Our Commitments

 I. WE COMMIT TO NEGOTIATING A STRONGER CONTRACT

As stated in our bylaws, a distinct Negotiations Committee, not our Executive Board, negotiates our union contract. Our bylaws state that this process requires input from the general membership. We commit to conducting a member survey prior to contract negotiations to learn which issues are priorities for our members. We intend to find the best negotiators, tapping into the experience of those who have served on negotiations committees, in order to secure the strongest contract possible!

1. Pay Scale And Salary Steps: To retain and attract teachers, our salary steps must be clear and equitable, our raises must be consistent and guaranteed, and our salaries must reflect cost of living and be competitive with peer districts.
   

2. Equitable Health Insurance Plans: All members deserve access to high-quality insurance options. Our current contract prohibits members hired after September 2016 from choosing any insurance plan except the HSA, which is inequitable, denying newer members access to the same benefits as their fellow union members. 
   

3. Caseload Caps: All union members deserve caseload caps—this must include Special Educators, Early Childhood (Pre-K) Educators, Physical Education and Unified Arts Teachers, Multi Language Learner/ESOL Educators, School Counselors, Social Workers, Library Media Specialists, Speech and Language Professionals, and School Psychologists.
   

4. Consistent Unencumbered Preparation Time: Our experience during COVID, with remote, hybrid, and in-person pandemic instruction, is a stark reminder that ample preparation time is a necessity. When given additional responsibilities, we must also be given additional preparation time and/or increased compensation.
   

5. Unused Sick Day Reimbursement and Insurance Access Prior to Medicare Eligibility: Our colleagues with the most years of experience deserve assurance that their sick days will be reimbursed and healthcare protected when they retire.

 II. WE COMMIT TO IMPROVING THE WORKING CONDITIONS IN OUR SCHOOLS 

Educators deserve a say in the vision, decision-making, and resource allocation of our district and schools. By engaging union members and helping us to recognize our collective power, we can make our voices heard, guide the direction of our schools, and improve our working conditions.

1. Respect of Educators as Professionals: Now more than ever, educators’ firsthand experience must be honored and centered. We have vital insights about the future of our schools. We deserve to have our expertise recognized and to be involved in decision-making about curriculum, assessment, and policy.
   

2. Relevant Professional Development: Too often, educators are obligated to attend professional development that is disconnected from the needs and realities of our classrooms and schools. We deserve to have input on the content, structure, and facilitators of PD sessions. Our PD time should include opportunities to meaningfully collaborate with and learn from fellow NHPS educators.
   

3. Resources and Supports: As educators, we often spend our own money for essential classroom resources that should be provided. We deserve a say over our district’s and school’s budgets to ensure we have materials in multiple languages, as well as books, supplies, equipment, access to field trips, and functional technology needed for our classrooms to thrive.
   

4. Safe, Healthy, and Sustainable Buildings: Our school communities need functional and maintained HVAC systems, access to clean water, timely response to mold issues, and the assurance that custodians have what they need to address issues as they arise. We must also have systems in place to recycle and lower the carbon footprint of our schools. By prioritizing sustainability, we can save money to reinvest back into our schools.

 III. WE COMMIT TO HONORING AND STRENGTHENING OUR BYLAWS

Our union’s bylaws govern how Local 933 operates, giving our members power and holding union leadership accountable. We must ensure our bylaws are honored, and support members in understanding our bylaws and their importance for our union’s success.

1. Honoring Bylaws: Our bylaws must be honored with fidelity, especially concerning Executive Board responsibilities, active subcommittees, transparency of union finances and how dues are spent, consistent reports to Executive Board and union members, and input from general membership in preparation for contract negotiations.
   

2. Revising Bylaws: The bylaws, which were written in 2006, must be updated to reflect the needs of educators in 2021. Vague and confusing language must be revised. Our bylaws should also include clearly defined responsibilities and compensation for all NHFT leadership positions, and a clear process for how union business and meetings are conducted.
   

3. Relevant and Revived Subcommittees: Active subcommittees are not only stipulated in our bylaws, they are a crucial way for our union to address member concerns. All subcommittees listed in our bylaws should be active. In particular, we must focus on reviving our Labor and Legislative Committees, and develop a new Teacher Retention Committee. 
   

4. Supporting Stewards and Strengthening School-Based Union Organizing: Our union must provide training and support for all Stewards to strengthen the capacity of building-level functionality and organizing. The work of Stewards is vital to our union and Stewards should be treated as such.
   

5. Distributive Leadership: Our union is stronger when there are opportunities for authentic collaboration among the leadership team. To ensure an equitable distribution of power, Executive Board members, Trustees, Delegates, Stewards, and committee members must have the opportunity to co-create a shared vision and engage in consensus-building and collaborative decision-making.

IV. WE COMMIT TO ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING OUR UNION MEMBERS

Our union is stronger when both newer and veteran members are informed and engaged. We must improve our systems for communication, information sharing, and networking. NHFT members have expressed not knowing what the union does or how to get involved. We intend to change that!

1. Modernized Communication Systems: Our union website is antiquated and must be updated for accessibility, searchability, and ease of navigation. Union leaders can use accessible technology to quickly collect insights from members. We must also utilize interactive online platforms that allow members to connect and engage with one another.
   

2. New Member Enrollment and Induction: Our union needs clear and consistent protocols for enrolling new members in a timely manner, along with an induction process that trains new members, informs them of the union’s role, and shares opportunities for how members can get engaged. Our union would benefit from a mentorship program that partners newer union members with veteran union members, compensating veterans for this work.
   

3. Strong Relationships with State and National AFT: The Fighting For Our Future team has strong relationships with State and National AFT members, who have a wealth of resources to share with our Local. We are eager to collaborate with them, especially in preparation for contract negotiations. We will also organize ongoing trainings at our union hall that are responsive to specific needs and requests of Local 933 union members.
   

4. Leadership Development Opportunities: In order to build the capacity of our union, we must work to develop the next generation of union leaders. Workshops should be offered regularly to inform members of the wide range of leadership opportunities that exist within our union, and to encourage members to serve in these roles.
   

5. Exit Interviews: Now more than ever, with unprecedented numbers of educators leaving our district, our union has an obligation to develop and implement a consistent exit interview process. The results of these interviews will be critical to understanding the working conditions that union members face and will play a key role in informing our contract negotiations and improving retention in our district.

V. WE COMMIT TO BUILDING COALITIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY

As educators and union members, we play a vital role in the community. When we make our voices heard, we can have a major impact. Aligning with fellow unions, retired Local 933 members, students, families, and the New Haven community is not only the right thing to do—it also strengthens our union and builds mutually beneficial allegiances.

1. Solidarity with School-Based Unions: If we want to improve the working conditions in our schools, we must do this alongside and in solidarity with paraprofessionals, custodial staff, food service employees, clerical staff, nurses, and bus drivers. We are stronger together and have a shared investment in the improvement of our working conditions and schools.
   

2. Connection between Teaching and Learning Conditions: Educators, students, and families have a shared interest in the well-being of our schools. By working together we are more likely to achieve our collective goals and shared vision.
   

3. Active Stance on Issues in Our Diverse Community: By reviving our union’s Community Action Subcommittee, we can advocate for disability justice, immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, women’s rights, and workers’ rights.
   

4. Collaboration with New Haven Unions and Community Organizations: The unions across New Haven are strong and connected—and our union, NHFT-Local 933, should join this coalition, fighting for workers’ rights and fully funded schools.