Have they crossed the line

UTD Unit Members Vote to Give M-DCPS Board And Administration "A Second Chance to Prove They Can Keep a Commitment" - Teachers and Other School Workers Vote by a Wide Margin to Accept District Offer of Protection from Layoffs and an Expedited Return to Bargaining on Wages - Members of the United Teachers of Dade (UTD) Unit voted to accept the District's offers of protection from layoffs and an expedited return to new bargaining on economic issues in return for two to three days off to help the District deal with a short-term funding shoftfall. The UTD bargaining unit members voted for the proposal 15,504 to 3,980.
Click here

United Teachers of Dade Vindicated – Sees Hope for the Future
School Board Finally Gets the Depth of the Problem
UTD would like to thank Perla Tabares Hantman for her December 10, 2008 agenda item that directed the Superintendent to submit an audit-type report at the March School Board meeting delineating the technical and human errors in guiding the financial operations of the District. Click here

Window of Hope - The Community Council for Public Education
A newly formed citizens group, The Community Council for Public Education, composed of parents, business, labor, community and religious leaders, today launched a new community-based effort aimed at breaking the logjam on financial decision-making that is tying up the school district and bringing to a conclusion the long-running dispute between Miami-Dade teachers and district administrators. The Council’s statement calls for action in four areas:

Contract Crisis - Where We've Been - The United Teachers of Dade has been battling with the district because the district has not been transparent and honest with its budget numbers. Click here to see the chronology of events up to this point.

A Resolution of the Mayor and Village Council of The Village of Palmetto Bay, Florida Urging the Governor and Florida Legislature to Support and Fully Fund Education - The Village of Palmetto Bay is home to active and participating families, which values education and development of healthy and productive children,... Click here

UTD in the news
WPLG - Local 10
Teachers' Union Refuses Delayed Pay
Other District Employees Make Concessions
MIAMI - The Miami-Dade County school district has hit another snag as it tries to make up a $356 million budget shortfall. Click here

Take My Pay? No Way!
In order to increase the School District's reserves, our latest Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho has asked the School Board to approve a cut of $25,500,000 to the District's salary budget. At the February meeting, six members of the School Board voted to implement this cut.
- Click here for talking points
- Click here for survey, "Your Voice"

Thousands Attend Rally -- Bring Education Issues to Attention of State Leaders
We would like to thank the more than 6,000 teachers, and support professionals who participated in a statewide rally in Orlando on February 28, 2009 to Make Our Schools a Priority. The rally was held at the University of Central Florida Campus. Click here for photos

Miami-Dade Teachers Claim Censorship Over E-Mails
CBS4 - A growing number of Miami-Dade Teachers are being disciplined for signing and sending an email to public officials, according to the United Teachers of Dade - Click here

S. Fla Reacts to President's Education Plan
CBS4 - ... United Teachers of Dade President Karen Aronowitz supports more learning, but says it's not all about quantity - Click here for entire story

The District's BIG LIE... EXPOSED!!!
Lie: The District says they can't pay employees because they don't have money and they want to avoid layoffs.
Truth: They want to use the money from your paycheck to build up their reserves to a level that is not required by law.
Click here for more information

THE LINE IS DRAWN
SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO COME AFTER OUR PAY Click here to learn more.

UTD Sues Miami-Dade School Board for Sunshine Law Violations - Demands That Budget Decisions Be Made In Open
- Click here for Press Release
- Click here for Complaint

Update! On Friday, February 27, the Pay Teachers First Bill was officially filed in both the House and the Senate. Sponsored in the Senate by Senator Alex Villalobos (SB2466) and in the House by Representative Luis Garcia (HB 1323) this bill recognizes the district's hardworking teachers and educational support personnel by making them a priority over administrators. If passed, this bill would require that teachers and education support employee salaries be increased, "...before or at the same time as ... salary increases for administrative personnel." In addition, this bill includes language allowing for the recall of school board members and would will provide a higher level of accountability to voters while reassuring parents that the School Board will focus their limited resources on having high quality teachers and education support employees in the classroom. Click here to review revised bill which includes education support personnel.

Top Legislators Say: “Pay Teachers First” Speaking at a news conference at United Teachers of Dade (UTD), Florida’s largest teacher union, State Sen. Alex Villalobos (R-Miami), Chair of the Florida Senate Rules Committee and Rep. Luis Garcia (D-Miami Beach) announced “Pay Teachers First” legislation. Click here
Information for Clerical, Paraprofessional and School Support Employees on "Pay Teachers First" Proposed Legislation. Click here

The Battle Continues
Special Magistrate Buys District's Misrepresentation of Financial Condition
On January 29th Tom Young, Special Magistrate issued his nonbinding decision recommending UTD Unit Employees not get their negotiated step increases. Young's stated reason was the economic downturn and specifically the severity of Florida's economic crisis that would not permit salary increases. UTD respects the efforts of the Magistrate, but regrettably, he has bought into the district's misrepresentations of its financial condition. Click here for more information.

