The Union Agrees To A Teacher Caste System.

Last night the UFT released the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and has officially descended into the cesspool of collaboration with the DOE by throwing the ATRs "under the bus".  The MOA has severely weakened the ATR "due process rights" by allowing for an expedited 3020-a hearing based on Principal accusations and misunderstandings that appointed teachers would not be disciplined for. In other words the ATRs are now "second class citizens".

For ATRs who survived their 3020-a hearings, they are being put in a separate class and are known as the "untouchables", the lowest caste.  These ATRs are considered guilty of charges by the DOE even when an independent arbitrator dismissed these termination charges in the 3020-a hearing.  The "untouchables" will not be given mandatory interviews or"provisional appointments" by the DOE and will stay in rotation.  In other words the DOE and UFT are saying "find your own job if you can"!  The "untouchables"consist of all survivors of the 3020-a process  who were fined $2,000 or more, received a 30 month or longer suspension, or agreed to a stipulation. A change of tone at the DOE?  What change of tone?

Apparently, despite assurances that the "fair student funding" would change.  The MOA says no such thing.  Therefore, whenATRs take "provisional vacancies", 95% of them will be excessed at year's end since the schools would have to pay the full ATR salary in the second year.   In other words, there is no change from this and last year. The union may object to my use of the "caste system"but what else do you call it when there are different rules for three different groups of teachers?  For the ATRs excessed from closing schools or programs are now "second class citizens" while ATRs who won their 3020-a discipline hearings are "untouchables" Here are the special rules that apply only to the ATRs and nobody else.

• An expedited one day 3020-a hearing based on two principals in two consecutive years claiming the vaguely worded term "unprofessional conduct".
• Termination when failing to show up for two mandatory interviews.
• Automatic resignation when failing to appear to a "forced placement" after two days.
• No "mutual consent", the ATR has no choice in accepting a position.

For the lowest caste, the "untouchables". ATRs that survived their 3020-a termination hearings or signed a stipulation, will stay in rotation and the DOE will provide no assistance in helping them land a position.  Even when a shortage area occurs and there is no teacher to fill it.  I'm unsure if the DOE will reach out to the "untouchables" to fill the position even in that case.

When a police precinct or fire station is closed or a police officer and fireman are disciplined, they are sent to another precinct or fire station to prove they are still a valuable asset.  No union would sellout the most vulnerable members like the UFT did.  It's obvious the the vindictive Bloomberg Era policies are still in force at the DOE and our union has bought into it with the MOA when it comes to the ATRs.  How can the UFT allow the DOE to impose this vindictive and unfair "caste system"and claim victory?


Vote No for a contract that's short on money and imposes an unfair "caste system" for its teaching members.