MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          August 25, 2022

Subject:    Solidarity Picketing / Special Board Meeting

We have just learned that there will be a Special Board of Education Meeting:

It will apparently be to ratify the Engineers’ contract.

While this is very short notice and we know many are still at work, if you can make it with a sign, thank you.

We are still suggesting school /site picketing this Friday, September 2, 2022.

School/Site Picketing Date Change

Based on concerns relating to picketing on the first day of student attendance and the usual confusion, (which will probably be worse this year), we are suggesting beginning school/site “pre-entry” picketing on Friday September 9, 2022 instead of Tuesday September 6, 2022.

Next Rally

We will plan for a solidarity rally before the next regular Board Meeting.

Solidarity Day – Fridays

We encourage teachers to wear BTF identification often, and as always, on Fridays, everyone should be wearing something with the BTF logo. If you need additional BTF logo “stickers”, Delegate Chairs please advise us of the number you will need. You can pick some up or we will put them in the Pony to you. Shirts, etc. are available at BTF headquarters.

Picket Signs

Thank you to the Delegate Chairs who have already picked up signs for your school. Many are here awaiting a pick up. If you have not had a chance to schedule a pick up, please email Hazel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Negotiations

We will be submitting our issues to the Fact-Finder this week unless issues arise. They will not be shared with the District until October 7, 2022. That is when they are due. Unlike the District, we are ready for Fact-Finding now.

We have just received a response from the District re: resuming negotiations on issues we believe can be resolved prior to a Fact-Finder’s Report.

Once again thank you, for on very short notice, turning out for our Rally. The District was taken aback.

Well Done!

Stay Tuned.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          September 1, 2022

Subject:    Correspondence of Superintendent and Board – Attempt to Prevent Teacher Input

Attached (Click Here) please find correspondence sent to Superintendent and Board relating to the attempt to prevent me, as your President, from presenting your input/views.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          September 2, 2022

Subject:    You Sent the Message - Now They Must Listen

As always, Buffalo teachers demonstrated solidarity second to none! Thousands of teachers picketed together at their schools throughout the District, demonstrating their anger with the Superintendent and Board for allowing negotiations to be stalled for over three years, being provided with insulting and demeaning contract offers and, in short, showing disrespect for your dedication and commitment to your students, while all other school Districts, in their negotiations, show their commitment to and respect for their teachers. One principal we know of provided water and donuts for the teachers at his school!!

We will advise you as to when the District agrees to resume negotiations with the mediator and keep you updated.

While the district, who while calling for Fact-Finding, has been in negotiations for three years, has refused to commence Fact-Finding until into October!, we will be submitting our issues to the Fact-Finder on Tuesday September 6, 2022. He will keep them private.

As per our August 8, 2022 email to you, our next “before school” picketing at each school will be September 9, 2022.

Note: Due to many teachers’ concerns, we are not scheduling a “before school” picket on September 6, 2022, the first day with students.

Tentative Timeline (From August 8, 2022 email)

1. The Naming of the Fact-Finder
   1. Superintendent, Board members and Media sent:
      • Contrasts – Buffalo teachers’ salaries, steps, lifetime earnings with Big 5 and local districts, COLA etc.
      • Buffalo/Nationwide Teacher shortage
      • Healthcare/Teaching conditions
      Note: according to NYSUT RE: our last media buy: Buffalo News views 114,000; Social media (politicians, etc.) 101,000
   2. Rally - - School Board meeting. If none scheduled, rally at City Hall
2. Fact-Finding Begins
   1. PERB sets guidelines
   2. Eg. What can be released etc.
3. Fact-Finder’s Report Issued
   1. Report is made public
   2. BTF takes position – negotiating team, Executive Committee, Council of Delegates vote based on Teachers’ input
   3. Rally—Board Meeting
   4. Negotiations Resume
   5. Picketing of Superintendent and Board Members’ houses (timing here important) - we will see what District’s Position on Fact-Finder’s report is and statements made as negotiations resume.
   6. More media
4. More Dates/Actions
   1. Teacher set-up day, (September 2nd ) and teachers will also picket on September 9th. Teachers picket together in front of school and enter together. (Signs will be distributed by next week)

We will continue to keep you updated and take additional actions as circumstances unfold.

