UTSWC General Membership Meeting – Monday, September 23, 2013
President Tom McCarthy called the meeting to order at 4:15.
1. Welcome – What is our union?
a. We share the common goal of Education Minnesota--to improve public education and public services for Minnesota students and citizens. In order to improve public education, we recognize that it is important to protect the rights guaranteed to our members by their individual contracts, as well as to ensure that our members receive fair and just treatment by their employers. Beyond the protection of our members we are involved in the professional development of our members, offering courses designed to increase their knowledge and experiences. We are also actively involved in the support of legislative measures designed to benefit the educational system on a local, state, and national level.
b. Please discuss what a union is at your next Site Union Meeting.
2. Reports
a. Treasurer
i. Union dues breakdown for 1.0 FTE Members
1. Local: $135.00
2. State: $423.00
3. National: $226.56
4. Total dues: $784.56
ii. Fair share members will pay: $565.55
iii. Fair share members are not eligible for assistance regarding legal matters through EdMN nor do they receive liability insurance. In addition, they cannot access several other benefits offered by EdMN.
b. Permanent Committees
i. Negotiations
1. Negotiators are currently engaged in the negotiations process. They have been meeting since June. Influencing the process right now is the school board election, referendum, and the fact that there is no mandatory completion date.
ii. Community Relations
1. We are exploring ways to promote our members in the district and the community.
iii. Member Rights
1. PAL – The district has not loaded PAL time into ERMA, contact Diana McHenry if you’re having an issue.
2. Pay will not change until new contract is in place.
c. Ad hoc Committees
i. Training/Classes
1. ESI Classes – Retirement and 403b – will be offered this year, more information will come at a later date.
2. Building Representative Training and a Union overview class will also be offered, dates to come later
3. Union Leadership Academy will be offered to all members this year
ii. Sick Leave Bank – beginning of the year drive email sent on September 23, 2013
3. TLS Walkthroughs for Professional Development
a. A committee is visiting classrooms throughout the district with the goal of determining professional development needs. The group does not evaluate teachers. The observations will be recorded in PD Express and available for the observed teachers to see.
4. Referendum Support Discussion
a. Our union supports the Referendum an all questions.
b. Mailings will be sent out to all EdMN members in our district encouraging them to vote in this election.
5. School Board Screening
a. The union will not be endorsing any candidates for school board positions
b. A School Board Candidate Forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters, has been scheduled for Oct. 22 at the St. Paul Park Council Chambers (600 Portland Avenue, St. Paul Park), from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
c. If the union hosts an additional screening, we will let members know.
6. License Renewal
a. Meeting for 11/11, all hours need to be submitted via PD Express to a message will be sent from Jim next month.
b. Online mental health class – sign up via PD Express
7. Representative Meetings
a. Building representatives should communicate information from the UTSWC meetings to their members however they see fit.
8. PEIP Insurance Bid
a. See attachment
b. PEIP plan is not the same as current Health Partners plans
9. Other: items brought forward in this category are from building representative or others on behalf of the members and not necessarily the official position of the UTSWC leadership.
a. Summer assessment compensation – Tom McCarthy is working on resolving this issue
b. Will we get a cost of living increase with this round of negotiations? In our last round of negotiations, on average, our teachers received salary increases of over 3% each year.
Meeting adjourned at: 5:11 pm