Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/250321
Advocacy Maternity layers of state and federal law, and by CTA collective bargaining agreements, which vary somewhat by school district. Up to four months of pregnancy disability leave is allowed, and any sick leave that has accumulated can be used to assure that leave is paid leave. Once sick leave is exhausted, a teacher can also obtain extended sick leave, often referred to as differential leave pay, for the remainder of a pregnancy disability leave. To help verify your many maternity and parental leave rights, check with your local primary contact staff or your union contract. Or go to this CTA website: ctainvest.org. Click on the "Insurance and Estate Planning" tab, then find the column marked "Disability and Long-Term Care Insurance" and click on the "Pregnancy and Parental Leave Rights" tab. Looking back "dream house" in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Essman had the 1975 photo of Meschi Meschi's son, Paul, works today as and Martin in his archives. He thinks it a surveyor. He and his siblings live in Santa was taken by a CTA Communications Cruz County, near where she resides on staff member. three pastoral acres in Boulder Creek. She The two women, then named Susan taught for 14 years in Mount Pleasant, and Weld and Sandi Harmening, gave birth then 20 years in Boulder Creek. later that year. The photo led the two mothers to reflect "That photo brought back a flood of on their days of union activism. memories," says Martin. "I think unions are "IT WAS JUST Her son, Ryan, is happily important, definitely," Mesmarried today with three THE RIGHT THING chi says. "It's good to have children and works as a hair backing. You're stronger as TO DO." stylist in South Carolina. a group." SAN DI MARTI N She also has twin daughters, "I think that you have who live in Oklahoma. a bigger voice in numbers," After the strike, Martin became a union Martin says. "You need to have a voice, site representative for the Mount Pleasant especially as a group. I believe in unions. Education Association, then moved on I think you're stronger united. You have to to other Bay Area districts. She retired have some kind of empowerment." from teaching after 25 years and lived in Switzerland for a time before settling in her When you're ready to elevate student achievement. You are ready for American Public University. With more than 90 degrees to choose from, there's almost no end to what you can learn. Pursue a respected Education degree online — at a cost that's 33% less for graduate students than the average in-state rates at public universities.* StudyatAPU.com/cal-ed *National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Digest of Education Statistics, 2011. We want you to make an informed decision about the university that's right for you. For more about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed each program, and other important information, visit www.apus.edu/disclosure. 40 Educator 02 Feb 2014 v2.1 int.indd 40 FE B RUARY 20 14 1/27/14 3:52 PM