudly bear the responsibility for being the majority voice. UNITY/UFT listened to the concerns of membership, involved them through every part of the negotiation process and fought for a contract that provides us with VOICE, SUPPORT, RESPECT and true EMPOWERMENT.

UNITY/UFT President Michael Mulgrew summed it up best when announcing the contract had been ratified. “I want to thank the members of the UFT for their resounding support of this contract. The new agreement gives teachers a larger voice in how their schools are run, and shows what we can accomplish when we stand together.” To emphasize that statement, we can accomplish anything in UNITY.

WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN THIS AGREEMENT:

Pay Increases That Reward the Efforts of Our Members:

  • Year 1: 2.0% (February 14, 2019)
  • Year 2: 2.5% (May 14, 2020)
  • Year 3: 3.0% (May 14, 2021)

This is in addition to the two lump sum payments that will be received in October 2019 and 2020.

New Due Process Rights for Paraprofessionals

New and Improved Rights at the School Level/Workplace for all UFT represented DOE titles

In order to address safety concerns, lack of curriculum, professional development, basic instructional supplies, workload and physical space we negotiated the following:

  • Enhanced authority for consultation committees  
  • Expedited dispute resolution process
  • Additional voice for all members
  • New District Operational Committee
  • New Citywide Operational Committee

Progress Toward A Sensible Teacher Evaluation System

  • Prompt feedback
  • A decrease in the number of observations
  • Joint UFT/DOE training

Focus on Safety

  • Increased access to OORS information
  • Greater input and transparency with regard to the safety committee

Quicker Class Size Grievance Process

Contractual Language on Retaliation

  • If you see something, say something without having to worry about harassment, intimidation, retaliation and discrimination

New and Expanded Teacher Leadership Roles

  • Teacher Team Leader and Teacher Development Facilitator

New and Enhanced Recruitment & Retention Efforts for Hard-to Staff Schools

  • Equal UFT/DOE voice at the school level and salary differentials for eligible schools/titles

New Way to Attain Differentials – A+ Credits

  • More options, more freedom
  • Relevant credits based on YOUR needs

UNITY/UFT understands that it is and has always been about doing the absolute best for our members.

UFT/UNITY Does It Again: Paid Parental Leave Delivered!

UNiTY Caucus

UNITY / UNION PROUD Logo
In spite of tremendous external pressure and ongoing attacks on our Union and our profession, UNITY/UFT stayed the course, fighting relentlessly for an agreement with NYC on paid parental leave for UFT members. This is something our members, men and women alike, wanted. We knew that we had to make this a priority and get the job done. And we did.
The new deal provides six weeks of time off at full salary for maternity, paternity, adoption and foster care leave. When this time off is then combined with current sick leave policies, new mothers could have a total of 12 to 14 weeks of paid leave. And, for the first time, fathers as well as non-birth parents – foster, adoptive and surrogate – are eligible for paid time off with the arrival of a child. Under the new agreement they are now eligible for six weeks of paid parental leave at full salary.

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UNITY/UFT President Michael Mulgrew said it succinctly: “Our educators give so much to the children in their classrooms. Now, New York City has a way for educators to spend more time with their own children. We knew that if we are to keep the educators we have and attract a new generation of educators to our schools, there needed to be a paid parental leave policy in place that gives them peace of mind. And now we have it.”
The fight for paid parental leave is another example of UNITY/UFT’s tireless pursuit of better benefits and working conditions for our members. The battles to protect our members’ rights never stop. You can count on UNITY/UFT to always fight back in the war against organized labor. It is what we have always done.