Thursday, October 29, 2015

NEA Benefits for you with your LWESP membership.

Go to NEA Members Benefits on the web at:  neamb.com
Discounts for:  Travel, Auto, Identity Theft, Magazines, Professional Development, Flowers, Gifts, Wholesale club membership, Tax Preparation, Cell Phone Service, Insurance, Credit & Loans, Retirement

THANK YOU'S!

A very special THANK YOU to Jerie Ehinger Broze​, Treasurer,  Carol Seabloom Underwood​, Middle School Rep, Patty Doherty, High School Rep, and Heidi Wobker, Elementary Rep for serving on the 2014-2015 LWESP Exec Board!

Our LWESP members at the May 6th Action.

Wednesday, May 6th, 2015

Telling the Legislature to adequately fund public schools!

Saturday, March 14th at 10:00 AM

We need your voice to be heard!!

Please attend the 41st Legislative District TOWN HALL MEETING at Somerset Elementary.
14100 Somerset Blvd, Bellevue, WA 98006
Saturday, March 14, 2015                       10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
IT'S TIME TO FUND EDUCATION....NOW!  Help us send a message to the legislature.
This is an organized function by WEA-Sammamish UniServ and Rainer UniServ.

WEAR RED!

The more people who attend, the stronger the message we send.  
RSVP to ccole@washingtonea.org

I-1351 Class Size Initiative

Thank you to everyone that helped us pass the I-1351 Initiative!!!!  Lots of hard work and member contact made this happen.

LWEA members support and stand strong with you, our Lake Washington Educational Support Professionals.

Northstar

Blackwell Elementary

John Muir Elementary

Audubon Elementary

Rose Hill Middle School
  

Redmond Elementary

Rockwell Elementary

Lake Washington High School

Juanita High School

Redmond MS

Finn Hill MS

Kirkland MS

Frost Elementary

Keller Elementary

Carson Elementary

Smith Elementary

Alcott Elementary

Lakeview Elementary

Lakeview Elementary (2 photos)

Resource Center

Kamiakin Middle School

Kamiakin MS (2 photos)

Alert for LWESP Members

Please check your home email for our LWESP Alert 12.2.13 pdf document that was sent out this morning.

LWESP Bargaining Update, November 14, 2013

We are still here.

LWESP called for mediation last month. It has been slow---very slow---but mediation dates are being finalized. In the meantime, a strong contingent of LWESP members, family, and LWEA members attended a School Board meeting to remind the Board and Superintendent that we are still here. We add value each and every day. We are still working without a contract. We are not paid a living wage. We expect a fair settlement.

We weren't able to speak to the School Board, though we had members interested in doing so. The meeting lasted all of 10 minutes before the Board and managers adjourned for a work session. So, we shared statements of support for YOU that Lake Washington teachers had submitted in writing.

We have been working for 75 days without a contract. We will achieve a negotiated settlement. It must be a fair settlement. We also must see actions to show us the administration respects us and is willing to work with us.

IT'S TIME TO ATTEND ANOTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.  AND, WE ALL DESERVE A HOLIDAY GATHERING.  MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR 6:00 PM MONDAY, DECEMBER 9TH. DETAILS TO FOLLOW.

October 7, 2013

LWESP Bargaining Update

To paraphrase Einstein, you can't solve a problem using the same type of thinking that created it.

When it comes to your pay, the Lake Washington School District wants to focus on "comps", that is, how pay in Lake Washington compares to pay in "comparable" school districts. But this just compares you to similarly underpaid K-12 public education office support professionals.

         Using this yardstick puts us behind.             Using this yardstick will keep us behind.

                                             We need a different yardstick.

