Contract talks between the United Federation of Teachers and New York City schools are scheduled to start tomorrow. Union president, Randi Weingarten, has proposed doing away with many work rules in exchange for getting teachers a greater voice in how individual schools are run. Work rules govern things such as length and size of classes, teacher assignments, and schedules, and have typically frustrated city officials. Ms. Weingarten is looking to modify some of these rules and form school-based management teams, made up of teachers, administrators and parents, in order to develop policies with the principal. Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein has reacted positively to these proposed changes.
See "Teachers Barter With Work Rules", David M. Herszenhorn, The New York Times, September 15, 2003