UFT seeks to block termination of teaching fellows

Oct 29, 2008 12:07 PM

The UFT is taking action to halt the DOE’s push to terminate teaching fellows hired this September. According to the DOE, teaching fellows who do not have permanent placements by Dec. 5 will be out of a job.
 
The union has filed a union-initiated grievance on behalf of 130 fellows who face termination and is aggressively pursuing the matter with the DOE.
 
The UFT contends in its grievance that such a move by the DOE would constitute a layoff, which is not allowed under the UFT/DOE collective-bargaining agreement unless the city declares an official financial emergency, which it has not. The union further argues that the UFT/DOE contract supersedes the DOE hiring agreement that teaching fellows were required to sign when they agreed to join the program.