The Secret DOE/UFT ATR Agreement Is Little Changed From The 2014 Contract.

 The secretly negotiated ATR Agreement, without ATR input or approval, appears to be similar to the disastrous 2014 ATR Agreement.  The only improvement with this agreement is the elimination of a few of the second class citizenship issues like the one day expedited 3020-a , the two day voluntary resignation requirement when not showing up to an assignment, and the vaguely worded "unprofessional conduct" clause.  Then there is also the inadequate and insulting ATR buyout incentive. Otherwise, the 2017 ATR Agreement is similar to the 2014 ATR contract.

First, and foremost the DOE will still be allowed to have two lists of ATRs.  The first list for ATRs who came from closing schools or programs and the other for ATRs who survived their 3020-a discipline hearings.  Based on past placements, the DOE only recommends hiring from the first list and only when there are no ATRs left on the first list will ATRs who won their 3020-a termination hearings be offered a vacancy. To ensure that ATRs who won their 3020-a hearings are not offered a position, the Scarlet Letter (red flag) remains on their file for principals to see, even when the ATR was found not to have committed the charge..

Second, for teachers in Districts, they can now be"forced placed" anywhere in the Borough once again,  This is a major loss for elementary and middle school teachers who have always preferred staying in their District schools and not travel across the Borough to strange schools and neighborhoods.

Third, "forced placements"of ATRs are still in effect, there is no mutual consent for ATRs, despite how our union presents it in the ATR Agreement.

Finally, the union leadership will still allow the DOE to continue to discriminate against ATRs for per session activities like Regents grading and school based activities.

The 2017 ATR Agreement that will stay in effect until the end of the 2018-19 school year can be found on the ICEUFT blog Here.