NSO State Affliate News

• A topic for the recent NCSEA meeting with NSO was upcoming state affiliate bargaining and which states may be possible hotspots. Both groups considered South Carolina, New Hampshire and Ohio as situations to monitor.

• Field assistance and training was provided to Indiana, Minnesota, Memphis, NEASO, Virginia, Oregon, Maine, Alaska, and Tennessee.

• Janet Stein, president of the South Carolina Staff Organization, reports that the South Carolina Education Association has requested to be in a trusteeship with NEA. Robert Bonazzi, former Executive Director of New Jersey EA, has been named the trustee. This is the second state affiliate in this situation; until recently, Indiana was under NEA’s management. South Carolina EA cites a dramatic drop in membership (400 to 700 members) and the concern of that trend continuing as reasons for the trusteeship request.

• Plans to sell the insurance portion of the Massachusetts Teacher Association Benefits to Hanover are still moving ahead. The state affiliate and the associate staff organization have concluded bargaining dealing with the impact the sale will have on employees. The TA is an enhanced severance package covering employees who will transition to the new company and those who choose to retire or resign.

• Oregon PSO has completed their bargaining survey in preparation for interest-based bargaining between the two parties.

NHESO picket a success

“The day was a success. We did good work today!”

That’s how Brian Sullivan, president of the New Hampshire staff organization described last Friday’s early morning picket of their RA.

Support came from NSO members in Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine. Despite the fact that the picketers were chased off campus property to the main road, every delegate had to either walk or drive past the picket line.

Sullivan said, “It was an impressive sight. No one entered the Assembly without knowing we were there.”

Sullivan had hoped to address the gathering on behalf of NHESO but wasn’t able to. Nevertheless, based on comments from delegates, many were skeptical of management’s portrayal of NHESO’s actions. In addition to tough bargaining, staff is dealing with many grievances against management’s persistent refusal to follow the contract.

In an interesting turn of events, during the RA, Sullivan got news that their manager was leaving New Hampshire to take a position with NEA.

Sullivan wondered, “Is this a light at the end of the tunnel or a train bearing down on us head-on. Only time will tell but staff has been drawn together as a family. We can take whatever comes.”

For more information, go to NHESO’s blog, http://nheso.blogspot.com.

Rugnetta channels her creativity as author of children’s book

Family pet inspires just-published work

Phyllis Rugnetta, NSO affiliate president from Massachusetts, turned her grief over the loss of her beloved Sheltie named Trooper into an inspirational and educational children’s book which was recently published.

Trooper the Shetland Sheepdog is the first in a series of books designed to teach children about life’s challenges.

Click here to read more about Phyllis and Trooper.

South Carolina staff battle rollbacks in salary and language

NSO offers crisis assistance

Frustrating bargaining sessions, regressive bargaining and excessive rollback proposals have become the norm for South Carolina staff bargaining with management. The two sides have been meeting with a mediator but bargaining is at an impasse.

South Carolina staff union president Janet Stein and the staff bargaining team accept an NSO Crisis Fund check from President Chuck Agerstrand.

Here’s an example of what the staff team faced at the bargaining table on July 22: Management called for a one-hour caucus. Six hours later when they returned, they presented a proposal that reneged on prior tentative agreements and further eroded the staff contract.

“Management’s financial proposal included a half-step salary increase and a 42-cent reimbursement for mileage,” said Janet Stein, South Carolina staff union president.  “But, I think, their proposal for comp time language, sick leave and flex scheduling may be worse.”

The staff has been told that the South Carolina Education Association is two years from closing its doors. The association has $675,000 in unrestricted reserves; $250,000 in a rainy day fund; and $150,000 restricted for building maintenance.
Stein said, “We’ve been hearing these numbers for a while. Our proposal only costs $18,000. The rollbacks management wants have nothing to do with money; they’re personal.”

For the first time in staff bargaining history, management has a corporate attorney at the table whose estimated cost so far is well over $50,000. According to Stein, this move calls into question management’s contention that they can’t afford the staff’s proposals.

NSO President Chuck Agerstrand recently spent time with the staff bargaining team and pledged NSO support for their efforts.

NSO Affiliates

Standards for Affiliation with the National Staff Organization

Application for Affiliation with the National Staff Organization

Local Affiliate Model Constitution

Disaster Relief Fund Form

Ensuring Realistic Employer Costs for Retirement Plans

Plans May Use Reasonable Interpretation in Selecting a Yield Curve - Employee Plans News