MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 10, 2023 

Subject:    Negotiations / Albany Lobbying

Negotiations
We made substantial progress in negotiations with the Superintendent present.

As such, we have added a date for negotiations:

They are:

March 13, 2023
March 14, 2023 New

Yes, there are still issues; however, we will work to overcome them. An excellent contract is close; however, we must stick together to make it even better. Your continued solidarity and support will ensure that. Negative talk hurts negotiations. Be careful.

Stay Tuned

Albany – Lobbying
We just spent two days in Albany with NYSUT members from across New York State, lobbying the Legislature.

The BTF met with the Western New York Delegation and presented our priorities e.g. increased funding, removal of State APPR, Correcting Tier Six, the issues with Charter Schools, etc.

We will be filing additional statistics regarding Charter Schools and their negative impact on our schools with the Legislature e.g. draining money, students sent back when not doing well or causing problems, etc.

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 24, 2023 

Subject:    Negotiations Update

Yesterday, we met with the District into the evening.

The Board has been asked to provide input so that we can proceed. As soon as that is conveyed to us, we will meet.

Please remember, any proposals from the District are considered, by them, “Package Proposals” requiring that “all other proposals made by both the District and the BTF be withdrawn”. In other words, the BTF must agree to all the issues/positions/proposals in the District’s package of proposals and drop ours.

Therefore, there are no raises, benefits, etc. that the Board is touting until we agree to all their proposals and drop ours.

As soon as we hear back from the Board, we are prepared to meet… tomorrow, the next day… i.e. as soon as possible.

There were additional positive verbal agreements yesterday; however, the District has not yet provided them in writing. In the last negotiations sessions, important tentative agreements have been reached that would not have happened if we had agreed to all previous tentative proposals.

Please be careful what you say or write that can be used in an attempt to undermine negotiations.

Your patience and solidarity will be rewarded.

PR:su

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 16, 2023 

Subject:    Negotiations

There seems to be confusion relating to the District going public with negotiation proposals.

First, you should know any agreements proposed by the District are considered “Package Proposals” requiring that “All other proposals made by both the district and the BTF be withdrawn”. In other words, the BTF must agree to all the issues/positions/proposals in the District’s package of proposals and drop ours.

Therefore, there are no raises, benefits, etc. that the Board is touting unless we agree to all their proposals and drop ours.
This is the reason that we cannot, with any certainty, say what has been proposed, as it could change.

Second, retiree healthcare is not the only issue remaining. The Board is demanding that the teachers’ work year go from forty-two (42) weeks to forty-three (43) weeks. Teachers have in the past agreed to a change to ensure there is a mid-winter recess, being able to determine when Professional Development before school opens occurs, and that extra snow days be negotiated.

If 43 weeks is agreed to, the Board can do what it chooses.

We are awaiting a counter offer regarding the above.

Bell Schedule – Start/End Times - This is not the same as the one voted on previously.

• For the 2023-2024 school year only. Not whenever they want to make a change as in the previous 2022 MOU voted on.
• Starting/Ending times no more than one-half hour, not one hour as previously required.
• Starting times no earlier than 7:25 and no later than 4:20 instead of 4:45 as previously required in previous (2022) MOU voted on.

Also,

• Must be to improve transportation of students and provide savings.
• Teachers will be notified in writing of any such change on or before May 1st of 2023 of the change to take effect for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Upon notification of said changes, teachers at the affected schools will be placed at the top of the transfer list for the upcoming school year based on their seniority; not in previous (2022) MOU voted on.
• Unless agreed to by the faculty of the affected schools, no other changes within the starting and ending times will occur; not in previous (2022) MOU voted on.
• Teachers’ hours of service shall not exceed 7 hours and 15 minutes; not in previous (2022) MOU voted on.
• Prior to the implementation of the change, the district agrees to hold a community meeting at each impacted school to receive feedback from the school community. New

Once the Board has indicated that it is providing its final offer, our responsibility is to present it to you to approve or not approve.

In addition, a copy of any proposed contract approved first by the Board, will be sent to teachers before a ratification meeting.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          April 13, 2023 

Subject:    Negotiations Updates

As per our correspondence before the recess, the district is preparing its response to our latest proposals.

The District has thus far agreed to one date, April 21, 2023 for negotiations. We are, however, seeking to schedule more dates prior to that.

We will work to have a contract proposal within the next two weeks or sooner; however, we will not present you with a proposal that is detrimental to you instead of one that rewards you for all that you do.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 29, 2023 

Subject:    Negotiations Updates

As per our last correspondence (March 24, 2023 – Click Here), the District is preparing written responses to the issues in our last negotiating session. We will respond as soon as they are received and update you.

Although we have made significant progress in our last sessions, we still have issues to resolve. Some of which are:

• Diminished healthcare for current and future teachers when they retire.
• Bell-time changes.
• Extended school year 42 to 43 weeks.

Allows district to decide when school starts/ends, when in-services, etc. can be scheduled. Currently teachers must approve a calendar over 42 weeks. We have always negotiated a calendar to which both BTF and District agree.

In anticipation of having a contract proposal for your review as soon as possible, we are working with Kleinhans for available dates after the spring recess for a ratification meeting.

MEMORANDUM

Memo To:   All Buffalo Teachers

From:         Philip Rumore, President, BTF

Date:          March 30, 2023 

Subject:    Negotiations Updates

In response to inquiries relating to retiree healthcare for current teachers who retire after ratification of a contract, the Board’s proposal is that current teachers and their spouses and eligible dependents shall be required to enroll in a District-defined Medicare Advantage Plan when Medicare eligible, i.e. they would not be able to continue their current coverage when they retire.
The Board still wants District-provided healthcare insurance in retirement eliminated for newly hired teachers.

Buffalo Community PTA
We have been asked by the Buffalo Community PTA to share the attached flyer (Click Here).