For Immediate Release

School administrators criticize new agreement

Jun 23, 2009 4:11 PM

UFT President Randi Weingarten and Mayor Bloomberg announced on June 22 an agreement that restores the traditional post-Labor Day start for members, leaves intact the pension and health benefits of all current UFT members in active service or retired and preserves the age 55 retirement benefit. The union has agreed to support legislation to modify pension measures for newly-hired members to provide the city with sorely needed cost savings during the current economic downturn. On June 23, the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators issued a statement criticizing the agreement, saying it adversely affects professional development and other needed preparation by allowing students and teachers to return on the same day.

Weingarten responded with the following statement:

This agreement was born out of a need to create savings for the city, and it was the chancellor’s preference that students and teachers return on the same day. The chancellor could make a different decision later because the agreement says the first day after Labor Day may be an instructional day, but it doesn’t have to be. But it is surprising that the CSA would wait until now, at the end of the process, to blame the UFT for finding a way to save the city money when they have been totally absent in the fight to save our school system from budget cuts this year.