May 25 , 2006 Volume 10, Issue 4

CFT Convention

-Renee Heinlein, Pajaro Middle School

As a first timer to the CFT Convention in Sacramento, I was impressed by the very full schedule of events. The convention took place March 24-26, 2006. Each of these days was packed with workshops, committee meetings and general session meetings lasting from 8AM-7PM.

For those of you, like myself, who are uniformed as to the workings of our union at the state and national levels, here is a brief explanation of the convention. Members, who include teaching and classified professionals, from all over the state attended. Each local was allowed to send a specific number of “delegates” depending on total membership. Workshops run by union members covered a broad range of topics including: saving health benefits, ELL strategies, Special Ed., “Dealing with Difficult People,” support for new teachers, negotiating NCLB.

However, the primary purpose of the convention was to debate and vote on amendments to the CFT constitution and committee resolutions. For example, an amendment adding $3.00 per member plus the annual pass-thru to our per capitas was debated in the General Session and passed. Locals and committees (e.g. Labor in the Schools Committee) wrote resolutions ahead of time and on the fly during the convention. Four committees met to discuss resolutions before General Session: Educational Issues; Health Care, Retirement & Benefits; Higher Education; Socio-political. If the resolution passed in the above-mentioned committee, then it was put on the General Session agenda for debate and action.

To some this may sound tedious and boring. We did sit around drinking lots of coffee for hours on end. However, I felt lucky to be able to participate in the business of our union at this state level. For example, I was able to vote “yes” on a resolution challenging NCLB legislation as it comes up for renewal in 2007. Overall, I most enjoyed meeting ECE, K-12, community college, university, and classified union members from around the state. I even met a home economics teacher – they still exist!!! The importance of communication and solidarity across our state is vital to our schools and students.

Inside the Union Movement - Report from the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council — Sarah Ringler, Pajaro Middle School

The Monterey Bay Central Labor will award a Cesar Chavez Memorial Scholarship of $500 and a Johnny Mattos Scholarship of $500 to a union member or a member of their family if their union is an affiliate of the Labor Council; PVFT is one. The deadline for the application is June 6, 2006.
To get an application or for more information, contact: Karen Araujo at karen@mbclc.org or by calling (831) 633-1869.

JUNE ELECTION AND ENDORSEMENT NEWS

As the primary election is only a few weeks away, PVFT and CFT endorsements may give members some insight as they study their ballots and make decisions regarding their vote. Also, a brief description of the PVFT endorsement process is also important information for members for future elections.

The CFT Executive Council gave an early endorsement to Phil Angelides for Governor earlier this year which was resoundingly reaffirmed by the member delegates at the CFT convention in March. Phil Angelides is the only candidate who has an honest plan to fully fund public education and protect educators' pensions. He is strongly supported by the CFT, CA Professional Firefighters, healthcare workers, the CA Labor Federation and the CA Democratic Party.

The CFT and PVFT have both endorsed Ana Ventura Phares for the State Assembly seat which has been vacated due to Simon Salinas being termed out.

CFT interviewed both candidates in this race and the choice was clear: Ventura Phares is the strongest advocate for schools and working families. She spoke to the PVFT membership and they unanimously endorsed her as our candidate also.

PVFT members, acting on the recommendation of our C.O.P.E. committee and the PVFT Executive Council, decided that we would not endorse any of the candidates running for the SCCOE Superintendent of Schools in the primary. This frees members to endorse and work for any of the candidates running for that office. We will revisit that decision after the June primary if there is a run-off of the top candidates.

At the last membership meeting, the members determined that in the future, before PVFT endorses a candidate or an issue, we will poll the members to give all of the members a voice in the decision rather that just those present at a given meeting. This policy will be in effect from now on.

Legislative Update

-Mike Vasser, Pajaro Middle School

Pending Education Legislation that needs your support..

SB 1592/ Romero
Authorizes students to graduate, with a special insignia for those who pass the high school exit exam, and requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to report whether schools in deciles 1-3 provide all the necessary resources for successful passage of the exam.

AB 1782/ Mullin
Sets aside the proceeds of the Megamillions State Lottery game for the purpose of providing weighted funding for English learners, students on free and reduced price lunch and students with special needs.

AB 2040/Chu
Authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to give the high school exit exam in the summer and on Saturdays and appropriates for its administration.

SB 1354/Dunn
Requires corporations making political contributions supporting or opposing California candidates, political parties, and political causes to report those contributions to shareholders, and to refund to objecting shareholders or to charity a pro rata share of those contributions, based upon the shareholder's proportionate ownership interests. Corporations must maintain records that include copies of the reports on those political contributions or expenditures for 5 years, and make them available to the fair Political Practices Commission upon request.

