Local News
Thanks for your input! The WINNER OF THE NEW TV DRAWING is…
…going to be announced soon! Santa Rosa EA appreciates your participation in the recent survey sponsored by one of our benefit providers, NTA Life. Your input will be used to gain better understanding of the issues Santa Rosa employees are facing, how they perceive the current bargaining agent, and what they want to see in their association.
Bargaining continues with curious twist in roles
Having an employee organization with professional, experienced staff available to assist members was a frequent response in our recent survey. When members pay hundreds of dues dollars each year, there should be an expectation that there are professional staff members in the field who stand ready to help when the leadership comes calling for it. With Santa Rosa EA, professional help is available and is a phone call, email, or text away. Here’s what can happen when well-meaning employee activists go it alone.
At the second bargaining session last week, significant discussion regarding bringing back the 7-period day took place. Here is an excerpt from the session minutes, in case you aren’t provided them:
“David Gunter noted that the money available for salary improvements and the money that would potentially be available to restore 7-period day are from the same source. David Godwin said it is a question of do we want a raise or do we want a 7-period day and less of a raise? David Gunter stated that it would be his recommendation to use Survey Monkey or some other available survey tool to poll all employees in order to gauge the exact level of interests and that a survey going to everyone would get better results. Both sides agreed the survey would be a good idea. Chavers asked if Gunter would draft proposed questions for the survey and allow SRPE to review them before the survey is sent out.”
This development begs a few questions: Why hasn’t the current association negotiating team surveyed its members and determined its priorities before sitting down to bargain before the entire process began? Doesn’t having district staff create and send out surveys to employees (regardless of membership) send the message that the association team doesn’t know what it wants, understand the direction from its membership, and isn’t capable of gathering information on its own?
Perhaps it’s time for a change in your bargaining agent. If you want to have an organization with the assistance of experienced staff helping in a difficult bargaining environment, know that Santa Rosa EA’s affiliation with the Florida Education Association will help the team navigate the obstacles to getting a good agreement with the District. It’s Your Choice, Your Voice!
Benefits Corner – exclusively for Santa Rosa EA members
AFT LIFE INSURANCE MEMBER BENEFIT: If you are a new member and have not yet applied for the American Federation of Teachers “free for one year” life insurance, there is still time. The form can be found at http://www.aftbenefits.org/no-cost-term-life-insurance. Remember, the coverage is yours just for joining. No medical exams are required.
State News
Florida Polytechnic faculty latest to form union, 5th to join with FEA in past year
Faculty members at Florida Polytechnic University have agreed to form a union. The 38-6 vote, certified Tuesday by the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission, means that professors and other full-time faculty members at all 12 state universities will be represented by the United Faculty of Florida, an affiliate of the Florida Education Association. Faculty at two state colleges, Tallahassee Community College and State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, earlier this year also voted to join the union, as did the Calhoun County teachers and DeSoto County Education Staff Professionals. Click here to read more
National News
Making Great Public Schools Means Getting ESSA Right, Says Educator
What does implementing ESSA look like at the local level? A teacher in Hawaii shows the way.