BARGAINING AGREEMENT NEWS

The tentative agreements finalized this morning provides a better than 5% average for all categories of classified employees covered under the bargaining agreement (all employees, except custodial and maintenance). Educational Assistants averaged 5.7%, Library Para-professionals averaged 5.29%, Secretaries averaged 5.27%, and food service workers averaged 5.36%. Transportation workers received an average increase well above 5% in an earlier executed memorandum of understanding.

The tentative agreement provides an average raise of 7.05% for licensed personnel included in the teacher/ancillary salary schedule(all ancillary personnel—counselors, special education professionals, etc—are included in the three-tier system embodied in the teacher/ancillary salary schedules). No employee in tier I or II received less than a 4.5% actual salary increase. Many Tier III teachers and ancillary personnel received as much as 11% increases and no one in Tier III received less than 5%. The salary increases will go into effect with the December 21 pay check.

AR MEETING TOMORROW

Dear All NEA-SF Members,

NEA-SF AR/MEMBER MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 14TH
4:30-6:30 at NEA-NM 2007 Botulph road *please post at all sites

Thank you, for your participation in last weeks Rally and School Board Meeting.
Thank you, Eldorado Elementary School members and your PTC for your leadership and kicking off the early morning rally at your school.

As colleagues working together united for change, we can influence the public education system in a positive way for our students and the SF community while improving our wages and working conditions.

This is an honorable endeavor. This is our professional responsibility. We will be successful.

The NEA-SF Collective Bargaining team will be meeting with the District on Tuesday morning. We expect a counter proposal from them on salaries for teachers. Other staff salaries have been agreed upon.

I especially want to thank those of you who brought your children and families to the School Board meetings, our community and our employer need to start valuing family and community and deliver our raises and the respect we all deserve.

Thank you! to our dedicated Bus Drivers who show their solidarity and gratitude to OUR Union membership for successfully working to increase their pay last year by showing -up to every meeting and rally we have to advocate for others.

We need to keep the pressure on and continue to write letters to the editor of the newspapers.
letters@sfnewmexican.com jnorth@abqjournal.com editor@sfreporter.com

Wednesday we will work together on the next plan of action if Tuesday's bargaining session proves to be unsuccessful.

United together for Change!

Grace Mayer NEA-SF President

NEGOTIATIONS CAUSING COMMENT

"Fliers urge teachers to take sick day" by John Sena

Anonymous fliers posted at Santa Fe High urge teachers to call in sick Tuesday as a protest for better salaries. Many teachers say they disagree with the strategy; the district and the teachers’ union are in the midst of negotiations.

CLICK HERE for this week's (11/2) article in the New Mexican

NEXT AR MEETING

The next meeting of NEA-Santa Fe is Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 4:30 p.m. at the NEA-NM headquarters building, 2007 Botulph Road in Santa Fe.