Over the last twenty year our UFT leadership has kept contract negotiations secret from the members and has resulted n contracts that were short on raises and long on "givebacks". After the UFT leadership negotiated theterrible 2005 contractthat resulted in the members giving up time, days, and resulted in the ATR pool. The giveback laden contract created such a backlash and resulted in the UFT leadership setting up a 300 person negotiating committee to make it seem like member input was important. However, the 300 member committee was simply a fig leaf as behind closed doors the UFT leadership negotiated with the City without member participation.
Now that another contract is imminent, the UFT leadership is once again negotiating behind closed doors and we can expect raises that don't even equal the inflation rate and who knows what "givebacks" the union leadership will agree to that hurt members. We already know there are health care "givebacks".
Because the union leadership keeps everything secret, members cannot object if they have no ides what is being negotiated until it is too late.
List of Givebacks:
- Elimination of the seniority transfer.system.
- Creation of the ATR pool.
- Creation and expansion of the "probable cause" provision.
- Adding time and days to the school year.
- Reinstating circular six requirements.
- Reducing the TDA interest rate from8.25% to 7%.
- Agreed to allow the City to have their own 3020-a provisions.
- Failed to stop the DOE from using the school based fair student funding that discriminates against veteran teachers.
- Members can no longer can grieve a letter to the file.
- Restrictions imposed on ATRs.
- Increased the vesting period for retiree health benefits for newer members.
Update: Our union leadership negotiated a 2% annual raise for the members (7.5%/3.75 years). This is significantly lower than the 2.8% inflation rate and the inflation rate is expected to go higher in the next two years.