

Cumulative Absence Reserve
Having paid leave to rest and recuperate when you are sick is one of the many benefits of union membership and Cumulative Absence Reserve is the formal name for the bank of sick days earned by UFT-represented employees who work for the city Department of Education.

Absences and leaves related to COVID-19
The UFT has negotiated two hours of paid release time per vaccine dose for members who are unable to schedule their appointment outside the workday. UFT members who have side effects after taking the COVID-19 vaccine and feel sick may also be entitled to paid time off depending on their symptoms and the severity of the side effects.
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Paraprofessionals’ rights and responsibilities during blended learning
Here's what the school day looks like for paraprofessionals and how their responsibilities have changed during blended learning. The new position of para classroom manager will also help meet the demands of teaching during COVID-19

COVID-related leaves and absences
The coronavirus has necessitated many changes in our work world. To ensure the safety of school communities, staff and students are now being tested regularly, and recently negotiated leaves and absences related to COVID-19 are one accommodation to our new reality.Â

School chapters and chapter leaders
The pandemic has changed our work world, but the role of the union remains the same, even as the stakes are higher than ever.

Programs and professional activities
The UFT-DOE contract’s provisions regarding teaching programs and professional activity assignments give teachers a voice while providing for a fair and objective selection process.

Lesson plans
Since 1990, Article 8 of the DOE-UFT teachers’ contract has affirmed that the organization, format, notation and other physical aspects of lesson plans are all up to the teacher.

Paraprofessionals’ responsibilities
Paraprofessionals have challenging and rewarding jobs working as part of a team to provide educational and support services to children. They also have rights and responsibilities they should know about.

New operational issues process
Whether it’s excessive paperwork, lack of basic instructional supplies or inadequate space, when issues arise that impede our work with students and need addressing, a timely resolution is of the essence.