Social Worker and Psychologist Newsletter
Apr 28, 2006 9:58 AM
Dear Colleague,
As I promised, the following outlines the issues for our chapter in terms of the Open Market Transfer Plan and School Assessment Team (SBST) Clustering:
OPEN MARKET TRANSFER PLAN
This plan — Section 9 of the October 2005 Memorandum of Agreement — eliminates the seniority concept from the transfer process. One hundred percent of unencumbered vacancies will be posted online. Vacancies will be posted this year between March 20 and Aug. 7. Principals and/or regional supervisors were asked to post them for a minimum of 7 days. People can apply for as many vacancies as they want to in any location. Interviews will be conducted by a committee, called a Human Resources Committee, comprised of pedagogues and administrators.
The principal of the school where a vacancy exists will be a member of this committee. The location of the interviews and which members of the administration will be on the committee will depend on how the particular positions are funded. For SBST vacancies, interviews will be conducted at the regional office. For Related Services Providers, the interviews will be conducted at the school. For District 75 Related Service Providers, a review of applications will be conducted at the district level and then the interview will take place in the school with the related service supervisors present. For Pre-K and LYFE social workers and Title I social workers and psychologists, interviews will be conducted at the regional office. For general education social workers, interviews will be conducted at the school. The various committees are not required to interview all applicants and they are not required to hire any of the people they interview. If you are successful in being transferred, you will receive an e-mail confirmation. Positions may be reposted, at some point, if they are not filled.
The DOE believes that our chapter is included in the Open Market Transfer Plan because of a provision in the Memorandum of Agreement. It is the UFT position that we are not included in the open Market Transfer Plan because a change was not discussed with us as part of negotiations. A union-initiated grievance will be filed regarding this issue.
SBST CLUSTERING
The DOE’s interpretation of the Memorandum of Agreement is that it has the right to make changes in the cluster process. The department has decided that CSE positions will become permanent positions (no three-year rotation) and that existing members will be polled to determine if they want to stay or go. Those opting out will apply for vacancies through the open market.
The DOE has also decided that those people who were assigned to or administratively placed in a cluster between September and May would have a one-time right to retain that cluster. There will continue to be an elected Deployment Advisory Committee that will meet to review referral data. This committee will determine the viability of existing clusters or if a cluster needs to be changed. Retention criteria remain the same. After retention rights are exercised, the remaining unencumbered vacancies will be posted on the open market.
It is the UFT position that there should be no changes to the SBST cluster process because a change was not discussed with us as part of negotiations. A union-initiated grievance will be filed regarding this issue.
As with all grievances, we will comply with the changes until the grievances are decided. IT WILL BE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST TO RETAIN YOUR CLUSTER EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO APPLY FOR VACANCIES THROUGH THE OPEN MARKET. It is extremely unfortunate that we have been put in this position and we will use every resource to fight these unilateral changes.
Also included, for your information, is a Q&A that was developed by the UFT to address general open market questions. It is also available at the UFT Web site, www.uft.org, click on News and Issues, then on Q&A On the Issues. If necessary, I will prepare a Q&A for our chapter.
Fraternally,
Ann Englesbe
Chapter Leader
Addendum
There are two discrepancies between the DOE Cluster Memo and my April Newsletter. The Newsletter says that there is no 3 year rotation of CSE positions. The Cluster Memo says that there is. The Newsletter says that administratively placed personnel will have a one time right of retention. The Cluster Memo says that they must apply for vacancies through the open market. The DOE Cluster Memo of April 27, 2006 is the definitive DOE position. There continues to be a 3 year rotation of CSE positions. Those people who were assigned or administratively placed in a cluster between September and May must apply for vacancies through the open market.
The Union Initiated Grievances regarding the Transfer Plan and Clustering were filed on May 2, 2006.
