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Solidarity - November 1, 1999

Volume 33, No. 11
We teach the children ... Collectively we decide ... United we act

HOW ARE SCHOOL REFERENDA SUCCESSFUL?

School referenda are only successful when proponents pitch-in to help. MTI has endorsed the three District referenda which will be voted upon next week, November 9, by residents of the Madison Metropolitan School District. With YOUR HELP the referenda can succeed.

The MTI phone bank is turned on and ready for you to make calls to assure that people vote. If you can volunteer one evening between November 1 and November 8, please call MTI at 257-0491. If you want these important referenda to succeed, remember that they will if you help. Now is the time to pull together!

Friends or relatives going to be out of town on November 9? Have them request absentee ballots now!

LONG TERM CARE? MTI AND MMSD RECOMMENDED UNUM

Much confusion has been caused by WEAC sending a letter to District employees indicating that the WEAC sponsored Bankers Life long term care plan was "preferable for most employees", over that selected by MTI and the District. MTIand the District selected UNUM as the long term care provider after considering all proposals submitted, including WEAC's. MTI and the District formed a Joint Committee to study long term care and to make a recommendation on a specific plan. The Committee consisted of two teachers, a retired teacher, an elder attorney, two benefits consultants, the Districts's Benefits Manager and an MTI staff member. The decision to recommend UNUM was unanimous.

The Committee studied various programs, solicited bids (including WEAC's) and recommended the UNUM plan. The reasons? First - UNUM provides a "guarantee issue" for active employees. The WEAC Bankers Life plan requires medical underwriting and indicated that approximately 10% of applications were rejected. Second - UNUM is available to all District employees. The WEAC Bankers Life plan is available only to teachers. Third - UNUM is an indemnity plan which pays a defined amount each day regardless of the actual charges and without submitting bills for reimbursement. The WEAC Bankers Life plan is a reimbursement plan which pays for only actual expenses. UNUM also had other advantages which are explained in detail at MTI-MMSD seminars.

Other benefits of the MTI/MMSD UNUM plan include one's ability to pay premiums through payroll deduction for active employees and the ability of retirees to pay premiums through their Retirement Insurance Account. Neither option is available for those who opt for Bankers Life. The payroll deduction option will be particularly appealing should Congress pass legislation allowing for long term care premiums to be deducted on a pre-tax basis as is allowed for health insurance and dependent care.

While WEAC is of the opinion that their product is preferable for most members, the Joint Committee disagrees. MTI has filed a complaint with WEAC, as a result of the WEAC Member Benefits Trust solicitation of MTI members. WEAC has violated its Contract with MTI by such solicitation and has jeopardized the MTI negotiated long term care plan. A response from WEAC to MTI's complaint is due Wednesday.

TEACHER CONTRACT & SALARY PROGRESSION

At the MTI Contract ratification meeting June 3, Executive Director John Matthews explained the modification in the Collective Bargaining Agreement regarding salary progression for the 2000-2001 school year. The MTI/MMSD Contract provides that teachers must earn six credits each four years to move across the salary barrier between levels 4 & 5, 8 & 9, and 12 & 13.

The Contract also provides (revised in 1999 negotiations) that teachers at the incentive levels (level 15 and above) must earn three credits each two years to move to the next incentive level. This agreement provides that ALL members of MTI's teacher collective bargaining unit will advance one level with the commencement of the 2000-2001 school year, regardless of credits earned.

MTI staff continue to work with the District regarding the impact on credits previously earned on the above salary schedule movement. MTI has advised the District that this issue must be resolved quickly because of its effect on teachers and course work being taken during the 1999-2000 school year.

MTI/MMSD RETIREMENT INFORMATION MEETING NOVEMBER 16

New this school year, MTI staff representative Doug Keillor and District Benefits Manager Bob Nadler will be conducting a joint retirement information meeting, Tuesday, November 16 at the Doyle Administration Builiding from 7-9 p.m. The meeting is designed to answer commonly asked retirement questions and explain the retirement application process. All MMSD employees are invited to attend. Those interested should RSVP to Lisa Vial in the Benefits Department at 266-6051 by Friday, November 12.

IEP SCHEDULING: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

The first edition of the District's publication "Educational Services News" was devoted to "describing how to process the requests for compensation included in the newly negotiated MTI/MMSD Teachers' Collective Bargaining Agreement related to special education."

The publication is an accurate reflection of the negotiated improvements in wages, hours and working conditions for both special education and regular education teachers. Attention is called to Section III-Q of the Contract. It provides greater individual control over scheduling IEP meetings.IEP meetings shall be held at a time mutually agreeable to all participants. This is a significant individual right given the District's stated position in Educational Services News that "IF THE CONTRACT DAY AT YOUR SCHOOL ENDS AT 3:45 P.M., AND THE MEETING DOES NOT BEGIN UNTIL 4:30 P.M., THERE IS NO COMPENSATION FOR THE TIME BETWEEN THE END OF THE CONTRACT DAY AND THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING".

MTI advises caution when scheduling IEP meetings beyond the workday. Don't be left on unpaid standby waiting for federally mandated IEP meetings to begin. The MTI/MMSD Contract provides teachers the right to schedule meetings to begin at the end of the contract day.

BYLAW AMENDMENTS

Proposed amendments to the MTI Bylaws must be submitted at the November 16 meeting of the MTI Faculty Representative Council if they are to be acted upon at the next meeting in February. The Constitution Committee requests that any proposed amendments submitted to the Council be in final form and that several copies be presented for distribution at the Council meeting, or delivered to the MTI Office prior to the November 16 meeting. For more information, or for a copy of the Bylaws, contact MTI Headquarters (257-0491).

FINANCIAL/RETIREMENT SEMINAR

MTI and WEAC are co-sponsoring a Pre-Retirement and Financial Planning seminar for members of MTI and its affiliates, at no cost, on Wednesday, November 10. The seminar will be held at Memorial High School in Room 300, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Call MTI Headquarters (257-0491) for reservations. Space is limited.

LET'S GO TO CHICAGO TO SEE "FOSSE"

Tickets are still available for the trip to Chicago to see "FOSSE" on November 20. 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 (ticket and bus). For reservations, send checks to MTI.

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Posted November 4, 1999