Affiliates

Hot Spots

Not being on this list is a good thing.  These aren’t the hot destination spots across the country. State affiliates on this list are here because they’re the victims of the latest political attacks on collective bargaining rights, wages and benefits, pensions, right-to-work, merit pay and tenure. But just because you don’t see your state here doesn’t mean you’re home free.

Alabama – Alabama has asked a federal appeals court to allow the state to enforce its strict new law—HB 56—targeting illegal immigration. The state has said that advocacy groups failed to demonstrate that enforcing the law will cause irreparable harm. Meanwhile, the law is impacting student attendance. The Obama administration is suing to stop the law.
 Idaho – A district court judge rejected the Idaho Education Association’s claim that the law curbing teacher’s bargaining rights was unconstitutional. The judge agreed with the Association that the law passed by the Republican-dominated legislature caused “substantial contractual impairments.” But the judge said that the constitution allows such action when they serve a key public purpose. The Association will appeal the decision. Meanwhile, a group looking to repeal that law and two others that affect Idaho public education gathered enough signatures to place the three laws before the voters in Nov. 2012.
Montana – MEA-MFT, the Montana Public Employees Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have filed an appeal to overturn a Board of Personnel Appeals recommendation that supports the Legislature’s decision to deny raises to state employees promised by the governor.  Heads of three labor unions have sent a “demand to bargain” letter to the governor, asking him to renegotiate a pay plan. In late May, the Republican-controlled Legislature rejected HB 13, which gave public employees a 4 percent pay raise over two years. The appeal will be heard on Dec. 15.
Massachusetts – New proposed legislation would allow as many as 10,000 child care workers at private centers that accept state funds to be represented by a union, the Massachusetts Early Childhood Educators Union. The new union would negotiate salaries and benefits directly with the state.  The new union, a joint venture by the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts, would provide needed improvements to child care workers’ salary and other working conditions.
Michigan – The state has been besieged by anti-union, anti-public employee, anti-middle class legislation, amounting to nothing more than political payback from Republicans who control the governor’s position and the Legislature. The latest bill is a Right-to-Teach move that only targets members of the Michigan Education Association (MEA). The MEA is involved in the recall of a Republican legislator who has been a key player in the repressive legislation. MEA has produced a video www.KidsNotCEOs.com which has gone viral with more than 16,000 hits in two weeks.
New Hampshire – Bill O’Brien, Speaker of the House of Representatives, unsuccessfully used Republican presidential candidates to lobby for his right-to-work bill. The House lost its attempt to override Gov. Lynch’s veto of a Right-to-Work bill. Labor unions joined with teacher groups to stymie the House’s vote.

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Ohio – We Are Ohio has a new ad—“Promised”—which criticizes Gov. Kasich for paying back campaign contributions with tax breaks. Opponents are working hard to overturn SB 5 which limits the bargaining ability of 350,000 public employees. The law bans strikes, ends binding arbitration and eliminates teacher step increases.
Rhode Island – The Governor and the state Treasurer sent letters to public employees and retirees telling them of their intention to make changes in the state pension system which include no early retirement incentives, no reduction in benefits for retirees and current employees, and possible changes to COLA.
Wisconsin – Nov. 15 will be the official start of the recall of Gov. Scott Walker. United Wisconsin, the group spearheading the effort, will begin collecting signatures on that day. Walker supporters dismiss the recall as being disruptive to the state and creating chaos. United Wisconsin said the chaos started with Walker’s so-called “budget-repair bill.”

WEAC lays off 42 employees

Wisconsin Education Association Council management is blaming Gov. Walker’s union-busting legislation for the layoff of 42 employees. Those employees make up approximately 40 percent of the organization’s workforce.

WEAC’s Executive Director Dan Burkhalter said, “Layoffs and budget cuts are a reaction to the legislative action taken by Gov. Walker. WEAC is responding on many fronts.”

Staffers were made aware of impending layoffs on Aug. 11. Employees affected were officially notified on Aug. 15.

Earlier this summer, Burkhalter praised the staff for their efforts during Walker’s budget battle. He said, “You are leading an historic struggle standing up for workers. I am grateful for what you are doing and thank you.”

Walker’s legislative initiatives stripped most public employees of their collective bargaining rights. Also, Wisconsin public unions are no longer able to electronically deduct dues from employees’ paychecks.

February and March were costly for the union. WEAC spent about $2 million in lobbying fees, trying to fend off Walker’s budget attacks.

Right now, WEAC is conducting membership drives and organizing local re-certification votes. While they’re making progress, membership is expected to drop.

It’s about respect and values
NCSO reaches out to NCAE members during contract dispute

The North Carolina Staff Organization (NCSO) held an informational picket after the close of official business on July 27 at the North Carolina state affiliate’s Summer Leadership Conference.

“NCSO wanted the NCAE members in attendance to know the issues at stake in relation to our current bargaining—from our perspective,” said NCSO President Tyrone Melton. “As an organization, staff and members hold shared values and beliefs that drive the work of the Association. We think the members would want to know if their values were at risk of being disrespected.”

Staffers distributed flyers during the picketing that outlined NCSO’s goals and beliefs and explained NCSO’s unanimous rejection of management’s latest contract proposal.

“It was a positive, non-disruptive event that provided relevant information about the status of a bargaining process that has now gone on for 10 months,” Melton said. “We just want a fair resolution and we want it sooner rather than later. We’ve been very patient.”

NCSO represents 90 percent of the staff members who work for the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), a state affiliate of the National Education Association.

What’s disgusting? Union busting in Wisconsin

With the Supreme Court’s ruling this week and Senate passage of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget plan, Wisconsin becomes one six states where it’s illegal to for public employees to collectively bargain. The other states are North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Texas.

It’s a sad day for unions because no union ever expected that a progressive northern state like Wisconsin would join the list.

Earlier this week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the state Legislature did not violate open government requirements when it passed legislation that allows public employees to only bargain over wages. Local police and firefighters are exempt.

Unions have filed a second legal challenge claiming that the law itself is unconstitutional.

To avoid the risk of an adverse ruling, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has asked the state’s Supreme Court for an advance ruling on whether or not repealing an income tax exemption on pension incomes violates the state constitution.

The new budget reflects deep cuts to education and Medicaid and all of the middle class. The governor is expected to sign the $60 billion budget before June 30.

As a result, starting in Aug., public employees will be paying 12 percent of their health insurance and 5.8 percent of their pension costs. 

As Senators spoke of how this budget would put Wisconsin in a better financial state, a protestor in the gallery cried out, “I want my democracy back!”

That says it all.

What’s going on in Wisconsin not only affects members, it also affects staff and NSO members. Listen to Greg Spring, vice president of the professional staff union, talk about the impact.

AFSE reached a tentative agreement with management at 11:17 p.m. on Friday, June 3.

They will now work on formalizing the language.

“Bargaining took a turn for the worst!”

That’s the message from the AFSE bargaining team at 1:50 a.m. June 1 just hours after AFSE and the NEA management team agreed to an extension of the contract.

Management came to the table with even more regressive economic proposals and backed away from earlier offers. They seem unable to decide on a direction to take reach a settlement.

The AFSE team is regrouping to deal with the latest developments. They will be hosting informational picketing outside the NEA building this afternoon with support from NEASO and other city unions.

A mediator is at the table.

News from the states

Unfortunately, the list of states facing drastic education budget cuts or attacks on union rights and collective bargaining continues to grow.

With the upcoming RA’s focus on political attacks and union activity across the country, here’s a state-by-state update of legislative activity as of May 30. Read more.

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