Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/50712
Bargaining updates around the state ALAMEDA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (AEA) is at a bargaining impasse with a district that's hoarding at least $17 million in reserves, and that recently gave its superintendent a big raise, but refuses to invest in its own educators. "Alameda Unified needs to understand that an investment in educators is an investment in the future of our community," said AEA President Gray Harris. ASSOCIATED CALEXICO TEACHERS bargaining team didn't even have a chance to offer a counterproposal before the Calexico Unified School District announced a decision to declare impasse in bargaining with a proposal that would cut a total of 9 percent in compensation and benefits from Calexico teachers. In addition, the district plans to eliminate approxi- mately 150 combined certificated and non-certificated positions. Yet, the district has also announced a retraction of all furlough days for classified staff effective immediately, trying to pit one staff union against another. BELLEVUE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION members in Santa Rosa won some financial relief at the bargaining table when the Belleville Union Elementary School District agreed to restore pay cuts from five furlough days that educators had agreed to last fiscal year. The district agreed to add five days back to the school year and to add 2 percent to the salary schedules. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, a charter homeschool in Tulare County with 12 CTA members, bargained an increase in their insurance cap of $1,000 a month to maintain fully paid health premiums. KELSEYVILLE UNIFIED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION is fighting efforts by the school district to put a cap on medical benefits at a level lower than is paid now. They are currently at an impasse. The first session with a state mediator is Jan. 13. NATOMAS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION continues to face challenges in their bargaining. To date, the district has proposed concessions prohibited by the ratified agreement, made a proposal outside the scope of bargaining, and has filed for impasse, even though the county-appointed fiscal adviser states that the district will emerge with $3 million to $5 million more than originally projected. RAMONA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION is in the process of filing unfair labor practice charges. Despite calling for transparent, collaborative and well intentioned negotiations the Ramona Unified School District superintendent is engaging in inappropriate direct bargaining by presenting proposals in the press and to local parent meetings prior to the start of negotiations. "We believe it would be detrimental to the students we teach to engage in bargaining based upon knee-jerk speculation instead of reality," said RTA president Donna Braye-Romero. "Ramona teachers have always engaged in good faith bargaining with the district and are prepared to do so this year when appropriate." ST. HELENA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION members in Napa County nego- tiated a 1 percent salary increase that is retroactive to July 1, 2011. The chapter also won a slight improvement to health benefits. STOCKTON TEACHERS ASSOCIATION expects to bargain from a position of strength during contract reopeners knowing that the school district has hoarded $40 million in reserves — in spite of a graduated proposal by the district to take from two to five unpaid days from members based on the trigger established in AB 114. ✔ What Educators Need to Know about Social Security ✔ The Impact of Fees on Your 403(b) or 457 Plan ✔ Finding a Trustworthy 403(b) or 457 Plan Advisor ✔ The Truth about Variable Annuities Don't be sold – be informed at CTAinvest.org! This is your resource for retirement planning. No login is required, so visit today. December 2011 • January 2012 / www.cta.org 29 1 NEED HELP WITH YOUR 403(b) or 457 PLAN? If you need help understanding your 403(b) or 457 plan, CTAinvest.org can help. We've developed four new, brief videos – none longer than 6 1 /2 minutes – that can provide a wealth of information about planning for retirement and your 403(b) or 457 plan.