Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson talks about the new contract. (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
DETROIT (WJBK) -
"The emergency manager chose the path of least resistance and simply said I'm not going to negotiate because I don't have to," said Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson. "It's not a collective bargaining agreement. It wasn't bargained, and it's not an agreement."
He would usually be the one to present the newest contract for his teachers to see, but Johnson says he won't do the dirty work of presenting it.
Roy Roberts, the emergency manager for the schools, ordered it into effect this week. Negotiations were not a part of the deal, although the two sides did discuss.
In the end, here's a look at some of what's in the document. We'll begin with the amount of time teachers have in between classes to prepare. The amount of prep time for teachers goes down from five daily prep periods a week to two.
Already, Johnson says, prep periods are the first things teachers lose.
"If indeed they ever get it because so often they have to lose their prep period in order to cover for a teacher who's absent. So, that teacher could conceivably end up with no prep periods, and that has an adverse effect upon our students."
Also new in the contract, teachers injured at the hands of students on school property are used to being able to keep their salary and maintain benefits while they're off and recovering. Now, Johnson says injured teachers would only get workers compensation.
Another part that Johnson says is so terrible and egregious is the fact that people who are on military leave for more than a year won't be protected under the new contract.
"So conceivably, if we have a teacher who is over and deployed in Afghanistan or anywhere else for two years, he or she does not have the certainty that when they return their job will be here waiting for them."
Another part that changes to help the district shave $72-million of deficit is maternity leave. Under the new contract, it would be limited to just twelve weeks.
Fox 2 has spoken with Steve Wasko, a spokesperson for the Detroit Public Schools. He says they won't comment on the specifics of what's inside the contract.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:31 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:31:20 GMT
As people struggle to pick up the pieces in the areas of Oklahoma ravaged by tornadoes, we've learned some relief will be coming from right here in Michigan.
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Find out how you can help the victims of Monday's deadly tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City suburbs, killing dozens and flattening neighborhoods, schools and businesses.
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Detroit ditto heads rejoice. Your leader is interested in news in Detroit, at least enough to qualify a report on a large Powerball jackpot as more proof that 'low-information outreach' is working.
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An attorney for a former Michigan Supreme Court justice says community service would be an appropriate sentence for a scandal that forced her out of office.
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The American Red Cross is working in a variety of ways and from several different areas of the country to help the victims of the tornadoes which struck in the nation's heartland.
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Weather Authority Ben Bailey says the humidity has dropped since earlier this morning but the risk of severe weather still exists Tuesday throughout southeast Michigan.
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:31 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:31:20 GMT
As people struggle to pick up the pieces in the areas of Oklahoma ravaged by tornadoes, we've learned some relief will be coming from right here in Michigan.
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 9:50 AM EDT2013-05-21 13:50:04 GMT
Find out how you can help the victims of Monday's deadly tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City suburbs, killing dozens and flattening neighborhoods, schools and businesses.
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:43 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:43:15 GMT
Gustav Nyquist and Drew Miller scored 31 seconds apart midway through a previously scoreless game, helping the Red Wings beat the Blackhawks 3-1 on Monday night for a 2-1 series lead.
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:35 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:35:00 GMT
Police say a 55-year-old woman is dead and two men are wounded following a shooting at a vacant Detroit residence believed to have been used for drug activity.
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