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Good Riddance to NYC’s Absent Teacher Reserve Pool. It Was a Bad Idea from the Start.

The Absent Teacher Reserve pool — an initiative that wasted both teacher talent and taxpayer funds — is coming to an end. Its demise is long overdue.

Federation of Nurses/UFT Nurse Recognition Day Celebration

Federation of Nurses/UFT members celebrated in person on May 17 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, honoring their work and their profession as they recognized 20 nurses for their advocacy, leadership and service.

Article Five — Hours And Program

A. Hours Teachers serving in the schools shall have a six-hour and 20-minute day and such additional time as provided for below. The pay rates of employees covered by this agreement will be increased in accordance with the rates set forth herein. The...

Resolution supporting the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and advancing pay equity, racial justice, and fair collective bargaining in women’s sports

The United Federation of Teachers, stands in full solidarity with the WNBPA and its members in their collective bargaining negotiations, and calls on the WNBA to bargain in good faith before the current agreement’s expiration.

A collective advantage

Just like a union, a professional organization represents the interests of its members. Banding together, members may be able to provide products and services to those who join — perhaps magazine subscriptions or professional development or insurance...

If I am going to be excessed, when will I be notified?

According to the UFT/DOE contract, you must be informed in writing by June 15 if you are at risk of being excessed for the next school year, but it is still possible to be excessed after that date due to changes in enrollment or the budget.

Does my school have a safety plan?

Every school must have a school safety plan and a crisis response plan that is updated annually and logged with the education, police and fire departments. Safety Plans are mandated by the SAVE Legislation, the UFT Contract, the Chancellor’s...

ICT models

NYCDOE consultant Marilyn Friend identifies six team teaching models.

Solving Problems

Learn what to do if your child is not receiving appropriate special education services.

Teacher’s Choice stays steady

UFT-represented educators will receive roughly the same Teacher's Choice alloment as last year to reimburse them for some of their out-of-pocket expenses for supplemental instructional supplies and materials of their choice.

When does a School-based Option (SBO) expire?

SBOs sunset at the end of every school, with one exception. The only SBOs that do not sunset every year are changes between seven and eight periods in elementary schools. Any modification to the contract must be voted on every school year, except as...

Article One — Recognition

The Board recognizes the Union as the exclusive bargaining representative of occasional per diem substitute teachers who have received the reasonable assurance of continuing employment referred to in Civil Service Law §201.7(d). Employees in the unit...

Can I grieve a letter that has been put into my personnel file?

Material in your file can be grieved under two specific circumstances: if the letter was written outside the contractual time frame (time limits are specified in the contract) if the underlying substance of the letter violates a specific contractual...

I want to choose a professional activity that is not on the contractual menu. What do I do?

If you would like to do a professional activity that is not on the contractual list, you can propose it to your principal, whose approval is required before you undertake the activity. Also, the 2018 Contract made it possible for chapters to use the...

Taking stock in students’ skills

Steven Leaderman, a teacher at P370, a District 75 program in Coney Island, has created an innovative vocational program that has his students sort and deliver school supplies. The program helps the students develop key vocational and life skills...

Members answer call for Mamdani

Hundreds of UFT members knocked on doors across the city and worked the phones to campaign for Zohran Mamdani and the union’s other endorsed candidates in the weeks leading up to the mayoral election.

How is Teacher’s Choice funded? Is it a contractual right?

The New York City Council created Teacher’s Choice decades ago after intense lobbying by the UFT. Teacher’s Choice is not guaranteed from year to year; the UFT has to lobby for funding for the program in every year’s city budget. Teacher’s Choice is...

Article Thirty-One— Duration

This Agreement and each of its provisions shall be effective as of November 1, 2009 and shall continue in full force and effect through November 30, 2018. Negotiations for a subsequent Agreement will commence no sooner than April 30, 2018 upon...

Article Thirty-One — Duration

This Agreement and each of its provisions shall be effective as of November 1, 2009 and shall continue in full force and effect through November 30, 2018. Negotiations for a subsequent Agreement will commence no sooner than April 30, 2018 upon...

Article Twenty-Eight — Duration

This Agreement and each of its provisions shall be effective as of November 1, 2009 and shall continue in full force and effect through November 30, 2018. Negotiations for a subsequent Agreement will commence no sooner than April 30, 2018 upon...

What is a school-based option?

A school-based option is a modification of the UFT/DOE contract that has been approved by the UFT staff, principal, UFT District Rep, Superintendent, UFT President, and the Chancellor in order to improve education in the school. It provides schools...

Article Thirty-Three — Duration

This Agreement and each of its provisions shall be effective as of November 1, 2009, and shall continue in full force and effect through November 30, 2018. Negotiations for a subsequent Agreement will commence no sooner than April 30, 2018 upon...

Kudos to Leah Lin, PS 85, Queens

Leah Lin, chapter leader at PS 85 in Queens, keeps her fellow educators informed and engaged about union and contract matters with the short, fun and easy-to-follow Morning Rush videos she posts regularly on her Instagram account.

UFT efficiently tackles issues through consultation process

The UFT consultation committee, led by the school chapter leader, meets monthly with the principal to discuss and attempt to resolve issues at the school level. As of May 7, more than 14,000 issues were raised in consultation committee meetings this...

Lesson plans

The union has negotiated and advocated strongly for many years to maintain the integrity of lesson plans as a tool created by and for teachers. Here are the rights and responsibilities that teachers have vis-a-vis lesson plans.

Past communications

Read all emails and member communications we have sent to UFT members since the start of this negotiated acquisition process.

Article Twenty-Four — Definitions

Wherever the term Board is used in the agreement it shall mean the City Board, it being understood, nevertheless, that this contract is binding on all community school districts in accordance with Section 2590 of the Education Law. Wherever the term...

Article Twenty-Seven — Conformity to Law-Saving Clause

If any provision of this Agreement is or shall at any time be contrary to law, then such provision shall not be applicable or performed or enforced, except to the extent permitted by law and any substitute action shall be subject to appropriate...

Article Thirty — Notice-Legislative Action

The following Article is required by the Public Employee’s Fair Employment Act, as amended by Section 204a, approved March 10, 1969. It is agreed by and between the parties that any provision of this Agreement requiring legislative action to permit...

Article Twenty-Two — Conformity to Law-Saving Clause

A. If any provision of this Agreement is or shall at any time be contrary to law, then such provision shall not be applicable or performed or enforced, except to the extent permitted by law and any substitute action shall be subject to appropriate...

Article Twenty-Five — Notice-Legislative Action

The following article is required by the Public Employees' Fair Employment Act, as amended by Section 204a, approved March 10, 1969. It is agreed by and between the parties that any provision of this agreement requiring legislative action to permit...

Article Twenty-Five — Conformity to Law-Saving Clause

If any provision of this agreement is or shall at any time be contrary to law, then such provision shall not be applicable or performed or enforced, except to the extent permitted by law and any substitute action shall be subject to appropriate...

Article Twenty-Eight — Notice-Legislative Action

The following article is required by the Public Employees' Fair Employment Act, as amended by Section 204a, approved March 10, 1969: It is agreed by and between the parties that any provision of this Agreement requiring legislative action to permit...