FROM YOUR NEGOTIATING TEAM:
PROGRESS MADE, BUT SALARIES NOT YET RESOLVED.
YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IS NEEDED!
Dear NESPA Colleagues,
Our collective efforts are beginning to see results! THANK YOU!!
BARGAINING ON TUESDAY: In bargaining on Tuesday this week, the District withdrew its proposal to eliminate the guarantee of a minimum of 20 hours of work per week that applies to most NESPA members (all except School Assistants, Tech Specialists, and Campus Supervisors)! That means that cuts in hours are no longer on the horizon! We also reached an agreement on safety training that will help ensure that all Pareducators in Contained Learning Centers with violent students get de-escalation and restraint training in a timely manner. R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
TUESDAY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: Over 400 NESPA and NSEA members turned out to the meeting and held bright green "RESPECT" signs as NESPA Co-President Deb Murphy and NSEA President Tim Brittell told the Board about the need for lower class sizes, a living wage, the need to stop classifying so many employees as "School Year Only", and the need for better transfer process. (Teacher salaries paid by Northshore--the locally funded part--the part of teacher salaries that are negotiated--are the LOWEST of all nearby districts.) Go to NESPA’s website to see more info and pics on this exciting meeting. nespablog.blogspot.com THANK YOU to all who came!!
WEDNESDAY NEGOTIATIONS: NESPA's bargaining team met again with management on Wednesday, and continued to make progress. We reached an agreement that will reduce the number of NESPA members who are "School Year Only"---turning jobs that had been considered "temp" into ongoing work with RESPECT! We also reached an agreement on a better transfer system, and a better displacement system that ensures that displaced NESPA members don't get their hours cut, and will eventually end up in a position similar to the one they had---if that's what they seek. We also reached agreement on nursing duties in the schools with nursing cuts.
NEXT: Important issues like SALARY remain. We need a guarantee of annual step increases, and a respectable increase above the state-funded COLA. Too many NESPA members are struggling.
WHAT TO DO: If no agreement is reached by Tuesday, August 26, we will picket before the School Board meeting, beginning at 5:30. Watch for where we will gather. And we will vote on what action to take on the first work day: Wednesday, August 27 at 4 PM at the Cedar Park Assembly of God, 16300 112th Ave NE, Bothell. If we DO reach an agreement sooner, we'll set up a ratification meeting to vote on the tentative agreement. WATCH YOUR EMAIL. CHECK THE NESPA WEBSITE AT nespablog.blogspot.com. WHEN ASKED TO COME TO AN EVENT, PLEASE BE THERE! And contact your co-workers.
THANK YOU for your support. YOUR participation is what has enabled us to make progress at the bargaining table! Let's keep it up!
Your NESPA Negotiating Team,
Judy Ellis, Sharon Maynard, Peggy Sturm; Kraig Peck (WEA staff), and Dave Wood (WEA staff)
