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)
- The Naming of the Fact-Finder
- 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 - Rally - - School Board meeting. If none scheduled, rally at City Hall
- Superintendent, Board members and Media sent:
- Fact-Finding Begins
- PERB sets guidelines
- Eg. What can be released etc.
- Fact-Finder’s Report Issued
- Report is made public
- BTF takes position – negotiating team, Executive Committee, Council of Delegates vote based on Teachers’ input
- Rally—Board Meeting
- Negotiations Resume
- 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.
- More media
- More Dates/Actions
- 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 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
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 19, 2022
Subject: Negotiations/Threats - Correspondence to Superintendent Williams and the Board of Education
Your authorization of the enclosed threat (Click Here), is but another example of insulting, pathetic and detrimental actions.
Based on the enclosed from the WBEN website (Click Here) you had to write this correspondence?!
When teachers read this correspondence (that you authorized), they will be even more angry with you than they are now in response to your:
- delays in negotiations (see and read our IPs against you)
- after asking for Fact-Finding and a Fact-Finder is appointed in August, you can not participate until into October
- insulting and demeaning proposals
So much for trust and working together to achieve a contract that we all believe reflects the dedication and commitment of Buffalo teachers to their students.
PR:su