Friday, November 5, 2010
Bargaining Discussions
This is the place to discuss any topics related to recent bargaining events. Feel free to discuss the agreements related to furlough days, the move to VEBA, the Safety language being added to the contract, and any other issue related to bargaining.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Bargaining Update-6/4/2010
The District and Association bargaining teams met and negotiated for the 7th time on June 2nd. Our final scheduled dates are: June 8th & 9th. The following counter-proposals were made:
District: Work Hours/Work Year and Salary (includes furlough days); Early Release Thursdays
Association: Felicita Transformation model
To date, no Tentative Agreements have been reached. “It has been slow-going but we are making some progress,” said EEEA Bargaining Chair Phil Lutgen, a math teacher at Del Dios Middle School. According to Phil, “The EEEA Bargaining Team has been working hard. We are trying to finish out the year in our classrooms and still complete this monumental task. It was energizing to see and hear the support we got from EEEA Members at the last School Board Meeting. We feel like this year, EEEA Members are more knowledgeable, involved and supportive, and that makes a big difference at the negotiation table. We worked hard to fashion our proposals around the issues that are important to all of us.”
WHERE THE PARTIES STAND:
ASSOCIATION – Regarding CUTS: District cuts must include contingency language that ensures that if the District’s actual ending balance exceeds what they have been projecting, the excess will go to restoring furlough days. Also, any additional revenues that are realized (i.e. the Federal jobs bill currently being debated in Washington, DC) will be used to restore furlough days so our students get the instruction they need. Finally, concessions made by the Association should be accompanied with District compromise.
DISTRICT – Regarding CUTS: The District wants five (5) furlough days for the 2010-11 school year, which would mean a reduction in pay equal to five days salary, as well as five fewer days of learning for our students. They want to begin bargaining for 2011-12 in January of 2011, despite the fact we don’t usually have an approved State Budget until July or August and their projections have been highly inaccurate. At the last School Board meeting one of the Board members insisted that next year they would be seeking additional concessions, even though the economic outlook and the need for future cuts is highly uncertain.
EARLY RELEASE THURSDAY’S: The District has made some movement here but still refuses to recognize the original intent behind the Early Release Thursday mutual agreement, which was to stop holding meetings that go beyond the contractual day.
SAFETY: The District admits there are problems in our schools related to follow-through on discipline, safety and consistency, but isn’t interested in trying to correct the problems with contract language. They have discussed some non-contract solutions (such as another District committee) but have yet to put forth a proposal. We disagree, and have insisted they address these problems in the contract, where such provisions belong.
FELICITA: The Association has legitimate concerns about the way changes at Felicita have been handled. There are some things the Association and District teams agree on such as per-diem pay for the additional forty (40) minutes per day of instruction time. But too much of what has happened at Felicita so far seems to be the result of questionable decision-making and an apparent unwillingness to work together. This has required the Association team to make sure there is language in the agreement that assures that Felicita teachers are evaluated and treated fairly, unlike what happened with the new principal’s interview process for current Felicita teachers. Despite several District threats to implement a different model of reform if we can’t
reach agreement, the Association remains hopeful for a resolution that will allow the District to move forward in this voluntary process. We are also insisting that Felicita will be a one-year deal only. The parties would then revisit this agreement annually to determine if changes or adjustments are necessary.
Other Issues: Special Ed added authorization for Autism; pay for IEP meetings outside the contractual day; Association Rights (president’s release time); Sick Leave; Reduced Workload were discussed.
For proposal language, please visit the EEEA Website at:
http://eeeassoc.org/contracts-negotiations/negotiation-updates
District: Work Hours/Work Year and Salary (includes furlough days); Early Release Thursdays
Association: Felicita Transformation model
To date, no Tentative Agreements have been reached. “It has been slow-going but we are making some progress,” said EEEA Bargaining Chair Phil Lutgen, a math teacher at Del Dios Middle School. According to Phil, “The EEEA Bargaining Team has been working hard. We are trying to finish out the year in our classrooms and still complete this monumental task. It was energizing to see and hear the support we got from EEEA Members at the last School Board Meeting. We feel like this year, EEEA Members are more knowledgeable, involved and supportive, and that makes a big difference at the negotiation table. We worked hard to fashion our proposals around the issues that are important to all of us.”
WHERE THE PARTIES STAND:
ASSOCIATION – Regarding CUTS: District cuts must include contingency language that ensures that if the District’s actual ending balance exceeds what they have been projecting, the excess will go to restoring furlough days. Also, any additional revenues that are realized (i.e. the Federal jobs bill currently being debated in Washington, DC) will be used to restore furlough days so our students get the instruction they need. Finally, concessions made by the Association should be accompanied with District compromise.
DISTRICT – Regarding CUTS: The District wants five (5) furlough days for the 2010-11 school year, which would mean a reduction in pay equal to five days salary, as well as five fewer days of learning for our students. They want to begin bargaining for 2011-12 in January of 2011, despite the fact we don’t usually have an approved State Budget until July or August and their projections have been highly inaccurate. At the last School Board meeting one of the Board members insisted that next year they would be seeking additional concessions, even though the economic outlook and the need for future cuts is highly uncertain.