UTD prevents further cuts to state budget
Representatives of United Teachers of Dade and Florida Education Association (FEA) spent two weeks in Tallahassee battling with the Florida Legislature during their special session. Legislative budget revisions for the 2008-09 fiscal year included a $47.7 million cut to FEFP funding and an additional loss of nearly $1 million in District Cost Differential mitigation funds. Click here

Broken Promises Compromise Education
A Miami Herald editorial printed Tuesday January 6, 2009 suggests that UTD and M-DCPS administration should compromise... Click here

President Aronowitz testifies at the December 2008 Impasse Hearing - Click here

UTD Holds the Line on Health Insurance Premiums
We were able to reach agreement with the district and we are pleased that we were able to resolve this before going on winter recess. Click here

Chief Financial Officer Testifies at Impasse Hearing
Giving Teachers Their Promised Salaries Would “Wreck the School System”
After nearly two hours of tedious testimony by M-DCPS, Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Richard Hinds concluded that, “Giving teachers their negotiated salaries would wreck the school system and might be unconstitutional.” Click here for more information.
Click here for December 15th Impasse Information
Click here for CBS4 coverage.

Teachers Protest at School Board Meeting

UTD Members rallied outside the School Board on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 as the budget shortfall was being discussed inside. MORE
Click here for photo gallery

UTD exposes "House of Cards"
District misrepresents financial figures

At Monday’s government hearing on the District’s reneging on our promised raises, fireworks broke out before the assigned Special Magistrate. Click here

- Click here for message from UTD President Karen Aronowitz

The UTD membership has been working nonstop, fighting for our contract!
- click here for video
- click here for flyer

Members recommend cost saving solutions to fund contract
As a result of member activism and input, UTD has placed the items in the chart below before school board management as efficiencies to fully fund the UTD contract. Details

District makes priorities clear: Administrators over Teachers
In their ongoing attempt to balance the 2008-2009 budget, the district proposed on Monday the creation of up to 28 Assistant Principals positions and in exchange, eliminating 69 school positions. Details

President Aronowitz warns

prospective teachers - "Stay away from Miami-Dade Public Schools" in a speech before 3000 delegates at the American Federation of Teachers Annual Convention in Chicago.
Click for speech and news coverage

Post Office delivers thousands of post cards to UTD; Members saying,
"We will be watching..."
Details

Aronowitz declares impasse over salary cuts, members back up their leader

UTD President Karen Aronowitz declared impasse over the salary cuts at a press conference Monday (July 7) afternoon. Details
Official Notice sent to Rudy Crew
Click here for news coverage

UTD Member Activists Pursue School Board Members - Click here
UTD activists work over the summer to attempt to meet with School Board Members throughout the Miami-Dade community. Their message, "Honor Our Contract." Click here for photo gallery

Where is the Budget? Negotiations resumed on Thursday, July 3rd, with one simple question. Where is the budget? The district responded, “We don’t have one.” Details
Click here for video

We were there - let us share
Members give their perspective on recent events. Click here for videos

A Moving Target...
UTD President Aronowitz along with her Executive Board and over 150 Union members spent four hours at bargaining. Details

Metro Dade Fire Fighters
show that they care Details

United Way shows support as teachers and
support personnel protest outside the Hilton Hotel Monday, June 30th during its Annual Luncheon
Click here for NBC6 news
Click here for protest video

Florida Education Association President on WIOD, says School Board should find the money to honor our contract Listen to broadcast

Crew takes salary from more than 30,000 teachers and support staff in after-hours legal maneuver Details

UTD leaders and members expose legal trickery
Two hundred members showed up for the first session of bargaining scheduled for noon on Sunday, June 29th at the School Board Administration Building. Details

Have they crossed the line?
Last night the Superintendent with support from five school board members (Greer, Stinson, Barrera, Karp and Holloway), was given the authority to cancel our raises by re-opening our contract or by declaring fiscal urgency. We will continue to stand and fight for our contractually agreed upon salary increases. Details

Teachers, school support personnel protest at the National Conference of Mayors Sunday Teachers and school support personnel turned out for a protest at the National Conference of Mayors Sunday. Their rally cry, "Keep Your Promise - Honor Our Contract." Details
Click here for video

UTD opposes School Board's approval of layoffs The members of the School Board approved Agenda Item A-3 in a 5-4 vote at Wednesday’s meeting, beginning the process of Reduction-in-Force, or RIF, for the first time in over 30 years. Details.

President Aronowitz opposes School Board Agenda Item A-3
There are many examples of why we oppose item A-3 but most importantly, School Board members are being asked to make decisions about the budget on a piecemeal basis. Details

Teacher SURPLUS Information
For union member teachers who have been declared SURPLUS, click here for more important information.

Get the facts:
Surplus vs. RIF
In this most difficult time, we want all of our members to be clear about their contractual rights. You need to be informed. Click here to get the facts.

District makes no decisions on UTD recommendations
The School Board held another Budget workshop on Thursday (June 12) to continue discussions on the 2008-2009 school budget. Details