Nov 23, 2005 5:15 PM
Paraprofessional Member Letter Nov. 23, 2005
Dear Colleague:
Now that all the UFT contracts with the Department of Education have been ratified, you should be seeing your retroactive pay and the first 11.4 percent of your 15 percent pay increase in your December 15th paycheck. Retroactive payments will range from $1,466 to $2,235 for paras who have been in the system since September 2003. In addition, the union’s officers have agreed to stretch that retro a bit more by waiving the UFT dues on the retroactive amounts.
There has been some confusion about the Career Ladder program. I want to assure you that the Career Ladder program (CTP) remains intact. Release time for attending college continues to be available to paraprofessionals as before.
The confusion about the career ladder and release time may have come about because the union was looking for ways to raise paraprofessional salaries beyond what was negotiated. At the same time, the DOE was trying to eliminate the release time to save money. They offered so little savings that we rejected it and ended the talks. So once again, rest assured that both the salary schedule and the full release time are exactly as the new contract provides.
Our goal, as always, is to enhance your professional growth opportunities as well as your economic security. While at first the new state and federal regulations on paraprofessional qualifications were a threat to your job security, we turned them into an opportunity by adding the new BA salary line effective October 2006.
I also want to let you know that, thanks to the courage of a couple of District 75 paras, we are making headway on the blood-borne pathogen issue. Because those paras, backed by the union, were willing to stand up and speak out about their experiences, and because the DOE was embarrassed by all the media coverage of our press conference, the administration has promised to provide protective gear and take other vital steps to help protect educators who are at risk as a result of bites or scratches by a child. We will continue to monitor to make sure their actions fit their words.
Finally, congratulations on the third annual New York State School-Related Professionals Recognition Day. I wish you and your family the very best for the coming year.
All the best,
Randi Weingarten
