Sunday, March 22, 2015
UFT SNUBS ATRS AGAIN IN CHAPTER ELECTIONS; COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED WITH FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
One of the agenda items at the UFT Executive Board meeting for Monday, March 23 is a resolution to adopt a guide and bylaws for Chapter Elections (see below). Chapter Leader and Delegate elections are scheduled this spring for the United Federation of Teachers.
In putting out its election guide, the UFT has once again given the cold shoulder to Absent Teacher Reserves and Leave Replacement Teachers, a huge group that includes way over a thousand teachers who belong to no UFT Chapter. As a Leave Replacement Teacher, I am one of these teachers without a permanent home. We are being disenfranchised in reality, if not on paper, as the new procedures will allow ATR's to vote and run for office in the school they are assigned to in the first week of May (see below). This is patently absurd. We might not even be in that school when it holds its Chapter Election in May or June.
Last month I filed a complaint with the Federal Department of Labor that the UFT is violatingfederal labor law by not allowing us a reasonable opportunity to serve in the highest policy making body of the union: the Delegate Assembly. As I told the Department of Labor:
The Landrum Griffin federal regulations say this concerning eligibility to be candidates for union office: "Every member in good standing is eligible to be a candidate and to hold office subject to reasonable qualifications in the union's constitution and bylaws that area uniformly imposed." Why should being an ATR cause us to lose any chance of being elected to the UFT's highest policy making body: The Delegate Assembly? Teachers who are filling in as Leave Replacements or those covering vacancies provisionally also belong to no Chapter and cannot run for Chapter Leader or Delegate. This is unconscionable.
The union's response is to say that we can run for office in the school we are assigned to in the first week of May. It would be as if a person took a business trip to Hawaii for a week, a month or a few months and was told she/he could vote in Hawaii's election and could run for Governor of Hawaii.
It is so dumb to think that we could serve when most of us will not be in the schools we are at the first week in May come September. Even if we were to be elected, as soon as we are no longer in a school, the UFT would be happy to take theleadership position away from any ATR who happened to win a vote.
I informed the union's leadership in anemail sent last fall to Staff Director Leroy Barr, with copies to the UFT President, the President of New York State United Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers that the process used in the last Chapter Elections in 2012 was entirely illegal. I stated in part:
Leroy Barr responded to my email by setting up a meeting with me that he scheduled for after the November Delegate Assembly, not in his office, but in the giant hall where the DA is held. I had to go downstairs from the visitor's section on the 19th floor to the second floor auditorium to talk with Barr, Assistant Secretary Emil Pietromonaco and Lawyer Adam Ross. (Thanks to John Antush for being my witness.)
I suggested we need a Functional Chapter for ATR's and they rejected the notion rather emphatically. Functional Chapters are for UFT members who are not part of the regular teaching staff but serve other functions in the school system. That would certainly describe ATR's. An example of teachers in this category would be teachers assigned to district offices and the new Peer Validators. They are part of a Chapter called Teachers Assigned.
I also proposed a possible compromise where we could remain as part of our old Chapters, including keeping closed school Chapters alive, until we are permanently in a new school, retire, resign are terminated or die. They said they would consider this and assured me they understand the issue and are working on it. I sent a follow up email that was never answered.
I waited for three months for a reply as I always hold out some tiny hope that our union's leaders will do the right thing but I should know better by now. By February, I had waited long enough and filed the complaint with the FederalDepartment of Labor .
The issue comes down to the question of whether or not the UFT has set up reasonable qualifications that are uniformly imposed. I do not believe they are reasonable in any way shape or form.
A rule that says we can run but we really can't serve in office unless we are made permanent teachers in a school, which for many of us is highly unlikely due to salary considerations or status as a teacher who once was up on state law 3020A (disciplinary) charges but were not terminated, is so clearly a method to just look good on paper but disenfranchise ATRs in reality.
As a Leave Replacement Teacher, I am 100% certain that whether we prevail with the Department of Labor or not, ATRs have been abandoned by our union's leadership yet again. It follows the proliferation of ATRs after the horrific 2005 contract ended preferred placement when a school closed, the 2011 agreement where ATRs were forced to rotate weekly and the 2014 contract where ATRs were imbedded into the contract including a clause stating that we have resigned if we miss two bogus interviews that we may have not even known about. Our tenure means nothing.
Mulgrew, Barr, etc... don't care about us at all and are trying a slick little maneuver to say they are in compliance with federal labor law on ATR voting and serving in Chapter positions. It won't be easy for the ATR's to win this but we can say a prayer (that's for you believers) the Department of Labor will see the UFT ploy for what it is.
In putting out its election guide, the UFT has once again given the cold shoulder to Absent Teacher Reserves and Leave Replacement Teachers, a huge group that includes way over a thousand teachers who belong to no UFT Chapter. As a Leave Replacement Teacher, I am one of these teachers without a permanent home. We are being disenfranchised in reality, if not on paper, as the new procedures will allow ATR's to vote and run for office in the school they are assigned to in the first week of May (see below). This is patently absurd. We might not even be in that school when it holds its Chapter Election in May or June.
