EAW

Mediation

The negotiation team for the teachers met with administration and the mediator on Monday February 27.  We have scheduled 4 more meetings ( March 8, 20, 29 and April 13)as well as one with our own team for tomorrow March 3. Due to the fact that we had not met for 4 months, I did not have any new information for you previous to this, other than the FYI notice sent to all members with the February Newsletter.

I feel we are making some movement and anticipate we will continue in a positive direction, especially if we are able to meet together in one room and can banter back and forth rather than working in separate rooms as is the traditional format.

I will keep you posted when I have information to share. Right now there is nothing concrete. 

The negotiations for the ESP's, bus drivers, parent liaisons, and ESL tutors are not moving as quickly as I would like and I will speak to that at the school committee meeting this evening.  I will also email that message to everyone who has provided us with their private email addresses.

Standouts

Hello Members,

I have had a few calls today about the Wednesday AM standout. YES! It is still on. Why would we let a little rain deter us? Please bring your umbrellas and signs and be out for 1/2 hour before you have to legally enter  in the building. If your school is close to a main street please move onto the most visible site.(ex.UPCS-Main St, Goddard-Main St, Harlow St-Lincoln St)

If you did not pick up signs, please craft your own and I will get more to buildings as soon as the order comes in. 

Thanks in advance and please get all your staff out there. Lou and I will be doing some drive-bys to cheer you on.

Cheryl

Mediation

To answer the question posed about why mediation is not a good thing, let me say a few things.

1- Mediation tends to slow down the process because there needs to be a 3 way consensus of meetings times and this takes longer.

2- During the meetings the teams are generally separated in different rooms and the mediator goes back and forth discussing and working with a team then presenting that information to the other side. This takes much longer than face to face negotiations.

3-It takes some of the control out of the teams hands BUT we also do not have to follow the mediator's recommendations.

THE RALLY

                                                          THANK YOU!

This was a great rally thanks to all of you who were there to support your negotiations team.  It was very encouraging to also see all of our brother and sisters from other unions, as well as all city municipal retirees.  The issues at hand affect ALL of us and we will continue to do what we have to do to get fair and equitable contracts. Let us not be seen as passive victims of the state and federal  government falling short of their responsibilities.

Negotiations

Well, I was disheartened to hear from the School Committee attorney via a faxed press release late Tuesday that they have decided to seek mediation for negotiations.   They say the EAW has resisted health insurance reform and that we have been unwilling to make any meaningful movement. THIS IS NOT TRUE. I believe this is just one more attempt to muddy the waters and make the EAW (all of us) look very bad to the community as a whole. So let's gear up for a wild ride as we take on those that do not understand our plight. I will keep you posted.

Cheryl

Health Insurance

FINALLY!

The City Manager has finally decided that it is time to reconvene the Insurance Advisory Committee. We will meet on December 5 , 1:30 PM here at the EAW. Will keep you posted.

American Education Week Winners from Worcester

MTA Red Sox Reading Game has awarded $5000.00 in Border's Book Cards to celebrate American Education Week.  Two EAW members won $100 gift cards. They are Elizabeth Clifford and Evelyn Garcia.  Congratulations!

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