"Get a Better Job!" Negotiations Update

Little progress was made this week and we have two more negotiations scheduled for next week. The administration's spokesperson told us that if NESPA members want better pay, and to get benefits, they should get a better job! Yes, he actually did say that! We are working together to improve our NESPA jobs. This is how we have created a middle class in the industrialized world--by improving salaries, winning benefits and pensions. Why should Educational Support Professionals be treated like second class employees?

Your NESPA Team at Work!

• TALK TO OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS about the need to change Northshore’s outdated employment model of low pay, a 20 hour ceiling for almost half of us, and little job security for many.

Why are we paid less than NSD's lowest paid custodians? And every bus driver and office person?

Click HERE for the salary schedule comparisons for most of NESPA, for the lowest paid custodians, for bus drivers, and the lowest paid office staff.

At the top is NESPA's Level 1 salary schedule. This is how more than 90% of NESPA's 460 members are paid. It is the salary schedule for all Paraeducators-Special Education, LAP/Title, ELL. For all School Assistants. And for all School Technology Specialists. The only large group of NESPA employees who are not at Level 1 are School Nurses. And there are a few other employees who are not at Level 1, including about 8 Head Start staff, and a handful of interpreters for the Deaf.

As you can see, over 90% of the District's Educational Support Professional make from $13.96 per hour and up to $17.44 per hour, in their 15th year.

The next Salary Schedule are the 3 lowest paid Custodian salary levels in Northshore. There are other higher paid custodians. These are the 3 lowest. The lowest paid custodian classification - those who do cleaning only - are called "custodians". They start at $15.11 per hour - a wage that Education Support Professionals don't make until their 3rd year. And they make $17.51 at 6 years - which is higher than the top NESPA rate of $17.44 in their 15th year. And custodians make $18.04 per hour in their 15th year -60 cents higher than the $17.44 NESPA members make - or about 3-1/2% more. We'd like to understand why Northshore values the lowest paid custodian - those who only clean - they don't run boilers or do technical work like that - why does the District value those employees higher than the employees who actually teach our students?

I should also point out that every custodian is guaranteed an 8 hour work day and benefits. There is no 20 hour ceiling for any custodian.

Could it be that custodians are a historically male group - though now there are many women who are custodians. Could it be that the salaries of custodians are not considered "supplemental income" because it is a group - being historically male - whose income is considered essential?
Our custodians are worth every penny they are paid - and more. But aren't Northshore's Educational Support Professionals worth at least as much? You are the decision-makers for Northshore. You decide.

The next salary schedule is that of Northshore's bus drivers. As you can see, for next year, starting in September, they will start at $18.09 per hour. That's more than 90% of Northshore's Educational Support Professionals ever make. They start at a higher wage than Northshore's Educational Support Professionals make after 15 years. The bus drivers top out at $20.41 per hour. That's 17% higher than Northshore's educational Support Professionals.

Equally important, every bus driver is guaranteed medical benefits. There is no 20 hour ceiling for our bus drivers. They are guaranteed enough hours to get medical benefits. They deserve that.

NESPA is not even asking for that. We are simply asking that hours be combined when possible, so that more NESPA members work enough hours to get benefits. NOT ALL NESPA members. Just MORE. Based on adding hours, when schedules permit it. So far, the District negotiating team has told us that they are not agreeable to that.

Why do bus drivers make more? Could part of the reason be that this is a historically male group - although now there are many women bus drivers?

Aren't the people who teach our students worth as much as the people who drive the students to and from school?

Reflections of a Retiring NESPA Co-President

This was written by Marge Mitchell and shared with all at the year-end NESPA dinner.  

I said SURE

I’d be a NESPA Co-Prez

I know Deb Murphy

People do what she sezs

 

NESPA has good training

For their officers and staff

By sharing the presidents’ job

We’ll cut the workload in ½

 

We had a retreat

A day of planning and fun

Work hard, play hard

Easy to do in the sun

 

THEN, the meetings began

Sometimes 2 or 3 a week

Take notes, ask questions

Don’t forget….YOU have to speak

 

Living Wage and Bargaining Clusters

2 more campaigns to think of

Quiet walks on the beach…..

What happened to the things that I love?

 

A full open contract

Up for bargaining this year

In this economy…..

That redefines the meaning of fear

 

A big thanks goes

To our union rep Kraig Peck

He’s the “man with the answers”

Which can be as simple as “Oh, what the heck!”

