AUGUST 2ND UPDATE AND T.A.!!
The UNME & NMSD Negotiations teams met tonight and we came to a tentative agreement! After 397 days and HOURS of work, we feel that we’ve come to a proposal that you will accept. Our strike authorization vote was 97.5% yes, but we do not need to strike at this time! Thank you to everyone that came to our Rally today and all of our other events! Our collective actions are what helped us secure a fair contract.
We are looking forward to sharing this tentative agreement with you on August 16th at 9:00 am. This is a virtual meeting where you can vote. You will get one week to check out the contract and ask questions before the vote closes on August 23rd.
(Some) Key agreement points:
2021-2022 7.5% retroactive
2022-2023 4.5% (191 contract days)
2023-2024 4.5% (192 contract days)
We added 2 steps to the BA & BA+24 columns.
Longevity is added into a step 16 so that it will increase with COLA.
All stipends will increase by 12% this year and by COLA in the future!
We got an MOU about class size and caseload!
We will go into more detail at the meeting.
JULY 15TH UPDATE MEDIATION #1
First, THANK YOU to everyone that joined us at today’s mediation session and contributed to the potluck and fun! P.S. Page, thank you so much for the food and especially the PB bars! ;)
We had our first official mediation meeting with a mediator and the District to discuss our interest in getting a more livable wage, more comparable pay to districts around us, and reasonable class size/caseload. This was our 14th negotiations meeting for the 2021-2024 CBA. With 7 hours of back and forth sharing positions, we are at the point where we will be calling for action from members.
Here are a few of the points of the “what if offers” we looked through at this mediation session:
The highest COLA percentage that the District offered was 13% over three years plus a ONE TIME $1500 retention stipend to members that are still employed Oct. 1st of 2022.
Based on our membership survey, UNME continues to offer 18.5% over three years.
The District has made no movement toward our proposal of class size and caseload. They continue to propose to use the current (outdated) District Board Policy that only addresses class size and not caseload.
What we need from you:
SHOW UP at the VERY IMPORTANT Virtual Membership Meeting on July 26th, 2022 from 2-3 pm.
SHOW UP to our IN PERSON August 2nd mediation Rally for Retention.
It will be a family-friendly potluck.
Bring yard games, lawn chairs, and your favorite dish.
Mediation will start at 9, rally will start at 11!
JULY 15TH - RALLY FOR RETENTION
JOIN UNME to help fight to retain teachers!
Where: North Marion Primary School Playground
When: July 15, 2022 starting at 11:00 am & lasting all day!?
Why: UNME has made great progress on the language for our 2021-2022 CBA, but we still need support for our financial package.
What: Please bring something to share for a potluck and/or small donation.
JUNE 20TH UPDATE #14
We worked with the District to come to an agreement and TA (tentatively agree to) the following articles:
1 - Recognition
3 - Association Security and Responsibility
4 - Employee Rights
5 - Employee Evaluation and Personnel File
9 - Layoff and Recall
24 - Bereavement Leave
27 - Grievance Procedure
28 - Complaint Procedure
29 - Part-time, Job sharing, and Extended Assignment
‘Y’ - Online Education
‘Z’ - Emergency Education
The day was full of great team discussions, however they were not during the recorded sessions. We were able to come to many tentative agreements, but the videos do not have quality content that would be worth your time. The above summary explains what we did better that hour long videos would :)
Thank you all who joined the live session today, we really appreciate your support! And thanks to Page Gianella who provided delicious snacks, they were greatly appreciated.
What we need from you:
Be on the lookout for emails from us to your PERSONAL email
Attend our RALLY FOR RETENTION during our first Mediation Session on July 15.
Post on you socials and add #UNMEUnity
JUNE 13TH UPDATE #13
The UNME & NMSD Negotiations team met tonight and we:
Reshared our Class Size and Caseload Article.
The District went to caucus
They came back and shared their concerns with “hard and fast” rules of this article. NMSD wants flexibility and has concerns with staffing and funding.
We had members share what current practice has and the impacts of class size and caseload on their students and teaching.
THANK YOU to our members that shared tonight!!
Both teams felt we got to a stuck point and are waiting for NMSD to submit a counter proposal.
We will meet again on June 20th. This meeting will be a hybrid setting where some people can be online and some will be in person.
Meeting location will be attached to the calendar invite, to come.
What we need from you:
Sign your strike pledge by WEDNESDAY 6/15. ALL votes will be counted.
