ATRs, the unrepresented -- no elected representatives in the UFT

"The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected.
"To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another."
Thomas Paine, First Principles of Government


Monday, February 13, 2017

Why is the UFT allowing supervision of ATRs by two different types of supervisor? Or 'The stealth revision of the contract'

Beware the agreements that the UFT gets from the NYC DOE. It usually means something toxic has become in the power of the DOE. Witness the end of seniority transfer. Witness the forced overtime at the schools under the guise of professional development.

Now we are hearing all over that the DOEUFT has a new protocol, that as part of the end of rotation of ATRs that we will be observed by the roving field supervisor as well as the school administration. Clearly, this is a breach of the contract.

Notice how there have been big changes in the ATR experience almost immediately after the new chief supervisor of ATRs, Randy Asher (former principal at Brooklyn Technical High School, reviewed here) took over. ATRs are being held in one school until June. And ATRs are now being told that their field supervisor will be observing as well as the school administration.

WE NEED A GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE UNION: IT HAS FAILED TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH. IT HAS FAILED TO COMMUNICATE. ONCE PER YEAR, AT MEETINGS THAT ARE ILL-ANNOUNCED, IS NOT SUFFICIENT. ISN'T THIS LESS FREQUENT THAN THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT? ARE THERE ANY ATRS REPRESENTING US IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DOE? IF SO, WHO ARE THEY? WHEN DO THESE REPS MEET WITH THE DOE? Isn't it interesting that other UFT members are better informed and have more frequent meetings?

Apparently, the UFT has allowed the DOE to circumvent the contract. What other bags of tricks are coming? Why did the DOE just drop people into assignments last Monday without so much a notice of what they would be doing? Couldn't emails have been sent alerting teachers what they would be teaching? Or couldn't the field supervisors have sent these messages? Will the school administration try to use Danielson/Advance on us? These are evaluation systems that ATRs have not had proper training or introduction for. Why are ATRs not getting meetings of the sort that we get in October, to clarify the new protocols for the use and observation of ATRs? Why are we getting no official statement to ATRs?

Of course, this leads to a host of other questions, many of which ATRs have been asking for quite a while. Is it any wonder? This is regarding a union-city relationship that has our leaders openly endorsing mayor Bill De Blasio without so much as a membership discussion and vote, a mayor that is really Term Four of Mike Bloomberg, great chutzpah when the city is targeting teachers just as fiercely as ever. Why don't we have a page in the UFT's 'New York Teacher'? Why don't we have a chapter? Why don't we have clear official stats on the numbers of teachers truly placed (not simply temporarily placed for a month or until June)? Why do we get no information about changes from the district representatives, and instead only get happy "how are you?" visits, free of any meaningful substance as to the new topsy turvy conditions we've been thrown into?

14 comments:

  1. Prefacing your report on the "big changes" and "new protocols" with "We are hearing.." is really irresponsible. We are all hearing rumors, mainly on blogs like this one. There's no sourcing given any place that these big changes are reported. As an ATR who really likes the status quo, its upsetting. Tell us what you've heard from a reliable source, not just these speculations.

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  2. First, would you have us disclose the names of the ATRs and the field supervisors that said this to the ATRs? Not going to happen.
    But go back to the text. It refers to the UFT not holding meetings or announcements in the union paper on such essential matters. Lacking that, we ATRs have to work with the grapevine.

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  3. Randy Asher said this to the principals. Don't you read the other blogs or talk to enough ATRs? Maybe the luxury of your afternoon union office is just a rumor too.

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    Replies
    1. Age discrimination can only be fought in courts.

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  4. I hope this isn't the case. I have a good supervisor, and I am doing pretty well so far this year. Don't want someone who doesn't know me observing me and giving me a lower rating than I deserve.

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  5. Your voice in your blog is loud and clear and this is why the UFT has "pushed your words" under the carpet ...
    And mind you, Randy "DANDY" Asher will be the "demise" of ATR careers - clearly the UFT doesn't want to answer THOSE QUESTIONS and no lawyer is willing to challenge BC they are not versed in this "level of stupidity"...

    Until ATRs truly REALIZE these states of affairs UR VOICE WILL BE SILENCED until U get the "opportunity" to retire PEACEFULLY!!!

    Sadly the "double whammy" of being observed by (2) Supervisors is part of the TRICKERY that as long as an ADMIN is able to observe ATRs the DOE is "covered" - hence the BLDG SUPV and ATR SUPV fills that "legal loophole"!!!!

    2 for the price of 1 - this is where documentation is key but the UFT is not going to support what THEY ALLOW the DOE to get away with ...

    As UNION REPS keep staying silent this will be an ongoing struggle and clearly a STRONG LEGAL LAWYER needs to start "collecting fees" for proper representation!!!!!!!

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  6. Just one sham after another one, blessed by a useless Union.

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  7. How will we be evaulated? By roving supervisors under Teaching for the 21st Century AND by Principals under Danielson? I think this needs to be clarified and/or grieved.

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  8. Michael Mulgrew should resign for systemic age discrimination, and he should face the Court of Justice.

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  9. The UFT wants the ATRs gone, they want uncertified newbies.

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  10. The UFT is doing a disservice to the students of NYC by letting the DOE to push experienced teachers out. It is simply called systemic age discrimination, and the Chancellor is allowing it.

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    Replies
    1. Don't be cowards! Organize and sue the DOE.

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  11. Field supervisors are coming with a dirty agenda to go after older teachers, and target them. The UFT is supporting these age discrimination attacks.

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