Association News

 

From August....

SNOQUALMIE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
BARGAINING UPDATE
Aug. 27, 2008

264 to 47: You did it!
Three-year agreement is a starting point

Eighty one percent of our membership voted to approve a three-year contract today.

Today's settlement should be a signal for us to stand proud as members of the Snoqualmie Education Association. Our show of support over the last two weeks was the exact push needed to build the momentum for our bargainers to reach an agreement late last night with the district.

Highlights of this bargain was to obtain 100 percent of the HCA; a three-year TRI package which brings us closer to the average of our comparables; enhanced personal leave and cash out; and financial gains for longevity from year 17 through 30-plus.

But, another highlight of this bargain that's equally as important was unifying and strengthening our local. Your show of unity put district leaders on notice. Your dedication brought parents and other school supporters from our communities. And your energy caught the eye of the media. Lots of them.

The Snoqualmie Valley School Board will vote on the agreement tomorrow at its 7:30 board meeting. E

Congratulations! See you at school next Wednesday.

 

SNOQUALMIE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
BARGAINING UPDATE
Aug. 26, 2008

As of 10:30 p.m. no tentative agreement has been reached. But, the big news is …

You rocked! You walked and you continued to send a united message to the Snoqualmie Valley School District during our Show of Support this afternoon.

Nearly 250 Snoqualmie teachers, parents, students and friends gathered in front of the district office with signs bearing messages such as "I love my teachers" "SEA stands strong" and "Fair contract now," and chants of support to fuel our Snoqualmie bargaining team. It was an amazing show of unity.

"I think we have fabulous teachers in the Valley and we don't want to lose them," said parent Mandee Quinton, who has four children attending Snoqualmie Valley public schools. "Of course we don't want a delay but we understand if the teachers need to strike to get a fair and equal contract to other schools in our surrounding communities."

Our energy and commitment attracted press coverage from at least three television stations, local dailies and weekly newspapers. We did important work today. We'll do more tomorrow.

See you at tomorrow's parking lot rally at 7:15 a.m. at Twin Falls Middle School.

 

SNOQUALMIE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
BARGAINING UPDATE
Aug. 21, 2008


Bargaining continues slowly
Your bargaining team went to the table 8 a.m. today, hopeful to make great progress. The district arrived nearly an hour late and was not prepared. We had expected an extensive counterproposal but we didn't receive anything regarding issues around compensation, leaves or longevity from the district.

Some dialogue occurred related to language around special education and other peripheral issues.

Your team was hopeful for much more progress. We remain hopeful for progress. The team requested multiple bargaining dates for next week but the district would only commit to Monday, Aug. 25.

 

From Aug 8, 08
The next SEA negotiations session is set for Wednesday, August 13th. While the mediation process has gotten the dialogue going again there are less than 15 items that have been agreed to as of the last session. We expect the district's team to come with a full proposal that addresses your concerns and interests on leaves, longevity, and workload. These are issues that must be addressed. The SEA Bargaining Team is committed to bringing members a contract that addresses the needs and concerns of the members.

The Special Education subcommittee has been working to create structures and language that address many of the issues that Special Education teachers and specialists have expressed to SEA. We look forward to finishing that work and reviewing the final product.

Salary and benefits are a critical point. All districts around SVSD have fully paid HCA (Health Care Authority). We must have this insurance benefit fully paid by our district as well. The salaries of SVSD educators have fallen increasingly behind our neighbors. This salary and benefits issue must be addressed over the course of the contract if we are to recruit and retain quality teachers and staff in SVSD. This will require the district to do some belt tightening, make some modifications in priorities and spending, and practice some creative budgeting in order to achieve parity with other eastside districts. This will also require some teamwork to get the Legislature to "amply fund" public education.

MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT
There are LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS before school starts. There must be action NOW in order to achieve a satisfactory contract before school starts.

Members need to make contacts this week. The public is paying attention now as we all prepare to return to school. Make contacts with your friends, neighbors and community leaders so they understand what the lack of a fair and equitable contract will mean.

The district's budget survey is on-line. Your input is needed to get a full and clear picture of how the district can allocate its resources.

Prepare to attend SEA meetings. These will be announced in future Updates, posted on the SEA website, or communicated via the building reps. Your attendance shows your support for your SEA Bargaining Team and the work they are doing to get responses to the issues and concerns of the members.

For additional ideas review the SEA website.
RATIONALE AND REASONING
This bargain is about addressing the needs and concerns of members. We must resolve those concerns. We have to address parity with other eastside district if we want to attract and retain quality educators. While the district isn't funded properly by the state, neither are other districts in our region. Yet these other districts have made commitments to staff and are finding ways to increase their compensation, benefits and working conditions. SVSD must do the same. It is about establishing priorities and commitment now and in the future!!

FAST FACTS:
Salaries – SVSD teachers are an average of $1050 behind other districts at the first step of the contract and this pattern continues throughout the salary schedule. This has to change!

Longevity stipends to reward senior staff in neighboring districts are attractive and are luring staff away from our district. They range from $500 per year to more than $5000 per year. SVSD senior teachers get $200 per year after 15 years. We must increase the recognition of our senior staff so we can retain them in SVSD.

Benefits – HCA is fully paid by all districts in this area. SVSD must IMMEDIATELY start paying the full amount of this benefit as well.

Special Education – Our talented and committed special education teachers and specialists deserve compensation for the additional paperwork, workload and meetings they have to attend. This is an issue that must be addressed.

Workload Issues - There are more and more requirements and expectations of teachers with nothing being taken off the plate. Educators need more time to work more closely with students, to plan and prepare wisely, focus strategies, and work with teammates.

 

 

SEA WEBSITE UPDATE
The SEA website was temporarily down during July as a hacker had attacked the WEA server and it took work and time to get all the functions of WEA's internet system operational. We are operational now and Ann Heideman is working hard to keep it up to date.

http://snoqualmie-sea.bravehost.com/