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justbeachy
So close....
Member since 7/07 2900 total posts
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Can my principal do this!? Union related
Ok...so my school is filled with 1st or 2nd year teachers. Many of us don't know our union rights.
As a result, we get taken advantage of often. I'm learning a lot - let it be said.
Today we get a memo that there is a bridge program that we are "strongly encouraged" (in my principals words - mandatory) to attend in the 3rd week of July.
I'm pretty sure I can get out of that - no big deal.
But at the bottom it says that we have to attend a MANDATORY week long PD session in the 2nd weekof August.
So NOW she's asking for 2 weeks of summer time?!?!?!??!!?
Can she legally (union contract wise) make us attend the mandatory PD session??????
She's giving per session...but honestly,to me,losing a week of my summer is not worth the per session (which by the way is below standard per-session PD pay)
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Posted 4/28/09 10:21 PM  |
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PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)
Member since 7/08 19084 total posts
Name:
Jib
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
I am in my first year too so I also don't know what our rights are... but this does NOT seem right!! I am interested in seeing how this pans out! 
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| Posted 4/28/09 10:29 PM |
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jewels
Stop and smell the flowers
Member since 7/06 1538 total posts
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
I do not know the contract well enough to know exactly what your rights are here BUT I can NOT imagine that she can mandate you to come in 2 weeks over the summer. I would think she can request it (with pay of course) but can not mandate it. That being said, it is very uncomfortable to be the only nontenured teacher not doing what is asked of you even if it is not required. So if I were you I'd talk to your union rep. I know you probably don't want to start trouble because you are not tenured but maybe the union rep can lean on the principal a bit to help her see that this is an unreasonable request especially since people travel and work other jobs over the summer.
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| Posted 4/28/09 10:44 PM |
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
You cannot be required to give up any time in the summer. Can you do it voluntarily- yes, but I wouldn't if you are not getting paid.
Talk to your union rep. This is something that he/she needs to act on.
ETA- do you mean she's offering training rate? I wouldn't do it for training rate, not in the summer.
Make sure to hold onto that memo too as evidence.
Message edited 4/29/2009 7:52:22 AM.
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| Posted 4/29/09 7:51 AM |
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nicrae
He's here!
Member since 12/06 9289 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
You're in the city??? They cannot make you give up your time in the summer...per session or not.
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| Posted 4/29/09 6:04 PM |
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drpepper318
MIR MIR MIR!
Member since 6/07 8274 total posts
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me
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
No as far as I know they're not allowed to do that. Sounds like your principal is trying to take advantage/ bully you... I would talk to the union, and if all else fails just tell the principal, "sorry I can't do it" no explanation needed.... she can't hold it against you or write you up or anything.
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| Posted 4/29/09 6:44 PM |
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Teachergal
We made a snowman!
Member since 1/08 3239 total posts
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
That's ridiculous! What if you work over the summer or have children? They CANNOT make you work and your union rep needs to get involved. Good luck!
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| Posted 4/29/09 6:56 PM |
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browneyedgirl
family is all that matters
Member since 6/06 6513 total posts
Name:
browneyes
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
Posted by MrsProfessor
You cannot be required to give up any time in the summer. Can you do it voluntarily- yes, but I wouldn't if you are not getting paid.
actually, yes you can. it all depends on what is in your contract. as nontenureds, we were required to give up 2-3 days in june when school ended and 3-4 days (can't quite remember) in august for mandatory training. you HAD to attend--there were no excuses even if you were hired the day before.
check with your union rep.
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| Posted 4/29/09 7:03 PM |
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nicrae
He's here!
Member since 12/06 9289 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
Posted by browneyedgirl
Posted by MrsProfessor
You cannot be required to give up any time in the summer. Can you do it voluntarily- yes, but I wouldn't if you are not getting paid.
actually, yes you can. it all depends on what is in your contract. as nontenureds, we were required to give up 2-3 days in june when school ended and 3-4 days (can't quite remember) in august for mandatory training. you HAD to attend--there were no excuses even if you were hired the day before.
check with your union rep.
Not in the city...I believe she is a city teacher and we are all under the same contract.
