As the school year began, members of the Whitnall Area Federation of Teachers were discussing two disturbing trends. Class sizes had started high and were continuing to grow as the district accepted many open enrollment students. At the same time, many experienced teachers were either finding jobs elsewhere or considering leaving because of the district’s extremely slow progress in implementing a compensation plan. With many classes exceeding 30 students and as they faced the loss of highly qualified teachers, WAFT members were concerned about the impact on their working conditions and student learning conditions.

Colleagues,

 1)   Contract Update – We finally have negotiations dates!   Our negotiation team will be meeting with NPS’s team on June 10, 15, and 16 to present our proposals and to see what proposals NPS has for us.  This is YOUR LAST CHANCE to do the NTU contract survey.  Our negotiations team will be meeting one last time to finalize our proposals on May 24 and to present them to the Executive Board.

Offers of Employment

In the April 2016 HR Insider, the following statement was made about contracts:

"Typically, offers of employment (contracts) for the 2016-17 school year go out to your school sites the first week of May. This year, due to a recent Call to Action by MHFT, Human Resources is reviewing our annual process. We do not want teachers and site staff to be in an uncomfortable situation. Meanwhile, please know that teachers in probationary and permanent status, unless they have already been notified, ‘shall be continued in the position.’ (Ed Code 44951).”

Jetta Williams has been an RN at Western Maryland Hospital Center (WMHC) for two years, and has been a member of AFT Healthcare-Maryland for the last four months. Jetta said that “other members kept on asking me to join and a lot of people were doing it, too.

Jetta Williams has been an RN at Western Maryland Hospital Center (WMHC) for two years, and has been a member of AFT Healthcare-Maryland for the last four months. Jetta said that “other members kept on asking me to join and a lot of people were doing it, too.

On Wednesday, May 19, 2016, the NTU held our 18th Annual Hall of Fame Dinner. It was our most successful Hall of Fame Dinner yet!   We had close to 300 attendees and raised $50,000 for scholarships for our members, their children, and the students of Newark!

For the first time, we also had the NTU Member Recognition Awards, where 14 members were recognized for their contributions to Newark's students, school staff, and community.

And we inducted Thomasina Lemon into the NTU Hall of Fame!  

On May 18, 2016, MCEA attended the annual Employee Appreciation Day in Carroll County. The event paid tribute to the Carroll County Government employees who, through their labor and dedication, keep the County moving, 24/7.

There is only one bargaining agent within the St. Louis Public Schools for several categories of employees. Teachers cannot be represented by MNEA or MSTA in negotiaions, grievances or any other areas covered by agreement between SLPS and AFT St. Louis, Local 420. AFT is the only entitry that can represent anyone in the bargaining units. Teachers, Social Wokers, Counselors, Paraprofessionals, Teaching Assitants, ICAs, Safety Officers are all AFT. MSTA has no legal standing in St. Louis Public Schools.