If your class size or caseload has every impacted you for the good or the bad, please email Sara.Bailey@nmarion.k12.or.us and/or Tiffany.kullowatz@nmarion.k12.or.us with your Class Size or Caseload stories.
As always, thank you for WEARING RED AND YOUR BUTTONS on Wednesdays!!! Post on you socials and add #UNMEUnity.
MAY 25TH UPDATE #12
We had our twelfth official meeting with the District to discuss our interest in getting a more livable wage and more comparable pay to districts around us.
Here are a few of the points we were able to discuss at this meeting:
We submitted a counter proposal for non financial articles.
UNME gave a “what-if” offer attached below.
5.5% retroactive July 1st, 2021
4.5% retroactive February 1st, 2022
4.5% effective July 1 2022-2023
4.5% effective July 1 2023-2024
The District countered with a second “what-if” offer.
7.5% retroactive July 1st, 2021
2.5% effective July 1 2022-2023
Reopen for negotiations over salaries for July 1 2023-2024
After reviewing with members, the negotiations team decided to call for mediation as soon as possible.
What we need from you:
SHOW UP at the IMPORTANT Membership Meeting on June 1st.
Fill out the Second Round Retention Survey
Videos are linked below:
MAY 18TH UPDATE #11 - ALL DAY
We had our eleventh official meeting last night, the 18th of May, with the District to discuss our interest in getting a more livable wage and more comparable pay to districts around us.
The negotiations work was from 11am-8:30pm. Members, parents, and students attended throughout the day along with a rally where our OEA president Reed Scott-Schwalbach and Vice-president Enrique Farrera both spoke and reinforced our members who shared their stories of wage gaps, ideals of our community, housing instability, and the positive influence we have on our students and families.
As an audience member it might not have looked that ramped up. Your negotiations team wants you to know that our unified efforts to work towards a livable wage and language provisions that protect our professional practice are gaining energy. At this point the teams have not TA'd articles officially, however, progress was made towards this goal. At the last part of the evening the district presented a what-if offer that we as a team are reviewing and will be presenting a counter offer next Wednesday the 25th. ---We will be in-person again. Hope to see you there!
Thank you again for your physical, emotional and continued support.
What we need from you:
Share ideas on how to show solidarity at your building level with the team so we can continue to support each other.
Attend school board meetings and sign up for public comment to share your story.
Wear read on wednesdays
Share out in social media with #unmeunity @unmeducators
If you haven’t already; Fill out the Second Round Retention Survey
We are at the point in the negotiations process where we need to SEE your support at these events. Please do your best to SHOW UP to as many as possible. It IS making an impact.
MAY 11TH UPDATE #10
We had our tenth official meeting with the District to discuss our interest in getting a more livable wage and more comparable pay to districts around us.
Here are a few of the points we were able to discuss at this meeting:
The District shared out about the curriculum adoption process (for Article 11) as well as clarified the definitions from article 2 that we requested. We will continue to work in Sub committees to reach an agreement on these articles.
There was a misunderstanding about whose turn it was to propose language.
We TA’d Article 20- there was MUCH discussion about Mental health days
We made plans for the day-long meeting we have planned for May 18th, 2022.
What we need from you:
SHOW UP at the Sign Waving Event on Thursday May 12, 2022
SHOW UP to Walk in and Walk out as a UNME team on Friday May 13, 2022
SHOW UP at the RALLY on our Negotiations day May 18th from 5-6 to:
Show support for the negotiations team as they fight for adequate pay and contract language that supports teachers.
Waive signs to show the District that you support us
Come watch negotiations IN PERSON before AND after the Rally.
Fill out the Second Round Retention Survey
We are at the point in the negotiations process where we need to SEE your support at these events. Please do your best to SHOW UP to as many as possible.
Attached is the video of our meeting.
APRIL 27TH UPDATE #9
Here is a summary from the meeting:
We went over articles that we agree with.
We will T.A. articles 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 17, 18, 22, 23, 25, 26, 31, 32 this week.
We were able to agree to language around Article 13 after caucuses.
Linda went over 22 Financial Questions we had.
Linked are the questions and answers
Linked is the spreadsheet for questions 7-9 & 22
Linked is the enrollment and staffing spreadsheet
Our next meeting is May 11th and due to scheduling it will be Virtual.
