MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: November 14, 2022
Subject: Updates – November 14, 2022
Negotiations
The Superintendent contacted us in reference to the cancelled negotiations to advise us that the District is committed to continuing negotiations and that the only reason for the cancelation was the short time between Monday and Wednesday as a result of being off on Tuesday.
We will see when we resume negotiations on November 21, 2022.
If progress is not satisfactory, there will be a no confidence vote in the Superintendent and Board on Tuesday, November 22, 2022.
As you were advised, we will be picketing the next Board meeting. I will be addressing the Board on your behalf.
DATE: Wednesday, November 16, 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 East Ferry)
Fact Finding
The Fact-Finder has our and the Board’s submissions. He has advised us that he will schedule a meeting if he needs clarification from either party. If not, he will issue his recommendations for a settlement. They are not binding on either side.
We have provided documentation about the great disparities in salaries, steps, lifetime impacts, District stagnant healthcare costs (etc.)… and an analysis of the District’s excellent financial position.
His report/recommendations will be made public.
Be Careful
As per our attorneys request, under New York State law, strikes by public school teachers are illegal. Employees and unions can suffer severe consequences for engaging in a strike. As per New York State law, BTF cannot lawfully authorize, approve, condone, support or recommend a strike.
Loose actions or even talk about a strike can have serious consequences for both individual members and the bargaining unit as a whole.
The Taylor Law mandates that a public employer apply for an injunction in state supreme court "where it appears that public employees or an employee organization threaten or about to do, or are doing" a strike. And that section states that where there is non-compliance with a subsequently issued injunction that the public employer must apply for contempt of court against the violators.
Contempt of court violations can result in substantial fines of thousands of dollars and imprisonment for violators.
There are additional serious consequences.
Firstly, a bargaining unit that strikes loses its Triborough rights --- that is, a school district is no longer required to continue the terms of an expired collective bargaining agreement. That means it could be possible that the Buffalo Public Schools would be able to impose its terms on our bargaining unit, the worst possible consequence.
For an individual, the Taylor Law requires that deductions equaling twice the employee's daily pay be taken by his or her employer for each day or partial day that the employee is on strike. While an employee can challenge this 2-for-1 pay penalty, the law provides that the hearing officer in that situation is appointed and paid for by the employer, essentially a kangaroo court.
Additionally, an employee can be disciplined, including the penalty of termination, for such conduct like any other alleged misconduct.
And lastly, unions that participate, condone or even fail to prevent in certain circumstances a strike, can have their dues deduction privileges suspended or revoked.
Again, given the serious consequences to the individual employee(s) and the bargaining unit, loose talk or action that might involve a strike should not be undertaken.
Additional Picket Signs
We have received the “A NEW CONTRACT NOW” signs. If you would like to pick some up, please email Hazel (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) stating how many signs you will need and arrange a pick-up date and time.
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: November 20, 2022
Subject: Snow Days - Updates
Negotiations
Since the schools and central office are closed tomorrow, November 21, 2022, negotiations will not take place.
Our next scheduled date for negotiations is Monday, November 28, 2022.
If there is no significant movement made, there will be a vote of No Confidence for the Superintendent and Board of Education on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.
Next, we will be planning the picketing of the Superintendent’s and Board members homes.
Snow Days
There are six (6) snow days built into the calendar.
We may also be able to use what are call Superintendent’s Days.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Schools who have collected Food for our Food Drive can bring them to BTF Headquarters on Tuesday, November 22, 2022.
Thank you.
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: December 5, 2022
Subject: Vote of No Confidence
The vote of No Confidence for Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams and the Board of Education was as follows:
| 90.68% | (1,713) | I vote No Confidence for Superintendent Tonja M. Williams and the entire Buffalo Board of Education. | |
| 3.44% | (65) | I vote against a Vote for No Confidence for Superintendent Tonja M. Williams and the entire Buffalo Board of Education | |
| 5.88% | (111) | I abstain from voting for No Confidence in Superintendent Tonja M. Williams and the entire Buffalo Board of Education. |
The overwhelming vote speaks loudly and needs no comment.
We had a short window in order to have results before our next negotiations on December 8, 2022.
Once again, if there is no substantial movement, there will be another vote of No Confidence for the Superintendent and Board. This will be the first time there will be two (2) votes of no confidence.
Hopefully, there will be substantial progress.
You and our students deserve a contract that reflects your dedication and commitment to our students and each other.
Stay Tuned.
