NSO RA Representative Assembly

What's your take-away from this RA?

Note about Bill Raabe’s presentation

Bill Raabe, NEA Director of Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy gave RA delegates a global view of the problems facing unions today. To see his Power Point presentation, click here.

RA Emerging Issues discussion provides insight into affiliate needs

The 2011 NSO RA Emerging Issues discussion session following Bill Raabe’s presentation provided input on NSO member and state affiliate needs. The Executive Committee will be reviewing the information to help us navigate through these difficult times.

Major themes from the small-group discussions centered on job security, union rights, budget cuts, communication and relationship building.

There will be follow-up at the National CBC meeting, Oct. 21-22 and at the Winter Advocacy Retreat, Feb. 3-4, 2012.

Click here to read the small-group discussion notes.

New business items address threats, codes of conduct, training

Delegates debated six new business items at the 2011Representative Assembly and approved four of them.

To deal with existing and potential threats in state affiliates, there must be an organizing structure and budget for each affiliate. A new business item charges the NSO Merger Organizing Committee and Coordinated Bargaining Councils with establishing and supporting Affiliate Standing Organizing Committees. This will be just one of many ways NSO will help state affiliates meet the challenges and attacks before them.

In her report to the RA, Lynn Adler, Vice President for Program, noted that she is receiving more and more requests from state affiliates for training to deal with internal issues. An RA new business item directs NSO to encourage members to honor Codes of Conduct when working within an affiliate and with other affiliates. NSO has a model Code of Conduct which many affiliates have already put into place to promote solidarity and productive working relationships. NSO will be posting the model on its Web site.

The NSO represents all state affiliates and the U.S. map within its symbol signifies that. However, a new business item adopted by the RA will change that map so it includes Alaska and Hawaii—an oversight needing attention.

Like its affiliates, NSO if facing a turnover in its membership with an anticipated rush of retirements in the near future. To address the need for a smooth transition to new leaders, RA delegates adopted a new business item which calls for the creation of a Future Leader Initiative as part of a plan to insure the solidarity of NSO.

An important new business item was tabled to be brought before the 2012 RA. A proposed change to the Constitution to establish an additional Executive Committee seat for an active NSO Retired member sparked debate. Since many retirees are working on behalf of NSO doing arbitrations, processing ULPs , providing on-site bargaining and/or crisis assistance, and serving as advocates for members, it was recommended that such a position be created to give retirees a greater voice in the organization. Questions regarding the cost of adding another Executive Committee position and the extent of the position’s power were raised and need further research.

June 11, 2011 - San Diego - 2011 NSO RA delegates elected Cheryl Singleton (MA) as Region 1 Director and Tom Greene (MI) as At-Large B Director.

RA delegates also adopted the 2011-12 budget with a dues increase of $6 for associate staff and $12 for professional staff.

The 2012 NSO RA will be in Washington, D.C.

In uncontested races, delegates elected the following Directors to the NSO Executive Committee:

·         Region 3 – Emmitt Jimmar

·         Region 5 – Kathy Hill

·         Region 7 – Catherine Alexander

·         At-Large Director A – Robert Blackwell

Hear NSO President Chuck Agerstrand's welcome as delegates to the 2011 NSO RA   in San Diego arrive.

Why do NSO members want to be RA delegates? Listen to two-first time attendees tell you why they came.