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Peer Intervention Plus
Teachers in danger of being charged under section 3020-a of the State Education Law for incompetence may either volunteer or be recommended by their principal to participate in the Peer Intervention Program program to improve their teaching skills...
Corporal Punishment and Verbal Abuse
It is very important that all UFT-represented workers understand the regulations on corporal punishment and verbal abuse: Regulation of the Chancellor A-420 - Pupil Behavior and Discipline - Corporal Punishment Section 100.2 of the Regulations of the...
Insubordination
Failure to follow an administrator’s directive could be considered an act of insubordination and could lead to disciplinary action against you. If an administrator gives you a directive that you know violates the contract, you must obey it and then...
Environmental Safety and Health
The DOE is required, under our contract and federal and state regulations, to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards, one that is safe, secure and well maintained. It is required to provide training to protect members against hazards that...
Excessing
There are times when a school reduces the size of its faculty, such as when it experiences an unexpected drop in student enrollment, loses a budget line or pursuant to state or federal law, is being closed, or phased out. Excessing is the process of...
Harassment by Supervisors
Unfortunately, UFT members sometimes report that their supervisors have harassed them. Harassment can take many forms — sexual harassment, biased acts or remarks, public ridicule and acts of intimidation are some examples. You do not have to — nor...
Health Benefits
There are two parts to UFT members’ health coverage. As an employee with a regular assignment in the Department of Education, you are entitled to a choice of several health plans offered by the City of New York. Your choice will provide you and your...
They helped to make him a reader
Public school parent Kevin Daly explains why he is #PublicSchoolProud.UFT TV ad: Making a Difference Together
The UFT launched a TV ad campaign on Oct. 10 celebrating teachers and the accomplishments of the New York City public school system.Brooklyn’s District 20 wins #PublicSchoolProud award
District 20 came together to celebrate the arts in public school for the month of June. “District 20 is a large immigrant district. We have a huge immigrant population and a number of languages spoken,” Said District 20 Superintendent Karina...PS 135, Queens, wins #PublicSchoolProud award
The members of PS 135 in Queens talk about how they brought their school community together to create a #PublicSchoolProud video to the tune of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.” “The one thing I want people to truly understand is that teachers care,” says...PS 370, Brooklyn, wins #PublicSchoolProud award
PS 370, a District 75 school in Brooklyn, serves students with significant disabilities, and that requires some creative teaching. “Every child learns a completely different way from the student next to them,” says teacher Lisa Pines. The PS 370...UFT member Mindy Rosier wins #PublicSchoolProud award
Mindy Rosier, a teacher at PS 811 in Manhattan, says she strives to be a “voice for the voiceless.” Watch her explain how she works to help her District 75 students both in the classroom as a teacher and out in the streets as an activist.PS 36, Bronx, wins #PublicSchoolProud award
UFT members at PS 36 in the Bronx show the world why they’re #PublicSchoolProud — and what that means to their school. “From the administration down to the kitchen staff, everybody looks out for everybody,” says teacher and UFT chapter leader John...PS 56, Staten Island, wins #PublicSchoolProud award
“Everyone here at PS 56 is really public school proud,” says Susan Pulice, a teacher and chapter leader at the Staten Island school. Susan and her fellow members explain how they took to Twitter to share their pride.#UnionProud: PCBs in our schools
When the staff of PS 36 realized their school's light fixtures were leaking potentially hazardous PCBs, the union stepped in to fix the problem. Watch the video to learn why PS 36 is #UnionProud#UnionProud: Knowing the union is there when a loved one is seriously ill
Iris Zucker's husband, a 37-year-old nonsmoker, was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in 2004. "One of the things that helped was knowing that the union was there for me," Iris says.Paid parental leave: We did it!
Thanks to thousands of UFT members who shared their stories, sent letters to the mayor, signed petitions and attended rallies, all New York City public school educators will now be eligible for paid parental leave.Vision center comes to PS 188
Many students don’t have the eyeglasses they need, but at PS 188, a UFT community learning school in Brooklyn, that is about to change. A new center that opened in late June will provide accessible eye care to more than 5,000 students in the Coney...Opening Day at PS 91Q
There are 180 days in the school year. This is the story of one school’s first day.Our paid parental leave victory
The UFT members who spearheaded the union’s successful paid parental leave campaign tell the story of their fight. They received David Wittes Awards at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 4.Carmen Alvarez accepts the Cogen Award
Carmen Alvarez, the longtime vice president for special education, gave these remarks upon accepting the Charles Cogen Award, the union’s highest honor for a member, on Teacher Union Day on Nov. 4.#UnionProud schools win Kolodny Awards
Hear members from the schools that won Jules Kolodny Awards at Teacher Union Day on Nov. 4 talk about why the union matters to them. “When I hear the phrase union proud, I think how powerful it is when we join together for a common purpose,” said PS...NYS Teacher of the Year Alhassan Susso
Bronx teacher Alhassan Susso, the winner of the Audrey Chasen Award at Teacher Union Day, talks about his approach to teaching. "At the core of teaching is relationships,” says Susso. “Because it’s really difficult to be able to teach somebody if you...Legal Assistance
Occasionally a Department of Education employee is sued (for example, by a parent) because of something he or she allegedly did at work. When the New York City Corporation Counsel finds that the employee broke no rules or laws in carrying out their...
Official School File
Every UFT member has an official school file. There is only one official school file. No material derogatory to your conduct, service, character or personality should be placed in the file unless you have an opportunity to read the material. You will...
Letter in File
An incident, which has not been reduced to writing within three months of occurrence, excluding summer vacation, may not be added to the file later on. No material derogatory to a teacher’s conduct, service, character or personality shall be placed...
Counseling Memos
Counseling memos are not disciplinary. A counseling memo may only be written to an employee to make him/her aware of a rule, policy, procedure, practice or expectation. A counseling memo cannot include any disciplinary action or threat of...