Your LWESP team has invited the District to adopt new thinking, backed by research-based data-

• Data from HUD (federal department of Housing and Urban Development) shows the average cost of housing in the Seattle Metro area exceeds 1/3 of what many LWESP members earn. And we all know financial analysts say we should not spend more than 1/3 of our income on housing because it doesn't leave enough for our other needs (food, clothing, heat, transportation, medical etc.).
• Data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (and the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction) confirms we have lost ground to the Cost of Living.
• Data from Massachusetts Institute of Technology confirms gaps between the LWESP salary schedule and hourly rates of pay and a Living Wage as calculated for our Seattle metropolitan area.

Our bargain is in its fifth month.  Our contract expired 37 days ago, yet, we carry on.  Our last bargaining session was September 18th.  Our LWESP team returns to the table October 10th.  The parties tried, but weren't able to find an earlier date.

More important than the time passed since the last session is the need to look at the issues in a new way.

LWESP Bargaining Update, September 27, 2013

Valued,        Respected,        Paid a Living Wage,                          Fair Treatment,         Fair Contract

Our LWESP bargaining team met with the District's negotiators from 5:00 p.m. until after 9:00 p.m. September 18th. The tone was cordial and professional. The message from District decision-makers, however, is mixed---

• We are told we are valued. We are told we are respected.
• Yet the District won't entertain our suggestions on how much money should be deducted from your monthly pay for your medical premiums. They don't seem to understand this is part of our overall compensation.

• We are told the District hears our concern that our employer doesn't pay a Living Wage.
• Yet, they won't actually talk about the research outlining how far behind we are, and they won't problem solve on beginning to make progress towards a Living Wage. Instead, the District insists on comparing your pay to what other classified K-12 public education staff earn, even though a Blue Ribbon Task Force appointed by the State (including Chip Kimball) has concluded you are underpaid.

• LWESP members who work in schools take care of students with seizures, concussions, broken bones, and less serious health issues. We dispense medication to students. We've explained the challenges of keeping students safe with inadequate health room staffing, inadequate and untimely training, and when the District's Health Reference Manual is unclear and not even provided to staff in all schools.

 We are told that student health and safety are important.

• And we're told, if you work in a school, it's your job to cover the health room and do all your other work, too. Period. 

Did we make progress on our concerns on the 18th? We are still working without a contract. We do not have a settlement. We will keep talking with the District's bargaining team. You will be getting a call from the LWESP bargaining Support Team. We heard from a large group of members on the 9th. We will want to hear from you again.

LWESP Update - September 13, 2013

"We Have Everyone's Back  -  Who's Got Our Back?"

We're sorry if you missed our Back-to-School Tailgate Party on Monday!  Over 50 LWESP members joined the fun. We had dinner, a raffle of jars of homemade organic jam, visited and commiserated with one another at this very busy time of year. Our LWESP bargaining Team also gave us an update on bargaining.

Members walked right over to the School Board meeting, and several spoke respectfully--but somberly--to the Board. LWESP President, Libby Boucher, thanked the Superintendent and Board for their work and described what LWESP members do for students, parents, principals, staff, the business office, HR, payroll, etc., to make the school year start off successfully.  "We have everyone's back. Who has our back?", she asked.

Speakers shared their stories of no pay increase year after year, this area's high cost of living, our need to earn a Living Wage, members' need to hold down second jobs, and the impact of escalating insurance costs that are passed on to you to pay. Former LWESP President, Lorraine VanKomen, pointed out that former LWSD Superintendent Chip Kimball and a statewide Task Force created by the Legislature recommended over a year ago that school districts and the State should pay classified staff far more than they do no.

We are working without a contract  -- again. We are absolutely committed to continuing talks, but decision-makers in the District still do not seem to understand that LWESP members need to make progress towards earning a Living Wage  -- too much ground has been lost to the cost of living.

