Showing posts with label negotiations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label negotiations. Show all posts

Monday, September 8, 2014

OEA Committees

Committees
Grievance
Co-Chairs, Charles Shannon & Colleen Sullivan, Glorietta
Our Grievance Committee consists of trained representatives who assist our site reps and members at their school sites to solve perceived contract violations. The committee also determines whether or not a grievance should be taken to arbitration.
Bargaining/Negotiations
Co-Chairs, Adam Miller & Katherine Palmer-Collins
The Bargaining Team handles our negotiations with the Orinda Union School District.
Elections
Chairperson, Terry Schrittweiser

The Elections Committee manages the details whenever OEA has an internal election or vote. Charged with ensuring that the elections are conducted in a fair and impartial manner.

Friday, March 14, 2014

OEA Meeting with Dr. Jaconette, March 11, 2014


o When will negotiations begin?  OEA would like to get started.  12:00-3:00 is a preferred time.
Possible Dates for Negotiations:
·      April 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25
·      April 29, 30 & May 2
·      May 15
·      May 20, 22, 23

o April 15th Meeting to provide input on the Local Control Accountability Plan. 

How will this meeting be structured? 
The District will have 4 people listening to members of our Executive Board give input on the Local Control Accountability Plan

What type of input should OEA be providing?
According to Dr. Jaconette, this meeting is OEA’s only opportunity to give input to the District regarding the 8 areas of the Local Control Accountability Plan.

Is this our only opportunity to give input? 
According to Dr. Jaconette, this meeting is OEA’s only opportunity to give input.

Who will be at this meeting? 
OUSD Attendees:          Joe, Kathy, Lorreen, Brian & Ed
OEA Attendees:              Charles, Colleen, Allison, Katherine

o Site Reps are being told that our Special Education caseloads are high and a real challenge for Spec. Ed. Teachers. 

How can the District address this? 
OEA would like to have Brian Inglesby attend our next Rep Council meeting to talk about this issue.  Joe said Brian can attend our Rep Council meeting as long as he is present as well.

o How can our Kindergarten teachers and other members give input on who provides RTI services, what these services look like, and when they happen?  In addition to this, how can members give input on extending the Kindergarten day?

Joe said the Curriculum Committee may take a look at this at some point but not sure when.

o RTI is not equitable across grades or schools and is not consistently provided for both ELA and Math.  What are the District’s plans for making RTI a program that is fully implemented for those students not meeting OUSD Standards?

Joe said the Curriculum Committee will be discussing this at some point but not sure when.  It also sounded as though the District Leadership Team will discuss this as well.

o OEA Leadership heard the Health Advisory Committee has been set up to convince our membership not to continue funding the retiree health benefit program with CALPERS. 

What is the purpose of this Advisory Committee? 
Loreen said the purpose of this Advisory Committee is to look at more affordable Health Care Programs for consideration.

We have a health benefits expert who was invited to this group.  However, he has not been contacted. 
Loreen needs his contact information.

When will this group be meeting? 
Loreen is trying to schedule this with all participants.

o A member was told the District was not longer allowing new job shares to be established and will only honor those that already exit. 

How will the District respond to any proposal for a new job share? 
Joe said job shares would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

o Technology purchases are occurring at all our sites and being funded by our Parent Clubs.  What are the Districts’ plans for ensuring equity?
Joe said the Curriculum Committee will be discussing this at some point but not sure when.

o Our Tech staff will occasionally go into our rooms and do things to our hardware without letting us know ahead of time.  This work is occasionally done when we are out of our classrooms.  What is the Districts’ protocol?
Joe will discuss this
o Through consensus of the School Board, the Inter District Transfer issue was going to be brought back for discussion/action.  When will this issue be brought back to the Board?
Joe’s only comment was that he and the Board heard OEA say this needs to be on the next Board meeting agenda.