EARLY RELEASE THURSDAY’S: The District has made some movement here but still refuses to recognize the original intent behind the Early Release Thursday mutual agreement, which was to stop holding meetings that go beyond the contractual day.
SAFETY: The District admits there are problems in our schools related to follow-through on discipline, safety and consistency, but isn’t interested in trying to correct the problems with contract language. They have discussed some non-contract solutions (such as another District committee) but have yet to put forth a proposal. We disagree, and have insisted they address these problems in the contract, where such provisions belong.
FELICITA: The Association has legitimate concerns about the way changes at Felicita have been handled. There are some things the Association and District teams agree on such as per-diem pay for the additional forty (40) minutes per day of instruction time. But too much of what has happened at Felicita so far seems to be the result of questionable decision-making and an apparent unwillingness to work together. This has required the Association team to make sure there is language in the agreement that assures that Felicita teachers are evaluated and treated fairly, unlike what happened with the new principal’s interview process for current Felicita teachers. Despite several District threats to implement a different model of reform if we can’t
reach agreement, the Association remains hopeful for a resolution that will allow the District to move forward in this voluntary process. We are also insisting that Felicita will be a one-year deal only. The parties would then revisit this agreement annually to determine if changes or adjustments are necessary.
Other Issues: Special Ed added authorization for Autism; pay for IEP meetings outside the contractual day; Association Rights (president’s release time); Sick Leave; Reduced Workload were discussed.
For proposal language, please visit the EEEA Website at:
http://eeeassoc.org/contracts-negotiations/negotiation-updates
Friday, May 7, 2010
Negotiations Have Begun
Negotiations have begun, and the District is looking for a number of concessions from employees. Check the following link for the latest proposals and updates. Then post your thoughts, comments, ideas, and concerns here. Link:
http://eeeassoc.org/contracts-negotiations/negotiation-updates
http://eeeassoc.org/contracts-negotiations/negotiation-updates
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Discuss the District's Bargaining Proposal
The proposal EUSD management introduced at the School Board meeting on March 11th includes the following:
o A 3% across the board cut in certificated staff salaries
o 5 furlough days, that will create a 2.5% reduction in paychecks
o Another salary cut based on state COLA (more than likely to be decided each year when the state budget is finalized and adopted)
o The permanent addition to the contract of the Thursday early-release schedule district-wide (right now it is an agreement renewed annually based on your feedback)
o Finally, language that affects the full time release EEEA President position
These cuts above do not take into account increases to our benefit premiums (passed onto staff) that we will not know about until annual usage data arrives in August or September. If the insurance consultant that the district chose is unable to save us money, these additional costs will be passed on to employees in January of 2011.
o A 3% across the board cut in certificated staff salaries
o 5 furlough days, that will create a 2.5% reduction in paychecks
o Another salary cut based on state COLA (more than likely to be decided each year when the state budget is finalized and adopted)
o The permanent addition to the contract of the Thursday early-release schedule district-wide (right now it is an agreement renewed annually based on your feedback)
o Finally, language that affects the full time release EEEA President position
These cuts above do not take into account increases to our benefit premiums (passed onto staff) that we will not know about until annual usage data arrives in August or September. If the insurance consultant that the district chose is unable to save us money, these additional costs will be passed on to employees in January of 2011.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
RIF Notices
EUSD has delivered RIF notices (pink slips) to almost 80 teachers in the district. Many of these teachers were taken by surprise by these notices because they have been teaching in the district for almost a decade. Others have been through this process for up to 5 years in a row. This is a forum for a discussion of this action taken by district management. Please be respectful of the opinions of others.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
District's Proposed Cuts
The District has included the following in its three year budget projections: for 2010-2011- the layoff of 77 certificated staff, 5 furlough days and a 3% salary take back. For the following two years (2011-2013) they are planning for 5 furlough days and a total of 5% in salary take backs. This amounts to a 5.5% cut in salaries for 2010-2011, and a 7.5% cut for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 for all employees. None of these proposed numbers factor in possible increases in our health benefits that are passed on to employees in January of each of the next several years.
Any salary and benefits changes have to be negotiated and agreed to by a majority of certificated staff. Please use this forum to discuss your thoughts, ideas, and comments with each other. In addition, please be respectful of opinions that may differ from your own.
Any salary and benefits changes have to be negotiated and agreed to by a majority of certificated staff. Please use this forum to discuss your thoughts, ideas, and comments with each other. In addition, please be respectful of opinions that may differ from your own.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Retirement Incentive Discussion
Hello and welcome to the new EEEA Blog site. The inaugural topic of this blog is the retirement incentive that EUSD has put forward for eligible teachers to consider. Several of you have requested a forum for discussion for those who are considering the district's offer of between $15,000 and $20,000, depending on the number of retirees who sign up.
Please be respectful of opinions that may differ from your own. Your EEEA leadership team hopes this helps serve as one tool to help you make your decision.
Please be respectful of opinions that may differ from your own. Your EEEA leadership team hopes this helps serve as one tool to help you make your decision.
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