Last month I filed a complaint with the Federal Department of Labor that the UFT is violating
The Landrum Griffin federal regulations say this concerning eligibility to be candidates for union office: "Every member in good standing is eligible to be a candidate and to hold office subject to reasonable qualifications in the union's constitution and bylaws that area uniformly imposed." Why should being an ATR cause us to lose any chance of being elected to the UFT's highest policy making body: The Delegate Assembly? Teachers who are filling in as Leave Replacements or those covering vacancies provisionally also belong to no Chapter and cannot run for Chapter Leader or Delegate. This is unconscionable.
The union's response is to say that we can run for office in the school we are assigned to in the first week of May. It would be as if a person took a business trip to Hawaii for a week, a month or a few months and was told she/he could vote in Hawaii's election and could run for Governor of Hawaii.
It is so dumb to think that we could serve when most of us will not be in the schools we are at the first week in May come September. Even if we were to be elected, as soon as we are no longer in a school, the UFT would be happy to take the
I informed the union's leadership in an
Absent Teacher Reserves (ATRs) have no representation at the UFT Delegate Assembly and we have no elected Chapter Leader. The official UFT Calendar refers to the Delegate Assembly as the highest policy making body in the United Federation of Teachers. Since both Chapter Leaders and Delegates make up the Delegate Assembly, ATRs should be able to vote for who will represent us. Federal labor regulations say the following concerning policymaking authority within a union: "In addition, any person who has executive or policymaking authority or responsibility must be elected even though he may not occupy a position identified as an officer position under the union's constitution and bylaws." UFT Delegates and Chapter Leaders clearly have a policymaking role and therefore the law requires that they are elected.
The Landrum Griffin Law says in SEC. 101 (a)(1) concerning equal rights: " Every member of alabor organization shall have equal rights and privileges within such organization to nominate candidates, to vote in elections or referendums of the labor organization..." Many ATRs are being denied these basic union rights under the present UFT Chapter Election structure.
Leroy Barr responded to my email by setting up a meeting with me that he scheduled for after the November Delegate Assembly, not in his office, but in the giant hall where the DA is held. I had to go downstairs from the visitor's section on the 19th floor to the second floor auditorium to talk with Barr, Assistant Secretary Emil Pietromonaco and Lawyer Adam Ross. (Thanks to John Antush for being my witness.)
I suggested we need a Functional Chapter for ATR's and they rejected the notion rather emphatically. Functional Chapters are for UFT members who are not part of the regular teaching staff but serve other functions in the school system. That would certainly describe ATR's. An example of teachers in this category would be teachers assigned to district offices and the new Peer Validators. They are part of a Chapter called Teachers Assigned.
I also proposed a possible compromise where we could remain as part of our old Chapters, including keeping closed school Chapters alive, until we are permanently in a new school, retire, resign are terminated or die. They said they would consider this and assured me they understand the issue and are working on it. I sent a follow up email that was never answered.
I waited for three months for a reply as I always hold out some tiny hope that our union's leaders will do the right thing but I should know better by now. By February, I had waited long enough and filed the complaint with the Federal
The issue comes down to the question of whether or not the UFT has set up reasonable qualifications that are uniformly imposed. I do not believe they are reasonable in any way shape or form.
A rule that says we can run but we really can't serve in office unless we are made permanent teachers in a school, which for many of us is highly unlikely due to salary considerations or status as a teacher who once was up on state law 3020A (disciplinary) charges but were not terminated, is so clearly a method to just look good on paper but disenfranchise ATRs in reality.
As a Leave Replacement Teacher, I am 100% certain that whether we prevail with the Department of Labor or not, ATRs have been abandoned by our union's leadership yet again. It follows the proliferation of ATRs after the horrific 2005 contract ended preferred placement when a school closed, the 2011 agreement where ATRs were forced to rotate weekly and the 2014 contract where ATRs were imbedded into the contract including a clause stating that we have resigned if we miss two bogus interviews that we may have not even known about. Our tenure means nothing.
Mulgrew, Barr, etc... don't care about us at all and are trying a slick little maneuver to say they are in compliance with federal labor law on ATR voting and serving in Chapter positions. It won't be easy for the ATR's to win this but we can say a prayer (that's for you believers) the Department of Labor will see the UFT ploy for what it is.
ELECTION GUIDE AND BY-LAWSChapter Election Procedures
Election of chapter leader, other chapter officers and delegates to the Delegate Assembly shall be conducted by secret ballot under the supervision of an election committee.
The Election Committee may be designated by the chapter leader with the approval of the chapter, or may be elected by the chapter. Candidates for chapter leader and DA delegate may not serve on the Election Committee. If the chapter conducts an election, there must be clear notice of the process posted or discussed at a union meeting.
The duties of the Election Committee shall be:
1. To choose the chair of the Election Committee.
2. To prepare a Notice of Election. This notice shall contain:
a. A list of the positions to be filled. In addition to the chapter leader, the notice shall state how many delegates are to be elected: one per 60 teacher members or major fraction thereof. The school printout provides the number of DA delegates. The chapter may include other chapter positions exclusive to the school.
b. A procedure for nominations.
c. An election calendar.
d. A procedure for appeal.