Here is what we need from you:
Tomorrow, Thursday, April 27, 2022 please attend the sign holding event:
Elementary stands on Grim Rd from 7:30-7:55 am
Secondary stands on Grim Rd from 3:30-3:55 pm
Invite families/parents/community members to attend
Friday, April 23, 2022
Walk-in to work together at contacted time
Walk-out together at contracted time
Please check your personal emails and our Social Media for updates on future events. @UNMEducators #UNMEUnity
As always, thank you for WEARING RED AND YOUR BUTTONS!!!
APRIL 13 UPDATE #8
Here is a summary from the meeting:
The District proposed a “supposal”
Their “supposal” is a “what-if” offer that will expire Tuesday, April 19th at 8:00 am.
They came back with retroactive COLA at 5%. The next two years would 2.5% and 2.5% increases.
To see the rest of their proposal, feel free to watch the video part 1, as it was a quick one.
UNME Caucused and feels that 5% is not enough after discussing with members.
We also felt that we could not continue discussions without Ginger being present.
Here is what we need from you:
Complete this form to share past experiences where you have had issues at NMSD and might be shared during Negotiations to further support our efforts. Examples may include the following (your examples will be anonymous):
Attend our Virtual - UNME Membership Meeting on April 21st from 9–10 am.
Email jana.giles@nmarion.k12.or.us if you’d like to share a story at our Desserts and Discussions with North Marion School Board Members on April 26th, 2022.
Attend your building rep meetings to hear about upcoming actions for the rest of the year.
More signs will be coming to you this week or next. Please put them in your cars.
As always, thank you for WEARING RED AND YOUR BUTTONS!!!
Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 27th.
APRIL 6TH UPDATE #7
The Negotiations teams met tonight and we:
Presented our counter proposal for articles 1-10
Outlined articles X, Y, 11-32- excluding finances
Reviewed comps to verify that numbers are corresponding.
Here is the Meeting Link: Meeting #7
MARCH 30TH UPDATE #6
The Negotiations teams met tonight and we:
Evan shared our COMPS.
Went over Articles 1-10.
We shared our proposal and asked questions about their proposal.
If you have questions about what we discussed, here is our UNME Negotiations Talking Point
Here is the Meeting Link: Meeting #6
Here is what we need from you:
Please fill out the UNME 22-23 Retention Survey by next week.
Complete this form to share past experiences where you have had issues at NMSD and might be shared during Negotiations to further support our efforts. Examples may include the following (your examples will be anonymous):
Admin changed the layout of your classroom and/or equipment in your room.
Excluding safety/COVID protocol
Examples may include: TVs/Projectors, Supply closest, being forced to use equipment that you don’t need, needing equipment that you are not allowed to have.
Issues with School Board communication
Examples may include: Not knowing about School Board Policies
Being temporary for one year and having it not count toward your 3 probationary years
Missing Official Transcripts
Impact of inservice week on you and your students
Stress due to lack of time
Impact of morning meetings
A student’s grades getting changed with consent or conversation
When has the system not worked for you?
What part of the system is broken in your opinion?
MARCH 9TH UPDATE #5
The Negotiations teams met tonight:
The District shared their Article 10 proposal.
UNME shared NEW articles about class size, caseload, on-line education, and distance learning.
UNME shared our finance proposals.
For COLA:
2021-2022: 10% retroactive,
2022-2023: 5%,
2023-2024: 5%
Insurance:
2021-2022: $1,488
2022-2023: $1,562
2023-2024:$1,640
Tuition Reimbursement increase
Here are the Meeting Links:
FEBRUARY 23RD UPDATE #4
The Negotiations teams met tonight and we:
UNME Shared language for Articles 27, 28, 29, 21, & 32.
The District proposed their language for all articles, except 10.
We will hold a membership meeting to discuss further conversation around salary. UNME is still looking at comps from other districts and will be ready to present their finance articles on March 9th.
March 9th is the last day we can propose new articles.
UNME will be meeting as a team Wednesday, March 2nd to continue redlining, discuss finances, and work on new articles.
Please keep a lookout for the upcoming Membership meeting to discuss finances and updates. Continue adding comments to the question/comments collection form.
While questions, comments, and ideas for the contract are always welcome, please know that we may not be able to guarantee that they will be a part of this negotiations round. Anything we don’t negotiate for on the contract this time, we will take note of and share with the next negotiations team for further review and consideration.