o Field trip money – What do teachers do if they have collected excess funds? What if not enough money? Please advise. 
Joe advises teachers to talk with their Principal about collecting field trip money.  He also said teachers can let parents know, without naming any individuals, the need for additional funds.  All surplus field trip money will roll over from year to year and be used to fund students who were not paid for by their parent(s).  If a fieldtrip is cancelled then Joe said teachers are to talk with their Principal about refunding parents.

o Grandparents Day at our schools is taking up too much instructional time. What about TB clearance?  Could this happen during a holiday class party?
Joe will address this issue another time.

o Special Reserve (Fund 17)
This Special Reserve Fund was set up years ago and Parcel Tax Funds were deposited into this account.  This Fund is in addition to the 9% reserves the Board has set aside for economic uncertainties.  These parcel tax funds have been use for past deferrals.  OEA Leadership is disappointed with the District for not having an oversight committee review the purpose for spending these funds and making sure expenditures are aligned with parcel tax requirements.

o Teacher of the Month – May teachers make suggestions for teacher of the month?
Joe said teachers may nominate colleagues by emailing their Principal.

o Joe is curious about a question of priorities.  He is wondering how teachers would feel about K-3 class size increasing to 24 to 1.  Under our Local Control Funding Formula, only class size 24 to 1 is funded so OUSD would lose money if we stayed at class size 20 to 1.  The loss of funds could potentially impact the amount of money OEA could negotiate.

OEA will get member input on this issue.






Sunday, January 26, 2014

OEA Updates

ISSUE                                    ACTION

Grey week issue - Site Reps will meet with their Principal to bring attention to the importance of this issue.  

Stipend Committee - Colleen Sullivan and Adam Miller have been appointed to represent OEA on this committee.  Meeting dates have yet to be decided.

Teacher work load issue - OEA has sent two separate official "Demand to Bargain/Consult" letters and waiting for a response from the district.  

Pink and Blue Card Issue - OEA Site Reps will meet with Michael first to see what they can do.  Next step - Charles & Colleen will address this issue with Joe in February.

Resource & Supply Issue - Board approved an additional 10% (A total of 19%) to go towards this.

Respect Issue - Colleen and I continue to work with the District, the Board, and our CTA Staff Consultant to bring attention to this issue.

Health Benefits Advisory Committee - OEA will appoint two people to this committee.  We would like to find out if there are less expensive health care plans we could offer to our members.

OEA Survey Results - Adam Miller will share survey results with our Site Reps.

Negotiations - OEA has asked the District to provide available dates.  Our bargaining team has had extensive training and ready to get this going.

WHO Election - Voting will take place at our Site Rep meeting on 1/27/14.



Sunday, January 5, 2014

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING - LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Our union contract is a critical document that's the culmination of the collective bargaining process. 

During the bargaining process, a team of OEA teachers sit down as equals with administrators/directors and both sides negotiate the terms for working in the district.  This team bargains a contract that defines the issues for all members of the bargaining unit:  teachers, counselors, and all certificated staff.

Not everything is negotiable. Critical job issues that are within the legal scope of bargaining include compensation, hours of work, safety matters, class size, evaluation and disciplinary procedures, health care, access to personnel files, preparation time, seniority, transfer rights, a grievance procedure with binding arbitration to settle major disputes, discrimination, job assignments, and early retirement.

Issues not within the scope of bargaining include a district’s staffing needs, the district budget process, matters affecting employees outside the bargaining unit, the timing of layoffs, an advisory committee formed by the employer, and access to information unrelated to union representation.

Both OEA and the district have embraced what is known as “interest-based” bargaining — a model that can be effective if all parties have a sincere desire to make it work.  In interest-based bargaining, the parties brainstorm to find a “win-win” solution that doesn’t start with specific bargaining proposals. The focus is on developing mutually beneficial agreements based on the interests of the parties — the needs, desires and concerns important to each side. The goal is to keep the conversation flowing and avoid “stopping points.”

Please make sure your voice is heard by taking a few minutes of your time to complete OEA's online bargaining survey that will help determine our interests before meeting with the district.  This survey must be completed by 3:00 on Friday, January 10th. Here's the link again: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CTGD6ZV

Thank you,

Charles Shannon

OEA President