3. Preparing the ballots and the ballot box and determining eligible voters on the basis of UFT- established rules.
4. Conducting the actual election.
5. Counting the ballots.
6. Certifying the election to the UFT Membership Department on the appropriate form.
7. Keeping the ballots and the ballot box in a safe place for at least one month, in case of a challenge to the results.
A copy of the Notice of Election with the Election Calendar must be distributed to each chapter member through the school mailboxes, including those in annexes and school sites, and shall be posted on the UFT bulletin board at least three (3) school days prior to the date of nominations in each site and annex.
The Election Calendar must include the following information:
· Date of Nominations This date must be at least 3 school days after the distribution of the Notice of Election.
· Date of Election
The actual elections must take place on one day. This date must be at least 5 school days following the distribution of the Notice of Election.
· Time and place of voting
This schedule must be suited to the school so as to give all UFT members an opportunity to vote. The schedule must make provision for all school sites and annexes.
·
An election calendar
Sample election calendar: Thursday, May 7th: Notice of election distributed; Thursday, May 14th: Nominations close at the end of the school day; Thursday, May 21st: voting.
Every school is entitled to elect a para-professional representative and the vote may take place at the same time as the chapter election. Only paraprofessionals may nominate, run and vote for paraprofessional representatives.
The UFT Constitution does not provide for co-chapter leaders. If a chapter chooses to have a co-chapter leader, it may only be on an informal basis. Only one name may be submitted as chapter leader of record.
Nominations
The chair of the Election Committee must verify that all nominees accept their nominations.
Provision will be made for members who are not on the school’s table of organization but eligible to participate in the chapter’s election to nominate and be nominated.
Conducting the Election
The ballot box must be secure and monitored at all times by the Election Committee.
Provision will be made for members who are out on official school business—e.g., a class trip or conference—or who are not on the school’s table of organization, but eligible to participate to cast ballots before the close of balloting.
Members must vote in person; no absentee ballots may be cast.
Voting must take place by secret ballot on the date announced in the Election Calendar.
In cases where positions are not contested (only one candidate has been nominated for a particular role), those candidates can be confirmed without a formal vote.
Time and Place for Counting Ballots
The count shall take place on the day of voting, and provision must be made to include the vote
of all school sites and annexes with the school count.
of all school sites and annexes with the school count.
A supervised ballot box must be provided at a specific location. A membership roster must be available, and is to be initialed by the voter at the time the ballot is cast. Each chapter leader will have a membership printout and a chapter certification form. The printouts should be checked immediately by the Election Committee for errors or omissions.
Members who were not on the school’s table of organization but were assigned to the school on the first Monday in May will be added to the roster.
An individual whose name is not on the printout, but who claims membership and can display evidence of UFT membership—such as a NYSUT membership card or check stub with proper dues code (“-U”)—should be allowed to vote.
The ballot, however, is subject to challenge and must be sequestered.
Ballots shall be counted at the time and place announced in the Election Calendar. Candidates or their observers may be present at the count. Election shall be determined by the highest number of votes. Challenged ballots shall be set aside and, if their number could affect the outcome of the election.
The Election Committee shall place an announcement of the results on the UFT bulletin board immediately after the election.
All ballots and election materials shall be retained by the Election Committee for at least one month to allow for review of results.
As soon as results have been certified by the Election Committee, the Committee Chair must complete the Chapter Certification Data Form and send it to the UFT Membership Department, 52 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, 11th floor.
Procedures for appeals
Appeals of elections must be made in writing to the UFT borough representative, with written notice to the chapter within five (5) school days following the election. In the event that a challenge to the election is successful, the borough representative shall establish an expedited election procedure.
Eligibility
Any full-time member may nominate, run for a position and vote in a school’s election if he or she is on the school’s permanent table of organization or assigned to the school on the first Monday in May of an election year.
Only teachers are eligible to nominate, run for and vote for school DA delegate, provided that they have signed the union card at least 60 days prior to the election.
Secretaries, guidance counselors, paraprofessionals and other functional chapter members are represented in the Delegate Assembly through their functional chapters and may stand for election as delegate from their functional chapters.
District 75 and District 79 members nominate and are nominated for chapter leader in their District 75 or 79 school. District 75 or 79 members and others who are permanently housed in the school building may vote in that chapter leader election.
Agency fee payers may not nominate, run or vote in chapter elections.
Schools with Multiple Sites: To facilitate communications and service, schools with multiple sites often have liaisons at these sites. These liaisons are not chapter leaders nor are they DA delegates unless they specifically run for those positions in the school’s election.
Persons on split assignment shall vote in their payroll school. Like others, these members must vote in person; no absentee ballots may be cast. F-status substitutes (those with regularly scheduled part-time assignments) may vote in their school election.
Posted by James Eterno at 3/22/2015 10:59:00 PM