FEBRUARY 9TH UPDATE #3
The Negotiations team met tonight and we:
Started by sharing that the Membership has voted to RATIFY the Short-Term Distance Learning MoU.
Cherie shared that the “high-level overview of the plans” will be ready and shared out in a week.
We shared our language for many more articles.
We are at a stage where UNME has been presenting our proposals and we have yet to receive any proposals from the District.
Here are the Meeting Links
UNME will be meeting as a team Wednesday, February 16th to continue redlining, discuss finances, and work on new articles.
Please keep a lookout for the upcoming Listening Sessions at each building. Continue adding comments to the question/comments collection form.
Please present new contract ideas by Tuesday, February 15th, 2022 so that the UNME negotiations team has ample time to work with the ideas. While questions, comments, and ideas for the contract are always welcome, please know that we may not be able to guarantee that they will be a part of this negotiations round. Anything we don’t negotiate for on the contract this time, we will take note of and share with the next negotiations team for further review and consideration.
As always, thank you for WEARING RED AND YOUR BUTTONS!!!
See you on TOGETHER TUESDAYS!
JANUARY 26TH UPDATE #2
The UNME & NMSD Negotiations team met tonight and we:
Set an agreement to Tentatively agree to the Short-Term Distance Learning MoU.
We will present the MoU to you virtually, at our Membership Meeting on Tuesday, February 1st at 4:00 pm, before you’ll be asked to ratify it.
UNME presented language for Articles 5 through 10. As a part of this, we discussed items brought up at the various listening sessions as well as comments on the question collection form.
Made an agreement to open meetings to members. If you are interested in attending the negotiations virtual meetings, please come to the meeting on Tuesday, 2/1 to hear more details.
Listeners will be asked to keep microphones and cameras off.
Chat feature will be closed.
If you have questions, you can contact a negotiations member.
Made an agreement to meet twice a month so that we have time to create proposals and counterproposals.
UNME will use the off weeks to work on the contract language and host Listening Sessions.
What we need from you:
Please keep a lookout for the upcoming Listening Sessions at each building.
Starting February 8th we will begin our TOGETHER TUESDAYs. For more information please attend the membership meeting next week.
JANUARY 19 UPDATE -STDL
The Negotiations team met tonight and we:
Met with a small district team to continue work on a Short Term Distance Learning MOU. We are nearly finished and just need time for each team to look over the language one last time.
We met as the UNME team to continue redlining articles for the 2022- contract negotiations process. As a part of this, we discussed items brought up at the various listening sessions as well as went through the comments on the question collection form.
We will be meeting next Tuesday to continue redlining and on Wednesday we are meeting with the District for another bargaining session.
Please keep a lookout for the upcoming Listening Sessions at each building. Continue adding comments to the question collection form as the article Snapshots come out.
JANUARY 12 UPDATE #1
The Negotiations Team met with the District tonight. We recorded the secession. There are two caucasus throughout the two and a half hour meeting.
With the ground rules; much discussion was had about open meetings.
We agreed on a timeline for the length of this contract process. May 1st is our deadline to complete the conversations about the contract. This reduces the traditional 150 days to a 120 day window.
The main proposed edits in Articles 1-4 were shared.
Discussion was had about finalizing the Short Term Distance Learning MOU.
Our negotiations team will be setting up Listening Sessions for Tuesday after school to review articles 5-10 per building.
Keep a lookout for article Snapshots to help dive into the contract.
Thank you for WEARING RED AND YOUR BUTTONS!!!
UPDATE FROM SPRING 2021 FOR 2021/2022 CBA
In Spring of 2021, the UNME membership voted on whether or not to ratify the roll of the 2019-2021 contract for one year, and accept the district’s offer of a 3% COLA increase and $40 more toward insurance. The membership voted to NOT RATIFY.
The 2021-202+ contract negotiation will begin Fall of 2021. The membership will begin the year without a contract. However, the 2019-2021 CBA will remain in effect until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is finalized.
2021-2022 CONTRACT RESOURCES
Here you will find the MoUs that are ratified in 2021-2022 and our current CBA.
CURRENT NEGOTIATION MEETING SUMMARIES
The summaries are from the 2021-2022 Reopening MoU meetings. The first meeting was in person, so there is no video. The teams discussed ground rules, processes, and topics to negotiate.
REOPENING MOU MEETING #1
RESOURCES FROM LAST SCHOOL YEAR
2020-2021 Memorandums of Understanding