• 2007-08 Cola from the State=3.7%*, Pay Increase from LWSD=0%, Seattle Consumer Price Index = 3.7%
• 2008-09 Cola from the State=5%*, Pay Increase from LWSD=0%, Seattle Consumer Price Index=3.9%
• 2009-10 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=1%, Seattle Consumer Price Index=4.2%
• 2010-11 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=0% **, Seattle Consumer Price Index=0.6%
• 2011-12 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=1%, Seattle Consumer Price Index=0.3%
• 2012-13 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=0%, Seattle Consumer Price Index=2.7%
• 2013-14 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=???, Seattle Consumer Price Index=2.5% ***
• 2014-15 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=???, Seattle Consumer Price Index=1.8% ***

*Although no COLA per se was provided, the State provided a differentiated increase for classified staff. For LWSD classified employees, those amounts are listed above.

**A new LWESP salary schedule took effect in 2010-11; however, there was no pay increase for all LWESP members that contract year. Consequently, many LWESP members received no pay increase in 2010-11.

***Estimated Consumer Price Index-Seattle

September 9, 2013

Dear LWESP Member,
Sorry you couldn't make the Tailgate Party! Members picked up the enclosed flyers -- we wanted you to get them, too.  Please--

• wear the ribbon and 000000 button that we sent you earlier. The zeroes represent the 6 years the State has failed to pay you a voter-approved Cost-of-Living increase. Didn't get one? Contact Libby Boucher or an LWESP Exec Board members!
• be sure to take your breaks and your Duty Free Lunch! Set the flyer on your desk when you do.
• post one of the other flyers in your car, in the parking lot at work -- you have the right to do so.
• post the other flyer on the LWESP Bulletin Board at your worksite / school. What, no bulletin board? Contact Libby Boucher or an LWESP Exec Board member to talk about setting one up!

Thank you for having the backs of everyone in the LW School Community!
Libby & the LWESP Team

LWESP Bargaining Update, June 25, 2013

LWESP Members:

Your LWESP Bargaining Team has met with the District’s team for 4 bargaining sessions so far.  In early sessions, we talked about the process for negotiations and shared the issues and concerns that each party is bringing to the table.  Our most recent bargaining session was June 20.  We met for several hours, reached Tentative Agreements on some smaller items and worked on one fairly significant item as well. We hope to be able to resolve that issue soon, as much progress was made on the 20^th.  The parties will go back to the table on June 27 and will review an analysis of the District’s finances, budget and spending priorities. 

The Tentative Agreements reached on the smaller items, and all other TA’s for the new contract will go to LWESP members for ratification.  Keep up to date on the bargaining news by checking your home email and our Facebook page regularly this summer!      

Big shout out to the members of our fabulous LWESP Bargaining Support Team!  They keep your bargaining team well stocked in tasty treats (loved the strawberry shortcake!), snacks and funny cards for each session with the District and our own work sessions to prep for bargaining.  All this keeps your team in good spirits and remembering that we bargain for you AND that you are behind us!

 -Kathleen Heiman, WEA-Sammamish UniServ Representative

-Michael Ruiz, LWESP Lead Negotiator

Medical Insurance Action Alert!

The Legislature is setting the State budget and funding for our public schools. 

The Senate has passed a Budget Bill that robs part-time employees of their health insurance. 

Instead of receiving insurance benefits through the school district, they will be sent to purchase medical insurance through “health care exchanges” – which do not exist yet. 

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

Call 800-562-6000 TODAY and tell the Legislature:

Do Not Support Senate Bill 5905!  Fund our schools!

   From one Republican Senator's office, "This is the number one issue we are hearing about in our office. WEA members have raised issues we weren't aware of. Keep phone calls and e-mails coming----it makes a difference. It gives the legislature the opportunity to change their mind."

Don’t assume your legislator understands the consequences of Senate Bill 5905 – CALL or LOG ON TO www.ourvoicewashingtonea.org to contact your legislators! 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

LWESP Members!

What’s happening in contract negotiations?

Where do we stand in bargaining? 

Heard about the State proposing to change health insurance for employees who work less than 30 hours on average per week?

What might happen to your health insurance benefits starting in the Fall?

What might happen to your pay check?

Come find out at the LWESP General Membership Meeting

Redmond High School Cafeteria

Thursday, June 13 from 4:30 – 6:00

– Food will be provided –