(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Despite some Buffalo Teachers calling for a vote on a contract several weeks before it was tentatively agreed-to, Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) President Phil Rumore tells WNYLaborToday.com that Teachers would not have been the beneficiaries of retroactive pay and a reduction of wage steps had the Union done so.

“We ‘only got retroactive pay two weeks ago and our wage steps were (whittled down) three weeks ago.’  Teachers kept sending e-mails (to the Union), telling us: ‘Let us decide.’  ‘Sometimes you have to stick with what you know,’” Rumore, who announced he would retire as BTF President at the end of June, told WNYLaborToday.com. 

On Monday (April 24th), BTF-represented Teachers voted to ratify the new 3.5-year contract by 98.7%, with 1,852 voting yes and only 25 voting no. 

The end result now makes Buffalo Public School Teachers the second-highest paid in all of Western New York, only behind Teachers in the Lackawanna School District.

The contract (which can be accessed at www.btfny.org/email/2023/2023_cba_overview.pdf) calls for Teachers to receive an 8% raise retroactive to September 1st, 2022, a 6% raise on July 1st of this year, a 4% raise on July 1st, 2024 and a 3% raise on July 1st, 2025.

“People ‘don’t realize that it would have taken Buffalo Teachers (24) years (in the old agreement) to reach the top wage step, while it takes Teachers in other school districts in the region anywhere from (13 to 15) years to get there,’” Rumore said.

Additionally, all active, Full-Time Teachers received a 10% bonus based on their new salary upon contract ratification.

Recent BTF Retirees received a payment of $1,000-to-$2,000, depending on when they retired.

The Buffalo School District will invest more than $240 million for these payments.

The contract also calls for Teachers hired after June 30th, 2026 to not be eligible for district health insurance upon retirement.

Teachers hired after that date will be able to “sell back” sick days and use early retirement incentives toward the cost of health care in retirement.

Teachers will also contribute more toward their health insurance beginning on July 1st.

Other parts of the agreement include an adjustment in bell times, a $1,000 annual stipend for Teachers with a bi-lingual extension who instruct a class where that is required, an increase in petty cash allotment to $10 per pupil, with increases of $2 per year in 2024 and 2025 and an additional 30-minute prep period for Adult Education Instructors and Advisors.

Rumore said he was also “happy” about the creation of a committee that would consist of School Counselors and representatives from the Buffalo Community who would work together to help increase the number of School Counselors in order to “get more help for the kids who need it.”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More, Read: With A Tentative Contract Being Finalized With The Buffalo Public School System, Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore Announces His Retirement ‘After An Amazing 41 Years Of Representing City Teachers.’  Some of the contract information contained within This Labor News Story appeared in WIVB-TV/Channel 4’s report on the new Buffalo Schools/Teacher contract.