 

I think I’ve matured

I know I’ve learned a lot

It’s time for new faces

Their turn to give it a shot

 

Peggy and Pat are a team

Not to be dismissed

Thank goodness this job

Was on Peggy’s “Bucket List”

 

 

Thanks for the memories

A line from a song

I’ll still be around

Can’t get rid of me for long

 

 

 

 

Marge Mitchell

5/17/2010

 

 

 

NESPA's 2011-2012 Board

Co-Presidents: Peggy Sturm and Pat Waldrop

Co-Vice Presidents: Joanne McDaniel

Secretary: Karen Kohler

Treasurer: Suzanne Ducotey

Nurse Rep: Rosemarie Dunlop

Special Ed Rep (High School): Judy Ellis
Special Ed Rep (Junior High): Judy Medhaug
Special Ed Rep (Elementary): Lucy Antonio

Special Ed Rep (Woodmoor): Linda Krich
LAP Rep. Sec: Joanne Allen
LAP Rep. (Elementary): Mary Rawlins
ELL Rep. (Elementary): Michelle Gillebo

ELL Rep (Secondary): Suzanne Fujinari

School Assistant Rep: Becky Morehouse

STS Rep: Karen Kohler

Interpreter Rep: Jeani Schwenk

Truancy Rep: Marge Mitchell

Webmistress: Nancy Celms
At-Large Rep: Donna Smith

The current board remains in place until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached, or until October 1, whichever comes first.

         180 ATTENDED SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY!

 

·         NESPA MEMBERS SPOKE FROM THEIR HEARTS TO BOARD:  PLEASE RESPECT & VALUE ALL EDUCATORS!

 

·         CONGRATS AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO ATTENDED!

 

 

Dear NESPA Colleague,

 

THANK YOU to all who attended last Tuesday's School Board meeting!     It really was AMAZING!    YOU made it AMAZING!     

 

If you were there, please tell your colleagues about this amazing event!   If you weren’t there, here’s some of what you missed:   

 

·         180 of us—including some teachers---filled the room.  

 

·         We stood up in support of NESPA Co-Presdident Deb Murphy’s statement, and raised our bright green signs: “Please RESPECT and VALUE ALL Educators.”

 

 

·         Deb to Board: “ You have the responsibility to re-evaluate Northshore’s employment model for educational support staff.   It is not acceptable to us anymore, and should not be acceptable to you.”  Deb told them about WEA’s efforts statewide to win living wages for Educational Support Professionals.   She read the story of a Special Ed Para who, after years of working in Northshore at Kokanee, is looking for another job because she can no longer afford the low hours and pay.

 

·         Deb provided each Board member, the Supt. and his cabinet, and the administration’s Bargaining Team with the stories you provided.  And  the petitions with 675 signatues!

 

·         NESPA members spoke eloquently and from their hearts: Dawn Schmidt (WHS, SpEd Para), Janice Seino (Lockwood, ELL), Mavis Roe (TJH,SpEd Para) Jeanne Rachner (Crystal Sp Nurse), Kim Leatherman (Cottage Lk SpEd Para), Karen Tarr (Inglemoor SpEd Para), Kathy Halleran (Sunrise SpEd Para), Joanne McDaniel (Maywood LAP/Title Para), and Jan Fitzgerald (Inglemoor, SpEd Para).

 

·         The speakers told their stories.   What their work consists of (“I teach.”); the skills involved (“It took years to learn to do this well.”); why they do it (“I love this work. I was made for it.”) ; and, for some,  the sacrifices it has entailed in supporting their families (“I’m a nurse, and I woke up at 3:30 am for 15 years to deliver newpapers 365 days per year, as my second job.”)

 

We hope that the School Board is beginning to understand what this is about.  And what they can do to help.    We’ll be emailing you some info to your HOME email later this week.   Be sure to check it.  If you don’t get home emails from NESPA, email me, and  we’ll add you to the list.

 

The next negotiating session is Tuesday, May 18—next Tuesday.    There have been no agreements thus far on any of the important issues.

 

CONGRATS and THANK YOU for being there last Tuesday.  For being there for yourself, for your colleagues, for your students, and for your schools.   

 

The next NESPA gathering for EVERY NESPA member  is the MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND VOTE on Wednesday, June 16 @ 4 PM, at BHS Cafeteria/Commons.   Please don’t miss it.  We’ll get a complete update, and either vote on a tentative agreement reached by our Bargaining Team, or vote on what action to take.  Please put this on your calendar!

 

TOGETHER, we are respected and valued!!  Thank you again!!

 

 

Kraig