PR:su
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: December 2, 2022
Subject: District Press Conference – Vote of No Confidence
District Press Conference
Teachers are rightly angered by the District’s Press Conference and their attempt to disparage teachers who have endured three (3) years of District delays, as well as insulting and demeaning contract offers.
We have advised the Superintendent and Board for months of this in correspondence dated:
Date: Subject (RE:)
June 7, 2022 “ Apparent District Contempt for Buffalo Teachers ” (Click Here)
June 8, 2022 “ How Poorly You Are Treating Buffalo Teachers ” (Click Here)
August 19, 2022 “ How You are Hurting Buffalo Teachers and Their Families ” (Click Here)
August 26, 2022 “ October?? ” (Click Here)
BTF Objects to District Won’t Make Submissions to Fact-Finder until October
September 19, 2022 “ Negotiations/Threats ” (Click Here)
September 23, 2022 “ No Confidence Resolution ” (Click Here)
This advised that BTF authorized, by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee & Council of Delegates, to take a vote of No Confidence.
“ Therefore Be It Resolved: That if there is no proposed contract for ratification, there shall be an all teacher vote on the following motion on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, unless the BTF negotiating team, based on significant and important contract movement, needs an additional week or two.
‘As delineated in the above resolution, the Superintendent’s and Board’s negotiating team has delayed negotiations for over three (3) years, and presented Buffalo teachers with degrading and insulting proposals, harming them, their families and their students.
Buffalo teachers therefore vote no confidence in the Superintendent and Buffalo Board of education.’ ”
September 30, 2022 “ September 29, 2022 Correspondence ” (Click Here)
October 3, 2022 “ Contempt, Distortions and Duplicity ” (Click Here)
November 10, 2022 “ Negotiations ” (Click Here)
As for our proposed contract costing two (2) billion dollars for salaries:
- That is a lie.
- Even if it were true, that shows just how far Buffalo teachers are behind our colleagues in other districts.
- The District has about $300,000,000 in its reserves.
- We, have worked to increase funding for the District i.e., from 2021-2022 to 2023-2024 the District will receive an approximate $178,000,000 increase in what is called Foundation Aid. This will be carried forward. If not, we and other school districts can go directly back to court. Yes, it will obviously increase beyond this.
Rather than working to address the concerns sent in our correspondence to you, relating to the Vote of No Confidence, (the Superintendent & Board received copies), they held a press conference in an attempt to make Buffalo teachers look greedy and impatient. Note: They have not accepted our proposal to help students by capping caseloads of school counselors, social workers, psychologists, attendance teachers, etc. at 250:l instead of over 600:1 as in too many cases.
We are told that by holding such a press conference they believe teachers will be more accepting of their proposal at our December 8, 2022 negotiations and be hesitant to support a vote of No Confidence in the Superintendent and Board.
They also believe they will “divide and conquering” Buffalo teachers… not now not ever.
We have heard that some teachers have not received or checked their email regarding negotiations and the vote of no confidence. If they haven’t received it, please have them contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
If they have received it, please encourage them to vote to express their opinion.
The Deadline for Voting is Sunday, December 4, at 11:59 pm.
Please also advise teachers to check their mailboxes for BTF emails to keep up to date.
If there is no significant movement at our December 8, 2022 negotiating session, there will be another vote of no confidence. If there is significant movement, you will be so notified.
At the appropriate time, a vote to rescind the vote(s) of no confidence may, with Executive Committee and Council of Delegates’ approval, be taken.
Fact-Finder
There will be an in-person meeting with the PERB-appointed fact-finder on December 13, 2022, at which time both parties will present documents in answer to questions he may have. This is in addition to documents we have already submitted.
After that, he will issue a non-binding report on what he suggests for a new contract.
Thank you for your continued solidarity. You are the best … no, the very best.
CC: Dr. Tonja M. Williams, Superintendent, BPS
Member, Buffalo Board of Education
News Media
MEMORANDUM
Memo To: All Buffalo Teachers
From: Philip Rumore, President, BTF
Date: December 16, 2022
Subject: Recently Passed Legislation – School Bus Schedules
Teachers are angry and insulted that you passed legislation that would attempt to render a section of our contract with the District null and void.
If you had bothered to check with us, you would have known that we did not support said legislation. To say that we did, is a lie.
In addition, we have sent correspondence to the District relating our concerns with their MOU and are awaiting a response.
The District has also made this issue a subject of negotiations.
Please advise us of the actions that will be taken to correct the action that you took as a result of false representation.
We await your response.
cc: All Buffalo Teachers