Stay tuned. Stay ready.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          September 6, 2022

Subject:    Negotiations/Starting and Ending Time Change

First, as the new school year begins, while you are hardly ever told, you are remarkable. In the face of all the obstacles, insults, and lack of support, you put your students and their welfare as your primary goal.

As you have heard me say and continue to say, there are no finer, more dedicated teachers anywhere.

Yes, anywhere.

Negotiations

Unlike the District who can’t make their submissions to the Fact-Finder until October !!?, we submitted ours today (September 6, 2022). He will keep them confidential until October 7, 2022, when the District is to submit theirs.

Starting/Ending Time Change

District to BTF – we want to change starting and ending times, this school year, with thirty (30) days’ notice!!

You will be receiving a copy of our response! Again, they apparently want to blame teachers for the transportation problems of which they have been aware for over a year.

Stay tuned.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          September 9, 2022

Subject:    Negotiations/Transportation Bell-Time MOU

Transportation Bell-Time MOU

I have not signed the insane (I’m being kind) Transportation Bell-Time MOU.

Indeed, we have, today, filed charges with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) against the District. (Click Here)

Just when you think the Superintendent, Board and others in the District can’t be more insulting and callous, they:

• Wait until April 2022 (three years after negotiations began) to present a one-sided detrimental proposal.
• Don’t follow-up on said contract proposal until September 1, 2022.
• Expect us to agree to an MOU that is far worse than their contract proposal.
• Present an MOU that provides no details relating to where, when, how and why.
• Expect parents and staff to change their childcare and other responsibilities after they are already in place.
• Have some students waiting in the dark longer.
• Have some students arrive home 6-8pm.
• Tell teachers if you don’t like it or can’t do it, transfer out, leave your students, and start at a new school.
• Don’t explain how afterschool programs will continue.

More acid in the wounds.

Negotiations

Another great turnout today! Well done. Thank you.

Submissions to Fact-Finder

Unlike the Board, who after they asked for a Fact-Finder and was appointed in August, we submitted our issues to him this week. Oh, as you may recall, the Board can’t submit theirs until into October.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          September 16, 2022

Subject:    Negotiations / Picketing / School Safety

Negotiations

We have sent correspondence to the Superintendent again, indicating that we are willing to set some dates to negotiate issues that we have discussed and that each side believes can be agreed to before Fact-Finding continues in October.

We are in the process of working with NYSUT, our state affiliate, to once again do media buys. The last time, according to NYSUT, there were 114,000 Buffalo News “views” and 101,000 social media “views”.

We are adjusting them to reflect student needs as well as financial disparities with other Districts.

We will also be doing billboards.

This is as was laid out on our timeline of events that has been sent to you.

Picketing

Mass Picketing

Our next mass picketing will be:

DATE: Wednesday, September 21, 2022

TIME: 4:00 – 5:00 PM (The Board Meeting starts at 5:30)

PLACE: Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (BPS 192) 450 Masten Ave, Buffalo, 14209 (Off West Ferry)

Let’s once again show our unity and anger.

Bring your signs. We will also have some available.

I will be addressing the Board on your behalf.

We’ll see if the Board’s Negotiations Spokesperson, once again, attempts to prevent me from speaking.

Picketing Before School

The next scheduled date for picketing before school is the date of the above Board meeting, September 21, 2022.

School Safety

The recent incident in one of our schools, once again, demonstrates the need for critical protocols for the identification of violent and disruptive students and indeed all school safety issues.

We are again going to periodically survey you to determine the safety of your school/site.

The results will be sent to you, the District, and the media. Names will not be released.

Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams seems to be attempting to follow up on our previous surveys.

We will, however, continue asking you about the conditions at your school/site.

The next one will also include student discipline/corrective action questions.

Please take the time to complete the survey. (Please refer to your email for survey link)

Thank you.

PR:su