MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: July 22, 2022
Subject: Update - July 26, 2022
Negotiations
District’s April 28 Proposals - Some of the Low-Lights
Signing “Bonuses”
- July 2019-2020
- July 2020-2021 - No Salary Increases
- July 2021-2022
(a) Active, full-time teachers, employed by the District at the time of ratification of this agreement by the Board that were hired by the District prior to January 1, 2022, shall receive a one (1) time bonus in the amount of 6% of their annual salary as of the date of ratification of this Agreement. Adult Learning Center teachers employed and active at the time of ratification will receive a one-time bonus in the amount of $500.00.
(b) Teachers that retired between September 1, 2019 and ratification shall receive a one-time payment in the amount of $500.00 if he /she retired prior to September 1, 2020, $1,000 if he/she retired between September 2, 2020 and ratification of this agreement.
“Salary” Only
July 2022-2023 (or date of ratification), 6% or 4.9% if step 16 removed
July 2023-2024, 6%.
July 2024-2025, 4% or 2.94% (If new Step 16 removed)
Healthcare
Teachers Would Pay
- July 2022, 13%
- July 2023, 14%
- July 2024, 15%
Retirees
Teachers hired after July 2023- No Healthcare after retirement
Some Other Proposals
- School Year: 42 to 43 weeks
- Teaching Schedule-District can change starting and ending times of school-must be less than an hour and teacher must be notified by January 1 of the “Change year” e.g. January 2023 for 2023-2024 school year.
Yes, there are more. Yes, these are insults.
Stay tuned.
Some Upcoming Key Dates
- The appointment of the PERB Fact-Finder
- The Beginning of Fact-Finding-both sides make presentations over one or more days
- The Fact-Finder releases report
- Both sides accept or reject parts of the Fact Finder’s Recommendations
- School Board Meetings
- September 2, 2022 Teacher set up day
- September 6, 2022 Classes Resume
We are preparing actions- picketing at the beginning of Fact-Finding the houses of the Superintendent, Board Members, and Board of Education meeting, etc,
Media coverage, release of statistics- Buffalo teachers vs. all other teachers, teacher resignations (over 120) from the District to go to other Districts, etc.
In addition, we, with NYSUT, will be prepared with a financial analysis that will show that the District now and in the future can and must provide Buffalo teachers with a contract that reflects their dedication to their students and doesn’t treat them as inferior to their colleagues in other districts.
Stay Tuned.
Illegal Job Actions
As you have previously been advised, a withholding of services i.e., of teachers saying they aren’t going to coach, not going to be a club advisor etc. is and has been found to be a strike.
Indeed, as reported to you, teachers who witnessed a terrible fight after school and then met to console each other were charged with a strike when some called in sick the next day, even though the Delegate Chair had advised the teachers in writing to only call in sick if they were ill. The Buffalo Teachers Federation also spoke with the Delegate Chair to caution her. She took immediate appropriate action.
The District charged the teachers with a strike. A hearing was held, they were found guilty by PERB and just recently by a court of being on strike. Please be careful.
As per today’s Buffalo News Article, even though this was an horrendous and dangerous confrontation, The District showed its contempt, vindictiveness and callousness toward teachers. “The District is pleased with the decision of the Appellate Division and expects the BTF to abide by the law in the future regarding the prohibition of public sector labor strikes,”said Nathaniel Kuzma, General Counsel for the Buffalo Public Schools. Note: He is also the Board’s Chief Negotiator.
Some in the District are looking for any way to divide us. They will try to set teacher against teacher and teachers against the BTF by using any talk or information against the BTF. That has never and will never work. We are Buffalo teachers.
Our solidarity is our bond.