15-B Insider -- October 2003

Cyndi Austin caustin@mea.org Uniserv Director
Judy A. Pullen jpullen@mea.org Uniserv Secretary

Bargaining Season is in Full Swing!

I know it is deer season, but for most of 15-B it’s contract season. As a wise person once said: "If you can’t go around it, over, or through it, you had better negotiate with it." (Asheigh Brillant) Therefore, our bargaining teams are working hard!

Currently we have several contracts open. Insurance and salary, as always, are the big issues in bargaining. Most districts have healthy general funds and can afford to do well by their employees. However, districts are trying to bargain your insurance away with caps and lesser benefits. The best advice for members is to support your negotiation team! In case you want to know where

your district is with funding, below are the current 2001-02 numbers for the general fund for districts in 15-B.

District Name	% of General Fund Balance
Cadillac	26.37%
Manton	4.65%
Mesick	44.08%
Evart	24.16%
Marion	32.91%
McBain	38.11%
Pine River	26.69%

New Look!

New school year; new Uniserv Director; new format for our newsletter. We hope you enjoy the new look! Even though it is different, we are still planning to continue with material that will be interesting, informative, or at least thought provoking!

Thought for the day:

Always behave like a duck – keep calm and unruffled on the surface, but paddle like the devil underneath!

BARGAINING UPDATE

Settled: Cadillac EA; Manton EA; Pine River EA; Pine River ESP

Bargaining 2003-04: TAS of Cadillac; Evart EA, ESP and Transportation; Manton ESP; Marion EA & Transportation; Wexford-Missaukee ISD

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

*Oct 21-22: Statewide Staff Meeting – Office closed
*Oct 31: Cash for Kids campaign ends – Drawing held Nov 17th
*Nov 4: Grievance & Advocacy Training – 5:30 p.m.
*Nov 12: ABC (Area Bargaining Council) meeting – Big Rapids office
*Nov 17: Coordinating Council Meeting – MEA office; 7:07 p.m.

Cash for Kids

Our Cash for Kids campaign is drawing to a close. If you haven’t already made your contribution, you have only two more weeks to do so. We have a number of incentives this year including PAC puppies or key chain calculators for a $10 donation and tape measure/levels for a $25 donation. Also, a donation of any amount will qualify you for an incentive gift. We will also be drawing for several prize packages valued at $100 each. You will receive one (1) ticket for every $10.00 contributed. Your tickets will be sent to you when I (Judy) receive your contribution form in the Uniserv office. (If you do not wish to contribute but would still like a ticket, you may call our office for further information.) The winning tickets for the Cash for Kids prize packages will be drawn at the November 17^th Coordinating Council/PAC meeting. (You don’t need to be present to win).

Elected officials (from your local school boards to the Governor of the State) determine your salary, your medical coverage, certification requirements, your retirement benefits, school funding, length of school day/year and much more. A $25 contribution with payroll deduction over eight months is $3.12 a month or 78 cents a week. Where else can you get more value for your dollar? Every contribution, whether large or small, is important. Remember – our Cash for Kids success is measured by your involvement!

With teamwork, together we can achieve the extraordinary!

Help, I think I’m in Trouble! Now What??

Your union is there to help if you find yourself in hot water. I know everyone has read your contract from cover to cover, so if you find yourself in trouble flip open to the grievance and disciplinary/discharge section and find out what your rights are. If you don’t have the time to read them or don’t know what to do, ask your building rep for help. You should ask for a union rep to be present during any meeting that you think may lead to discipline or discharge. Don’t wait until the matter has escalated before you call your union.

Here are a few tips that can help keep you out of trouble, and are good advice if you find yourself in a difficult situation.

Don't give your written account of what happened to anyone without first getting the union's approval. Keep your own set of notes.

Start keeping your own detailed notes if you believe the administration is starting to document your performance.

Keep good records. Make copies of what is in your personnel file.

Keep deadlines. In order to protect your rights, there may be timelines to follow in your grievance process. Check with your union rep or your contract for those dates.

Know your contract! If you don’t understand something in your contract, ask!

Keep cool. Don't lose your temper.

Don't just complain; do something. The only way to fix a problem is to let the union know about it.

Don't be rushed into anything. You have the right to request postponement of a meeting if your union rep can't be there (some contracts have that language). When the meeting does take place, take careful notes.

Document all events that you report; include the time, date, people present and specific details.

Be careful whom you confide in and what you tell them. Don’t share details with anyone who is not your union rep. (If it is a criminal matter, contact your Uniserv office immediately). Your problems may show up on your evaluation. For more information, go to the MEA’s website at www.mea.org.

Just a note for all grievance committee members and union reps. If you are new or just want a refresher, be sure to sign up for our Grievance & Advocacy Training on November 4th. It is important for you as a rep or committee member to be able to answer a question or give direction if you don’t know the answer. This training will give you good reference materials and can answer many questions you may have.