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| Posted 4/29/09 7:19 PM |
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
This is from our contract. I would understand new teachers being required for training before their first year, but this isn't the case.
C. Work Year All teachers shall report to their schools to begin work on the Thursday preceding Labor Day for a professional day, and will also have a professional day on the Friday preceding Labor Day and on Brooklyn-Queens Day. Part of the time on the days before Labor Day will be allotted to classroom preparation. The Tuesday following Labor Day shall be an instructional day. Teachers shall be in attendance on duty thereafter on all days of the school year except for the last two weekdays of the month of June. The official school year calendar shall provide a one week February mid-winter recess which includes Washington’s Birthday, without reducing the number of instructional days for students. In no event, however, shall the number of days worked in any school year under this work calendar be fewer than the number of days teachers would have worked had they reported, as before, on the Friday after Labor Day and worked through the last weekday in June.
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| Posted 4/29/09 7:22 PM |
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browneyedgirl
family is all that matters
Member since 6/06 6513 total posts
Name:
browneyes
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
Posted by niikki-8-18-06
Posted by browneyedgirl
Posted by MrsProfessor
You cannot be required to give up any time in the summer. Can you do it voluntarily- yes, but I wouldn't if you are not getting paid.
actually, yes you can. it all depends on what is in your contract. as nontenureds, we were required to give up 2-3 days in june when school ended and 3-4 days (can't quite remember) in august for mandatory training. you HAD to attend--there were no excuses even if you were hired the day before.
check with your union rep.
Not in the city...I believe she is a city teacher and we are all under the same contract.
that's a different story then. on the island, they can take all the time they want in the summer for professional development 
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| Posted 4/29/09 7:56 PM |
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justbeachy
So close....
Member since 7/07 2900 total posts
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
City teacher here.
Our union rep is useless. I'm going to send this memo to our district rep. See what he has to say.
Telling me I have to come in for a week long session is RIDICULOUS.
She worded it as "required of all staff."
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| Posted 4/29/09 8:28 PM |
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
Good idea- I hope that others in your school are complaining too.
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| Posted 4/29/09 8:34 PM |
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justbeachy
So close....
Member since 7/07 2900 total posts
Name:
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
Posted by MrsProfessor
Good idea- I hope that others in your school are complaining too.
Lets just say the district rep has been to my school quite a few times this year and my principal is on the "warning" list....
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| Posted 4/29/09 8:38 PM |
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
Posted by SupaBonBon
Posted by MrsProfessor
Good idea- I hope that others in your school are complaining too.
Lets just say the district rep has been to my school quite a few times this year and my principal is on the "warning" list....
Hm. Do you work in the school that had the bomb scare last week? (I work in that complex)
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| Posted 4/29/09 8:48 PM |
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justbeachy
So close....
Member since 7/07 2900 total posts
Name:
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
Posted by MrsProfessor
Hm. Do you work in the school that had the bomb scare last week? (I work in that complex)
No - I dont think so! We had a stink bomb thrown through our window last week though.
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| Posted 4/29/09 10:11 PM |
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beautyq115
New Year!
Member since 5/05 13729 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
NYC teacher here...I believe she CANNOT make it mandatory for you to go to that. We are required to be at school the extra days at the end of the summer. I don't think that she can make rules especially for your school.
Call that district rep or the borough office for whatever borough you work in. SAVE THAT PAPER!!! Save anything that you have a question about. Also write anything down that she verbally tells you!!
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| Posted 4/30/09 1:03 PM |
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maggiebaby75
LIF Toddler
Member since 5/05 434 total posts
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Re: Can my principal do this!? Union related
Your principal is going to be in trouble and the KEY is that YOU have it in WRITING~~~ DO NOT LOSE THAT PAPER! Go over your union rep's head and call District office ask them for their fax number and fax it over. DO NOT use school fax b/c you do not want to be caught doing that. YOU IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM mandatory have to do this and you need to definitely let people know in the UFT office. This is why WE pay dues and take it from me a 12 year veteran....LEARN YOUR CONTRACT and knwo it like the back of your hand. Principals always have THEIR OWN agenda and a more knoweable staff is a WISE staff. DO NOT LET THIS GO!!!! Good luck to you!
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| Posted 4/30/09 6:12 PM |
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