No one should have to tolerate workplace harassment or discrimination, which is why the UFT-Department of Education contracts have contained protections for many years against a wide range of discriminatory or harassing behaviors, including sexual harassment. Federal, state and city laws also provide protections.
Workplace discrimination or harassment can take many forms, and there are various channels for redress. Each channel has its own timeline for reporting the conduct and filing charges. It can be hard to figure out how to respond and what avenues to pursue, which is why it is so important that you contact the union for help.
It’s important to be aware, too, that not every incident of inappropriate behavior and every form of discord with a supervisor will rise to the level of what legally or contractually constitutes harassment or discrimination.
Protections in the contract
Article 2 of the UFT-DOE contract sets the standards for fair practices, which include a prohibition against the DOE discriminating on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, handicapping condition, age or union activity.
If you believe a supervisor has violated your contractual rights, and you and your chapter leader can’t resolve your complaint informally, ask your chapter leader to help you file a grievance against the DOE. Your chapter leader will represent you at the Step 1 grievance hearing.
Another contractual avenue you have if you are being harassed or intimidated by a supervisor is to file a special complaint. Article 23 of the teachers’ contract and corresponding articles in many other UFT-DOE contracts create a process for resolution of a wide range of complaints. When you plan to file a special complaint, keep an anecdotal log indicating the place, time and date of each incident and any witnesses who were present.
As part of the special complaint procedure, the union has the right to convene a joint investigating committee consisting of one UFT representative and one DOE representative. The committee will spend one day investigating the complaint by speaking with the complainant, the alleged harasser and witnesses to the alleged harassment. If no resolution is reached, the union may escalate the complaint to the chancellor’s level.
Federal, state and city laws provide other avenues to challenge certain types of workplace discrimination.
Federal protections
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination and harassment in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex and national origin. In addition, Title VII provides protections for individuals who make a complaint of discrimination or harassment or engage in another form of protected activity.
Before you can file a lawsuit in federal court alleging discrimination or harassment that violates Title VII, you must file a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission within 300 calendar days of the date of the discrimination or harassment. If the commission issues you a Notice of Right to Sue, you have 90 days from that notice to file a lawsuit.
State protections
The New York State Human Rights Law provides many of the same protections that federal law does, but it also covers sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, marital status, military status, domestic-violence victim status and predisposing genetic characteristics, and it provides certain protections against discrimination based on an individual’s criminal record. State law also offers protections from age discrimination for adult employees.
City protections
The New York City Human Rights Law provides expansive protections for workers that make it easier for them to prevail in litigation and includes additional protected categories, such as partnership status, caregiver status, salary history, consumer credit history, unemployment status, status as a victim of stalking and sex offenses, and citizenship status. Among other notable differences with its federal and state counterparts, inappropriate conduct does not have to rise to the level of severe or pervasive to meet the definition of unlawful sexual harassment under city law.
If you believe you have been subjected to unlawful harassment or discrimination in violation of the New York City Human Rights Law, you may file a complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights within one year of the most recent act of harassment or discrimination, or within three years for claims of gender-based discrimination. You also have the option to file a lawsuit against the DOE within three years of the alleged discrimination or harassment.
If you wish to file a lawsuit at either the state or city level, you must file a notice of claim within 90 days of the discriminatory act.
Choosing a course of action
Your best course of action will depend upon the facts of your case, whether it meets the legal standards, how long ago it occurred and the type of discrimination you’ve experienced. In some cases, it may be necessary to file a complaint with the city DOE’s Office of Equal Opportunity before you take legal action. You may be able to pursue more than one avenue as well.
Given this complexity, it is wise to consult with the UFT to discuss your options. You should also know that it is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against an employee who has complained of discrimination or sexual harassment.
Further guidance
The UFT’s Member Assistance Program can provide short-term counseling and referrals.
If you are a witness to inappropriate remarks and actions as a bystander, speak to your chapter leader or district representative for guidance.