Upcoming Events:

•  June 2nd, 2006 —End of the year celebration at Jalisco's in Watsonville from 4:00 to 6:30pm—Donations for Scholarships: $5.00 collected at the door.

•  August 2nd-4th, 2006 —R.S.R.A Summer Institute in Burlingame available to all sites with team of 6-10 including the principal.

Negotiations Update

As the school year comes to a close, the Negotiations team continues to meet with the PVUSD on a regular basis. In recent months we've been negotiating working conditions and salary for both the Migrant Head Start and Children's' Centers programs. We were successful in securing the 3.25% salary increase for both of these programs' teachers. In the coming sessions, we will continue to negotiate on their behalf, as well as, opening salary discussions for all units for the 2006-2007 school year. As the state budget projections are continuing to improve, we are looking forward to a positive salary negotiations cycle. Congratulations to all bargaining unit members on your recent raise…and we'll keep working hard for another one!

Union FAQ's

Summer Meetings, Trainings, etc…. With summer right around the corner, there has been the concern of having meetings and trainings during your vacation. The Union's policy is that you cannot be required to work outside your contracted days, but if you decide to do your training during the summer, make sure you understand whether you will be compensated for your time. You should keep track of hours worked and remember that pay comes only after all required work is completed and evaluated. Grants and other compensation source must be fully funded before the district writes a check. Check your pay stubs regularly and use your records to check your pay as it is not noted on supplemental checks. Do not leave the training without understanding how and when you will be compensated!

Grievances... have only to do with contract violations.

They come from members due to contract violations.

Steps:

- Informal Level : Meet with administrator and Building Rep to discuss violation

If not resolved:

- Level 1: Written grievances filed with district with or without PVFT involvement.

Carolyn's Corner

As most of you know by now, Dr. Mays has resigned from her position as superintendent as of June 30, 2006 citing her inability to continue to work with the majority of the Board of Trustees. The press has been covering the unfolding story ever since. As these events have been occurring, many of you have asked what's going on and how can we change Dr. Mays' mind.

While there is a group of teachers who are okay with Dr. Mays' departure and believe that this is the "best Board we've ever had", most of you have been saddened by her departure and angered by the behavior of some Trustees. Never before in my thirty eight years in education have I seen tears shed when a superintendent leaves, but I've seen them at site after site, and at several public gatherings. Sadly, the community is blaming the Union as the majority of the Board are considered the "Union vote". We need to make it clear that we don't consider them the union's vote nor do we consider them union supporters. Let me give you some examples of their anti-union, anti-teacher, anti-district behavior.

To begin with, there's Sharon Gray's unwavering support for secession, her strong campaign against P.V. High, and her recent public support for the Governor's Agenda that labor fought so tirelessly to defeat.

Next, Trustee DeHart has led the Board to reject more than one of our Tentative Agreements with the district. The most egregious was her leadership in rejecting our agreement to take furlough days to help the district budget. She instead proposed freezing step and column to make up the deficit, a move that strikes to the heart of any union's philosophy of equity for all members. She is also the Trustee who called the press and stopped the district administration from getting the training to implement the AFT reform model which empowers the teachers' voice at the site and district level. And, in spite of be well aware of the laws against it, has been the leading trustee in meeting with teachers regarding working conditions that are our exclusive bargaining right.

Trustee Nichols began her tenure on the Board by publicly and loudly opposing PV High knowing fully that it was the only site that could be used within the narrow window of the hardship money. She recently supported the election of Gray as President of the Board which is one of the key events that led to Dr. Mays' departure. In spite of the union's lobbying of her, privately and publicly, to retain the position of Director of Certificated Personnel which is the key position that PVFT uses to resolve members' issues, she voted with the others against keeping it.

Finally, due to recent press articles, it is becoming increasingly evident that the Board majority has been in continuing violation of the Brown Act which requires that district issues and policies are to be discussed by Trustees only in public session. If they are meeting to discuss anything regarding the district, it is a violation of the Brown Act and the public trust. I have been involved with many Boards over the years, many of them bad, but this one is the worst by far. Their arrogant disregard for the laws of California, their micromanagement of DO personnel, and their anti-union positions lead me to believe that PVFT should deliver a vote of no confidence in their ability to govern PVUSD. I believe that should be the first step that we take as a union. I welcome your input on any of these critical issues.

Top