AFT-CFT AFL-CIO Local 1936
		March 12, 2004 Volume 8, Issue 10

PVFT controversial
With the recent concerns over housing the Alianza and Salsipuedes schools, the PVFT Executive Board has taken a long look at the situation and has discussed how to prevent misunderstandings and hurt feelings in the future. We sympathize with the pain of the Alianza and Salsipuedes staffs over their displacement. As we had presented the situation in three General Membership and Executive Board meetings, we didn't realize the depth of emotions surrounding the issue. In future, if an issue triggers controversy, the union will notify all building representatives to survey the membership at their site to determine the level of concern accross the district.
If a member wants to present an issue to the PVFT Executive Board, they need to contact the appropriate Executive Board member with a brief written summary. The issue will appear on the next Executive Board agenda. Then, if needed, the person or group who submits the issue may talk: Call the

• Office 722-2331
• or voicemail 728-1936
• or Carolyn's cell 345-3427
• or e-mail carolynsavino@aol.com
• or visit the web www.pvft.net

Your Member-Driven Professional Union

PVFT website revamped
Your PVFT website now sports a new look. Log on to www. pvft.net to get a taste of our new design. The updated version has buttons on the side for easy navigation. As this is a work-in-progress, feel free to call the union office or send an email with your suggestions.
Keep your eyes open for the new PVFT logo coming soon!

You are here
General Membership & Building Rep Meeting

Monday, April 19, 2004
4:00-6:30 p.m.
Aptos H.S. Career Center

• Update on negotiations
• Discussion and approval of PVFT budget
• Further discussions on the effects of NCLB
  

Reel Work-labor films
The May Day Labor Film Festival starts Sunday, April 25 and runs through Saturday, May 1. Reel Work features a range of newer grassroots documentaries and classic labor films shown in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, UCSC, and Cabrillo College. Admission by donation. For more info, log on to www.reelwork.org

Get out and vote!
This election you get to vote for the PVFT Executive Board at your school site. Your building rep will coordinate voting and returning your ballots to the union office for tallying. Info to follow.

Make jobs not war!
Momentum is building around the world for the Global Day of Action against War and Occupation on March 20, the one-year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and invasion of Iraq. If you want to join the march and rally in San Francisco, meet at 11 a.m. March 20 in Dolores Park at 18th Street.

Celebrate Chavez' life
The Monterey Bay Central Labor Council celebrates the life and memory of Cesar E. Chavez on Sunday, March 28 at Cesar E. Chavez Community Park n Salinas at 10:00 a.m. Listen to music by Montes de Durango, Patrulla 81, Grupo Razado y Tamboraso Campesino. Learn about new immigration law, support for D'Arrigo farm workers fighting for a union contract, non-violence in our communities, and health care.

Taxing questions
We still have a few copies of the current Educators' Tax Guide awaiting you in the union office-for only $10. Call 722-2331.

News for you
Do You Just Belong?
Are you an active member, the kind that would be missed?
Or are you just contented that your name is on a list?
Do you attend the meetings and mingle with the crowd?
Or did you stay at home and crab long and loud?
Do you take an active part to help the work along?
Or are you satisfied a to be the kind to "just belong?"
Do you ever go to visit a member who is sick?
Or leave the work to just a few and talk about the clique?
There is quite a program scheduled that means success, if done.
And it can be accomplished with the help of everyone.
So attend the meetings regularly and help with hand and heart.
Don't be just a member, but take an active part.
Think this over, member, are we right or wrong?
Are you an active member? Or do you just belong?

-Anonymous

PVFT members are participating in many different trainings and conferences to help us to do the work of the union more efficiently and effectively. Periodically, we will let you know what's happening and whom to contact if you have questions and/or comments regarding their new areas of expertise. Since the beginning of 2004, numerous members have been involved in diverse trainings which will bring more expertise and understanding to our organization. Let us know if you want to get involved with something that interests you.

Alanna Alter and Carolyn Savino recently attended the AFT Western Regional Conference in San Diego. The conference focused on negotiating in difficult times, the skyrocketing costs of health care with suggestions on cost containment, and the AFT labor-management focus addressing NCLB provisions dealing with "underachieving schools." We both came away from the conference energized with the professional development and successful programs that are offered through our parent organization and available to us. Carolyn has already initiated the conversation surrounding this with Dr. Mays.

Linda Espejo and Heloise Schaser recently attended the New Teacher Symposium in San Jose. They came back with a more profound understanding of the role of the union in new teacher training, induction programs, and support services provided to new teachers through BITSA funding.

Five members of our negotiation team attended a four-day negotiation training at the Center for Collaborative Solutions Conference in San Francisco. They participated in intensive training using collaborative negotiation models presented from the management and labor point of view. Through this our local will gain a more highly effective and management-savvy team of already dynamite people!

We also have a six member group in training with CFT staff to run an effective campaign to successfully elect a slate of candidates for the Board of Trustees who will be union-friendly and supportive of employees and the district. These members are forming our fledgling COPE-Committee on Political Education. If you are interested in getting involved in political action contact Ellen Mellon, Judith Dew or Susan Atwell at Rolling Hills and Peggy Pughe, Donna Hall or Don Spelce at Aptos High. These members have committed to donate two weekends to gain the political skills necessary to put together this campaign. We salute them.

Alanna Alter attended a workshop for union staff on the New Workers Comp Law to see how radical program changes have restricted services.

Finally, thirteen PVFT delegates are attending the CFT Convention in Universal City in March. Our large organization will show up as a powerful one that works shoulder to shoulder with the state federation and with the other locals. Convention delegates find out about current educational issues. Our delegates will participate in discussions and vote on resolutions and constitutional amendments that will define the direction of the state federation.