From the Desk of the President - Deb Peterson - July / August 2015
“IT’S A BRAVE NEW WORLD…or is it”
It’s been a perfect storm, so to speak, that has resulted in forward strides tempered with “dancing backward.”
Negotiations Update #8
June 16, 2015
Dear Colleagues,
It is regrettable that we have been unable to reach agreement with the district during our reopener negotiations for the 2015-16 school year. The main barrier to our reaching an agreement involved the longstanding issue of inequitable preparation time for our K-3 teachers. Despite our efforts to secure 30 minutes of guaranteed preparation time for the 2015-16 school year and 90 minutes of guaranteed preparation time for the 2016-17 school year, the district would not agree to safeguard this valuable time needed to prepare for instruction from mandatory collaboration meetings. The district wouldn’t even agree to give the K-3 teachers 2 substitute release days! We were willing to increase the elementary instructional minutes in order to allow for K-3 preparation time. By including “collaboration” meetings within the definition of conference/preparation time, the district could force K-3 teachers to forego valuable preparation time to work with your colleagues on Principal directed assignments, paperwork unrelated to instruction, and other directed tasks.
Concerning Recent News Media Reports on Wage Reductions
The news media is reporting that General Assembly leadership and Gov. Malloy have reached a tentative budget agreement that assumes state employee concessions, in the form of a half percent reduction in raises, which would be negotiated for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
We have not agreed to any such reductions in wage increases nor have we had any discussions regarding this possibility. The proposal that has been put forward is a reduction in the “reserve for salary adjustment” line item in the budget.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game!
Calling all MPEC union members
who serve as team coaches in their community:
We currently have available up to 25 Baltimore ORIOLES game tickets for two separate dates to distribute free to two worthy teams. Dates are August 17, 2015 or August 20, 2015.
Black Latino Unity Picnic
August 30 -- Black Latino Unity Picnic
Penn Park, 2101 Fisher St., Madison, WI
Sunday, Aug. 30
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Sunday, Aug. 30
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Facebook Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/672912516173516/
Food, Music and a great Discussion on how to Unite our Communities to bring Progress! Sponsored by the Immigrant Workers Union.
More information or to volunteer: (608) 576-5230
Scranton Teachers-One of Founding Members of American Federation of Teachers
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Comp Plan Sent to JCOER
On June 19, 2015, OSER sent the comp plan to the Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER). It includes no general wage adjustment for either year of the biennium. Combined with the coming increases to the group health insurance plans, this means another two years of pay cuts.
CPSB Board Meeting Info
Save the Date
Jindal vetoes COLA, signs state budget
Governor Bobby Jindal has signed a $24.6 billion state budget that includes an additional $36 million for public education, but vetoed a 1.5% cost of living adjustment for retired teachers, school employees and other public servants.
