At every opportunity, NYSUT reiterates this message to education policymakers. Now you can add your individual voice about students, school, district or campus.
Dear Colleagues,
We’re in a new school year, which is quite different from those we have experienced in the past.
Hurricane Sandy was one we will never forget. The devastation was widespread, yet it pulled many of us together. The Human Spirit prevails. My heart is heavy with sadness for those who lost loved ones and those who suffered the losses of their homes and possessions.
Teachers Cite ‘Genuine Conversation’ in Latest Talks With School Board Negotiators
LANGHORNE, PA (November 9, 2012) — Bargaining teams for teachers and the Neshaminy School Board met late into Thursday night for discussions that Neshaminy Federation of Teachers leaders called some of the “more productive talks” the two sides have had in recent weeks.
Contract talks continued well past 11 p.m. Thursday in the first negotiating session since schools reopened after being closed for a week by Superstorm Sandy.
“We believe that both teams left the session with a better understanding of each other’s positions and a sense that the range of issues is becoming more focused,” said NFT President Louise Boyd. “Both sides took the opportunity Thursday night to really engage in genuine conversation aimed at understanding how these proposals affect our members in day-to-day school operations and the classroom instruction of Neshaminy students.”
Boyd said the NFT team was “satisfied that such candid discussions can lead to new insight that we can build on to expand our areas of agreement.”
The next negotiating session is scheduled Nov. 26. Between now and then, the parties agreed to review proposals that narrow the remaining issues and better define areas of agreement and areas that need more attention. The NFT agreed to prepare a comprehensive document for consideration by both teams that incorporates provisions the parties have tentatively agreed to and proposals for further review and discussion.
A general membership meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 13th at 6:00PM in the Will Rogers High School Annex. All members of the bargaining unit are welcome and encouraged to attend, regardless of union membership status! Join us for news updates about AFT 6049 Oklahoma. We look forward to seeing you there!
Will Rogers High School is located at 3909 East 5th Place, Tulsa OK 74112.
NFT Leaders Cite Significant Sacrifices in Union’s Latest Offer, Including Steep Hike in Employee Health Insurance Premium Share
LANGHORNE, PA (November 8, 2012) — After welcoming students back to classes this week following Superstorm Sandy, teachers said they are looking forward to making progress toward a new contract as talks with the Neshaminy School Board negotiating team resume tonight.
“We are hopeful that our discussions will stay on track and keep focused on the framework that both sides have been working with for the past several weeks,” said Neshaminy Federation of Teachers president Louise Boyd.
As teachers prepared to resume bargaining, Boyd said, “the NFT wants to set the record straight on the current status of issues in the negotiations. We want our community to know about the substantial sacrifices that teachers have offered in recent talks.”
She and NFT vice president and bargaining team member Anne Schmidt stressed that teachers are part of the Neshaminy community—not just as teachers but as neighbors, friends, family members, and fellow parents.
“Many Neshaminy teachers grew up right here,” Schmidt said, “and Neshaminy schools are literally our schools. Many of our teachers are either Neshaminy alumni or have children in Neshaminy schools—or both. We care about our schools and their future. That’s why teachers have offered millions in sacrifices to reach a fair contract that also protects our school district’s financial health.”
Nearly a month ago, the NFT made a proposal that offers unprecedented sacrifices by teachers and addressed virtually every major objection the Board has raised, Schmidt said.
The compromises teachers have now put on the table include a sharp hike in employee health care premium contributions, plus other significant financial sacrifices such as forgone back pay and salary increases, she said. Teachers have also offered changes in their health plan that would save the District hundreds of thousands a year. Schmidt said, “We’ve met the Board’s demand to take health care coverage away from future retirees, and we’re asking current retirees to pay the same premium contributions current teachers will now pay. That is no small thing to ask seniors on a budget. These are hard choices for us, but we’ve offered these difficult compromises in order to try to meet the Board’s concerns and come closer to a contract both sides can accept.”
In response to the union’s proposal containing the massive health care compromises, two weeks ago the Board offered a partial proposal that appears to be a sharp break with progress that has been achieved over the last several weeks. At the time, NFT leaders expressed concern that the Board’s proposal represented “a step backwards in the bargaining process.”
Teachers and the NFT bargaining team said they remain concerned about language in the Board’s proposal that would eliminate class size limits and end the process followed successfully for decades of listening to teachers’ voices on educational decisions that affect the students in their classrooms.
“These are significant changes, and we’re concerned about their potential impact on Neshaminy children,” Boyd said. She added that the Board should be willing to discuss other changes it wants in scheduling and committee operations that would reduce administrative transparency and accountability, including the handling of student grades. “We know parents want to have confidence that grades earned by their children and given by teachers are not being changed,” Boyd said. “We will work hard to maintain this important guarantee of fairness in the process.”
Boyd said the response to last week’s devastating storm could offer guidance for the road ahead.
“Recovering from this storm is going to be a long process for our community,” she said. “But as the storm showed, we are all in this together, and we believe that if the Board will work together with us, we can bridge our remaining differences. Resolving this contract stalemate would take a big community concern off the table and allow all of us to devote our energies to moving forward.”
It is the policy of HSEF to represent only members in the grievance process.
Read the rest of the policy concerning representation of members and non members.
With a sigh of relief, we can begin the day by congratulating President Obama and Vice President Biden on their re-election. It’s been an exciting election season, and one of the most exhilarating aspects has been watching our members step up to the challenge. You talked to your friends and families, knocked on doors, made phone calls, and supported this campaign with your time and your vote.
The devastation that Super Storm Sandy caused in New York is unimaginable. Our brothers and sisters up there need help!
We are asking for volunteers this Saturday (Nov. 10th).
A bus will leave from the BTU/AFT-Maryland parking lot at 5 a.m. and all meals will be provided. (5800 Metro Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215)
Tens of thousands of AFT members were personally and professionally affected by Hurricane Sandy.
November is a time we remind ourselves to be thankful, for the men and women who serve our country, for family and friends, and for a political system we have a voice in, I hope we can all keep thankfulness in our harts year round, supporting those who have and are serving our country, relishing our time with family and friends, and remembering that our voice does not end with our vote. I hope this year to, at least monthly, remember to find a way to show support for those past and present members of the armed forces, show a loved one they are appreciated, and to share with my represenit
