Madison Teachers Inc. For more information, MTI's Local Home Page

Solidarity - August 23, 1999

Volume 33, No. 1
We teach the children ... Collectively we decide ... United we act

WELCOME BACK!

To all 4,029 District employees represented by MTI, a sincere welcome as we begin the 1999-2000 school year. MTI is the legally recognized collective bargaining agent for all teachers and professional staff (non-supervisory), educational assistants (EA-MTI), clerical/technical personnel (SEE-MTI), and substitute teachers (USO-MTI) employed by the Madison Metropolitan School District. All members should feel free to contact the Union's staff at MTI Headquarters (257-0491) should they have questions or need assistance with any contractually provided or work-related matter. Your Union is here for you!

TEACHER WAGES INCREASED AGAIN

In the early 1970's, MTI bargained that the District would pay the employee's share of WRS, as well as the employer's share. Thus, both are costed against the Union when calculating the cost of the negotiated agreement. The Wisconsin Retirement System, effective 1/1/2000, has reduced the cost of the WRS retirement contribution by .3 for the employer and by .3 for the employee.

Given the above, MTI sought and gained agreement from the Madison Metropolitan School District to use the additional monies resulting from the decrease in WRS premiums to increase the teacher salary schedule. Because of the costing method of teacher contracts approved by the Legislature, the decrease in premium is assumed to be for the entire school year. Thus, the newly negotiated 1999-2000 salary schedule has been increased by 2%, rather than the 1.5% initially negotiated.

The BA base wage for 1998-99 was $25,945. It will now be $26,464 for 1999-2000 and $27,829 for 2000-2001.

REACH MTI BY E-MAIL!

Upgrades over the summer months have resulted in new e-mail addresses for all MTI staff. The format is: lastnamefirstintial@madisonteachers.org. Stay tuned for information regarding MTI's New and Improved Web Site! It is being designed to provide extensive information to MTI members. Happy surfing!

NEW HEALTH INSURANCE PROVISIONS

The improved health insurance achieved by MTI in negotiations over the 1999-2001 Teacher Collective Bargaining Agreement have been implemented.

Effective July 1, the policy was amended to include:

• a 30 day annual open enrollment (10/15 - 11/15);
• coverage for oral contraceptives and other physician prescribed methods of birth control;
• acupuncture;
• the refraction portion of the eye exam;
• deletion of the section of the policy which limits the insurer's responsibility for care in a nursing home to the rate established for reimbursement under the Medical Assistance Program and to establish payment for such services at the usual, customary and reasonable rate;
• extension nursing home care from 30 to 90 days;
• disputed claims to be decided by a permanent referee selected by MTI and the MMSD;
• greater access for early retirees; and
• and continuance of coverage for one's designated family partner and his/her children, if any, should the teacher die.

USO-MTI NEGOTIATIONS

Negotiations for the United Substitutes Organization will get underway on Tuesday, August 31. The Contract expired on June 30, 1999. Substitutes will continue to work under the expired contract until a new agreement is reached. Key issues for the USO-MTI Bargaining Team are increased health insurance benefits and better assignment rules, among other things. More explicit information regarding the negotiations will be sent to all substitute teachers within the next couple of weeks.

Substitute teaching is a very difficult job, because of the uncertainty associated with different assignments, different students and different buildings. Please express your SOLIDARITY with substitute teachers in the building by making them feel welcome.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DAY

Although there was consideration by District management to change the schedule of all elementary schools to one of three start/end times, that plan has been scrapped. Superintendent Art Rainwater has notified principals to continue the same schedule as in the "recent past".

IMPORTANT REMINDER: SCHEDULE YOUR PLANNING TIME

Frequently, teachers call MTI Headquarters with questions about planning time. As a result of the 1976 teacher strike, MTI's Collective Bargaining Agreement provides planning time for ALL full-time teachers.

All full-time special education teachers are entitled to the same amount of planning time as full-time regular education classroom teachers. Teachers at the elementary level are entitled to four and one-half hours of planning time per week within the established school day, in addition to the planning time via the Monday early release for students.

Special education staff at the middle and high school levels receive the same amount of planning time as full-time regular classroom teachers.

Any full-time teacher not being provided planning time should call MTI Headquarters. DON'T VOLUNTARILY SURRENDER YOUR PLANNING TIME!

CELEBRATE LABOR DAY WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY

MTI encourages all members and their families to join the Labor Day festivities on Monday, September 6, from 12:00 to 5:30 p.m., at the Madison Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park Street. Music, games for the kids, food and entertainment will add to the day's enjoyment.

SABBATICAL APPLICATIONS DUE SEPT 1

Under the terms of MTI's Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Board of Education budgets $45,000 for sabbatical leaves for members of MTI's "teacher" bargaining unit. Such is for the purpose of advanced study and/or research. Either a one-year leave at half pay or a one-semester leave at full pay may be granted by the JointMTI/MMSD Committee. The recipient of a sabbatical leave must agree, by contract, to return to the Madison District and render at least two full years of service following the sabbatical leave or repay the amounts received for the sabbatical leave. One who receives a sabbatical leave is permitted to return to the position held at the time the leave was granted.

Applications for the second semester of the 1999-2000 school year are due at MTI Headquarters by SEPTEMBER 1, 1999. An application can be obtained by calling MTI (257-0491). The Sabbatical Leave Committee consists of Thuy Pham-Remmele (MTI Representative), Timothy Jeffery (MMSD Representative), and Deborah Vandell (Community Representative).

UNUM SELECTED FOR LONG TERM CARE BENEFITS

One of the results of the newly negotiated Teacher Collective Bargaining Agreement is the creation of a long term care benefit for employees of the Madison Metropolitan School District. A joint MTI-MMSD Committee studied various long term care plans and recommended that the parties select Unum as the benefit carrier. More information on the need for long term care, as well as enrollment information, will be provided to all MMSD employees this fall.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

MTI's Collective Bargaining Agreements provide a free, confidential employee assistance program (EAP). EAP is a resource for employees looking for personal or financial assistance. The District may not use information provided to EAP Resource Personnel or EAP Counselors in disciplinary proceedings. Confidentiality is maintained unless the employee may potentially do self harm or harm to others. Call MTI Headquarters or see the EAP Resource person at your work site.

TRIP TO CHICAGO TO SEE "FOSSE"

Plan now for a trip to Chicago to see "FOSSE" on November 20, 1999. MTI members and family/friends can travel to Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts to the musical about the life and work of Bob Fosse, a theater director and choreographer. His work includes such musicals as Sweet Charity, Chicago, and Cabaret. The cost is $75.00 (includes ticket and bus). Send checks to MTI to reserve your spot. Those with questions, can call Nancy Richter at 222-6890.

Return to UniServ Page

Posted November 4, 1999