Work to Rule

A.k.a. “Working to the Contract”

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Question:

What exactly do you mean when you say “work to rule?”

Answer:

1. Doing only the services required in the Collective Bargaining Agreement,
2. Nothing extra.
3. Do not volunteer any extra work or attend voluntary meetings, etc.

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Deciding

Work to Rule

• Individual obligations vary widely.
• Decision to act must be made on an individual basis.
• If we collectively change our style and habits, we can make a difference.

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Deciding

Work to Rule

• We are conscientious professionals who are committed to continual improvement.
• For too long our talents, time and money have been taken for granted.
• Isn’t it time to remind the public just how good we are?

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What does

WORK TO RULE look like?

• Arrive and leave at your contract hours – it is most effective when done en masse.
• Grade papers, plan, fill out forms, etc., on contract time. Do not take any work home with you.
• Resign from non-paid activities (ex. committees, fundraisers, clubs, ) or at a minimum, hold these activities during your contract day.

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What does

WORK TO RULE look like?

• Don’t volunteer for non-paid duties like chaperoning dances, athletic events, committees, field trips, attending PTA meetings, working lunch, hall-bus duties during .
• Don’t do tasks that are the work of non-teaching staff.
• Don’t work, or otherwise participate in fundraising events (i.e., carnivals, dinners, book clubs, ball games).

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What does

WORK TO RULE look like?

• Don’t go “above and beyond”, e.g., no lengthy comments on report cards.
• Avoid scheduling parent conferences or IEP meetings after contract hours. Don’t accept phone calls after contract hours.
• Use your entire lunch to eat and planning periods to plan—don’t stand with students, monitor assemblies, etc...

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What does

WORK TO RULE look like?

• Give more oral rather than written work.

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• Don’t buy any more supplies or materials. Get reimbursed for everything you buy.

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• Be creative, come up with your own ideas and share them with the BFT

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A Code of Conduct

• Do not get into personality issues with your administrators, board members or the community.

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• Explain your stand.
• Don’t be hot tempered.
• Don’t be intimidated.

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• If asked, answer your students’ questions about actions which may affect them.

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Stay on Message

• Establish priorities; i.e., put the needs of students’ over the system's demands.

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• At social events such as games and concerts, explain to parents why you are working to rule.

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• Give testimonials about your workload or your financial situation.

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Adopt a New Teaching Style

• You cannot continue to teach as you have in the past while working to rule:
• Establish priorities and provide only essential services.
• Non-instructional tasks may have to be done on a time available basis.
• Determine what has to be accomplished for you live with yourself and meet the basic needs of your students.

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When

Working to Rule, Remember to Follow the Rules

• Always meet your contractual obligations.

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• Never flatly refuse a directive from a supervisor.
• You could be charged with insubordination, which is cause for dismissal.
• You can file a grievance if you think the directive was inappropriate.

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Work to Rule Guidelines:

• Don’t volunteer

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• If you are asked to perform an activity outside contractual hours say NO and explain WHY.

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Work to Rule Guidelines

• If you are told that you are expected to do a particular activity, ask that this requirement be put in writing.
• If the directive is put in writing, make a copy, send a copy to the BFT president. Keep the original.
• Then follow the directive.

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Work to Rule Guidelines

• If a directive is not put in writing, inform the BFT president about the directive.
• Then follow the directive.

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Question:

What about after school events?

Answer:

1. If you signed a contract to perform these duties, and are paid for them, do them.

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• If it is not something you are paid for or contracted to do, stop doing them while working to rule.

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Question:

What about

P L C work?

Answer:

PLC is in our contract. Continue with all PLC work.

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Question:

What about

Committee meetings like PBIS, ISST and 3-Component?

Answer:

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• Principals can schedule ONE meeting per week. (Staff, PBIS, 3 Component, etc…)
• That doesn’t mean one meeting per week per committee. It means only one meeting, total.
• Do not participate in building or district committees that are not paid, go beyond the one meeting per week and/or are outside school hours

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Question:

What sorts of things should be limited during work to rule?

Answer:

The following are examples of the activities that are often not done while working to rule.

• Unpaid committees
• PTA meetings
• Chaperoning dances
• Selling/taking tickets
• Trips beyond the student day
• IEP meetings that extend past the work day, etc.

-Tutoring

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More examples:

-United Way, Sunshine committee, Family Engagement Committee, Outdoor Classroom Committee, Check & Connect, ISST committee, Pep fest, School pride assemblies

Question:

How about PTA meetings?

Answer:

We suggest that teachers in a building jointly write a letter to the president of the PTA explaining that our union would like to be placed on the agenda of the next PTA meeting.

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Ask to discuss contract bargaining, but otherwise teachers will not be attending PTA meetings while working to rule.

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Question:

Is a probationary teacher at risk of getting into trouble for working to rule?

Answer:

Working to rule is not illegal.

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State law guarantees that you cannot be subject to any discrimination because of union activities.

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If you feel you are, contact our BFT President.

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REMEMBER: When Working to Rule ...

1. Do not volunteer!!!

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• If directed, do as directed. Comply now and file a grievance later.

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3. Each member of the union must decide what they can do to help reach a get a just and equitable settlement.

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Question:

Where can I find out more about Work to Rule?

Read through these documents from Education Minnesota

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• Work to Rule Definition for Teachers
• Work to Rule: Cautions and Considerations
• Work to Rule Practical Questions

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Question:

What do I do if I still have questions?

Enter your

questions on

this document.

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Question:

How do I contact the BFT president?

Email the BFT president,

Wendy Marczak at

bftpresident@

gmail.com

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