In terms of public activity, this was a relatively quiet week at the State House, but be assured, wheels are turning.  The House met in session yesterday for only two hours, passing a number of smaller or less important bills, while work continues on the big pieces of legislation.  Probably the most noteworthy moment was the brief set of comments offered by Representative Kat Rogers in commemoration of the Columbine school shooting.  Her remarks were brief, pointed, and applauded by many, but not all (you can imagine what ideological element of the House refused to honor her efforts).  In similar fashion, the Senate also met and rendered decisions on a number of pieces of legislation, each important to certain constituencies but none of major, state-wide importance.  The big issues and the controversial legislation is yet to come forth; likewise, work continues on the Senate’s budget proposal. 

Colleagues,

1)     Contract Update: The NTU Negotiations Committee met several days over vacation to work around some roadblocks to the contract's progress. For the entire week this week, internal meetings amongst committee members, and negotiations meetings with NPS were held. As of now, we can only firmly state that we have reached tentative agreements on the following:

1. We have reviewed and cleaned up language that was conflicting in the previous CBA.

2. We have a tentative agreement language and terms for the new CBA.

Abbreviated BESE meetings sidestep ESSA issue

Faster than a speeding bullet, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education sailed through its slate of meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in record time. Committee hearings that generally last until the sun goes down (or later) were gaveled to a close with hours to spare, leaving onlookers puzzled more about what did not happen than what did.

AFT Statement of Support for Our Students, Colleagues, and Communities

Adopted by AFT Seattle Local 1789 and AFT Seattle Pro-Staff Local 6550

April has been a busy month.  Check out the newsletter for information for retiree and active members.

http://sabea.ny.aft.org/files/april_2017_sabea_0.pdf

Ø Wed. April 19, Grade-In: Sit in for Solidarity on the 2nd floor of Welch Hall, 9am-1pm

Ø Fri. April 21, Regents Meeting: Members are encouraged to attend in support of a Fair contract for Lecturers. Meet outside of Welch Hall by the Cesar Chavez statue at 10 am and wear red.

Ø Thursday, April 20, 9am-2pm, Bargaining, 217 Halle

Ø Sat. April 22, Commencement: Members are invited to hand out Fair Contract flyers at graduation. Contact Matt (cooper492@yahoo.com), or Tim (emuftorganizer@gmail.com, (734) 487-5448) to sign up or for more info.

The Eastern Michigan University administration has proposed a 25% pay cut for new lecturers, and a pay freeze for current lecturers. New lecturers would have to teach for 5+ years before they would earn the amount that lecturers make today.

The administration’s proposal also eliminates promotions and the small amount of job security this provides, and demotes lecturers who have already been promoted. Part-time lecturers would earn less than half of what full-time lecturers earn per credit.

"The Detroit Board of Education today voted to appoint Dr. Nikolai Vitti superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD.)

On Saturday 4/8 the bargaining team presented nine articles and TA'd three: Academic Freedom, Membership Dues, and Strikes and Lockouts. There were no changes to Academic Freedom. Membership Dues was updated to comply with Right to Work legislation. The original Strikes language stated that the union would not call a strike; the new language also stipulates that the university will not lockout lecturers.