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

Solidarity - September 7, 1999

Volume 33, No. 3
We teach the children ... Collectively we decide ... United we act

MTI HOMEPAGE

MTI's Homepage, www.madisonteachers.org, has been significantly expanded over the summer in an effort to make more information easily available to MTI members. All four of MTI's Collective Bargaining Agreements (MTI, SEE-MTI, USO-MTI, and EA-MTI), Memoranda of Understanding such as Ready, Set, Goal Conferences, Hall Supervision and Teacher Emeritus Early Retirement Program which are negotiated simultaneously with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, MTI Position Papers, and other publications can be found on the new MTI homepage. The MTI Solidarity will be put on the homepage weekly and back issues archived on the homepage for future review. Also being developed is information to members' frequently asked questions. Visit MTI's new homepage and give the MTI staff your comments and suggestions.

COMPUTERIZED IEP'S - BELIEVE IT!

Nearly ten years ago, the Madison Metropolitan School District agreed in negotiations with MTI to develop computerized IEP's in an effort to ease the workload on special education teachers. Annually, the District promised "next year". Finally, during last spring's negotiations over the terms and conditions of the 1999-2001 Teacher Collective Bargaining Agreement, the District informed the MTI bargaining team that the District had fired the contractor they had chosen to develop the computerized plan and would do it themselves. Superintendent Rainwater has informed MTI Executive Director John Matthews that computerized IEP's were developed over the summer and are on the horizon to be tested this semester and ready for all as early as next spring.

BALDWIN TO HEAR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS

The Hon. Tammy Baldwin, from Madison's eastside and elected to Congress only last November, has long been a friend to both education and labor. At the request of MTI Executive Director John Matthews and Superintendent Art Rainwater, Baldwin will meet with teacher union leaders and superintendents from the 2nd congressional district on September 20. Baldwin will hear the negative impact on the education of all youngsters caused by the federal government not living up to its financial commitment as regards special education. Matthews and Rainwater have sent invitations to all local teacher union leaders and school district superintendents.

SEE-MTI GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING SEPTEMBER 8

A general membership meeting for members of MTI's clerical/technical bargaining unit (SEE-MTI) will be held on Wednesday, September 8, at MTI Headquarters, commencing at 4:30 p.m. The meeting will provide a review of the work of the Joint Early Retirement Committee and information on the WRS reduction.

ABSENCE ALLOWANCE BENEFITS IMPROVED

New teachers are advanced ten days sick leave when employment begins. After that, sick leave is earned at the rate of one day per payroll period, provided that the teacher receives pay for one-half or more of the days included in the payroll period. Such days are used for personal and family illness.

The newly negotiated Contract provision enables teachers to utilize ONE DAY of sick leave per year for PERSONAL LEAVE (i.e. without restriction and without actually being ill). Limits for such use are two teachers from each elementary and middle school and three teachers from each high school per day without the building principal's agreement.

Under the new provision, days for bereavement are no longer deducted from one's sick leave. Five days for bereavement leave are now available for a death in the family or the family of one's designated family partner.

Those who have a designated family partner, under the terms of the new agreement, may also utilize days available to others under the Wisconsin and/or Federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Anyone with questions should call MTI Headquarters.

In addition, teachers receive five personal leave days (without pay), plus two days for legal reasons with pay. Teachers who are required to serve on jury duty receive full pay from the District.

Finally, teachers are granted one day per year to observe, by visitation, good instructional practices in other schools. Said visitation day may not be taken after April 23 of each school year.

EA-MTI GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING SEPTEMBER 15

A general membership meeting for members of MTI's educational assistants bargaining unit (EA-MTI) will be held on Wednesday, September 15, at 3:45 p.m., in Room 201A at the Madison Labor Temple (1602 S. Park Street). The meeting will provide a review of the work of the Joint Career Advancement Committee and information on the salary schedules as revised in negotiations.

DISCIPLINARY INTERVIEWS: PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS

What should you do? An administrator/supervisor requires your attendance at a meeting. Follow the advice on the back of your MTI membership card which states, "If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated or cause an effect on my personal working conditions, I request that my MTI representative be present at this meeting."

If an issue arises in any meeting with an administrator/supervisor, or if a meeting "becomes disciplinary", or even if you have reason to believe the purpose of the meeting may be disciplinary, call MTI for representation. Under such circumstances, one has a right to Union representation and may refuse to meet, or further meet, until an MTI representative is present. Should one unwittingly attend a meeting with an administrator which becomes a disciplinary interview, MTI advises that you politely stop the meeting and tell the administrator that you will be happy to continue when your MTI representative is present. Call MTI (257-0491) for assistance.

EXTENDED EMPLOYMENT OR EXTENDED CONTRACT - What's the Difference?

Plenty! For teachers, work during the summer recess is paid at two very different levels of compensation, Extended Employment and Extended Contract.

Extended Employment is a negotiated pay rate for one doing specific facets of summer work; i.e. not the same as during the school year. See Section III-I of the Teacher's Collective Bargaining Agreement for details.

Extended Contract is one's regular salary, paid at an hourly rate, for teachers performing work over the summer with EEN students, which is an extension of work done during the school year (i.e. IEPs, M-Teams etc.), and work performed with EEN students at vocational settings.

Anyone questioning whether they were compensated at the correct rate of pay for summer work, should contact MTI Headquarters.

JEWISH HOLIDAYS

In cooperation with the Madison Jewish community, District employees are encouraged to not schedule school events on the evening before Jewish holidays, inasmuch as the holidays actually begin at sundown on the evening before. Similarly, teachers are requested not to schedule major exams or field trips on Jewish holidays inasmuch as ewish students may not be able to attend school on that day. Rosh Hashanah is September 11 and 12 and Yom Kippur is September 20.

PAC REBATES

When the MTI Faculty Representative Council amended MTI's Bylaws to make MTI VOTERS a standing committee, they also established funding for the political action committee at 2.5% of dues. Deductions are made from each member's monthly check. SEE-MTI and EA-MTI have a similar Bylaw provision, and each enable an advance refund of the year's deduction for the PAC fee if WRITTEN NOTICE by the member is received at MTI Headquarters by October 1. When such is received, the refund will be made by November 30. MTI VOTERS endorses candidates who pledge to support education and educators.

WANTED - WOMEN BOWLERS

Bowlers are needed for the MMSD women's bowling league. You need four women for a team. Bowling begins Monday, October 4, from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. If interested or if you have a team, call Bevi Haimerl (267-4213) or Nancy Richter (222-6890).

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Posted November 4, 1999