March 9, 2018 — Spring Election Day 2018 in Wisconsin is just weeks away. On Tuesday, April 3, Wisconsinites will head to the polls to elect a new Supreme Court Justice and vote in local elections in cities, town and municipalities across the state.
March 9, 2018 - Bow, NH
The House made significant progress on its backlog of legislation this week but with snow forcing cancellation of Thursday’s session, a good number of legislative proposals now won’t come up until March 15. With the deadline of March 22 for bills to go to the Senate, the House has its work cut out for it.
In a Nutshell As always there is a mix of the good and the not-so-good in reviewing House actions. Highlights from the Consent Calendar include legislative deaths for HB 1803 (banning payroll deductions for union dues or any non-governmental entities) and HB 1608 (banning compensation for public employees on leave). The former would have caused great harm for United Way, AFLAC, etc. along with labor unions, while the latter would violate provisions in many collective bargaining agreements and remove the issue from local control. HB 1603, authorizing an employee representative on the investment committee of the NHRS did pass, thereby offering at least a small opportunity for voicing the concerns of those who pay into the retirement system and for whom the system exists. Lastly, a series of bills passed that adding to existing reporting requirements and accountability on the part of public schools. In and of itself, that may be fine, but it must be paired with the simultaneous rejection of even a modest increase in accountability for home-schoolers or increasing the required percentage of certified or experienced teachers in charter schools. Then there is also SB 193, which still contains virtually no accountability for home-schoolers or private schools benefitting from public funds. Just a smidge of inconsistency there!
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Colleagues,
Your Union in Action: what was going on at NTU this week?
1. WARNING!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Metropolitan Baltimore Council AFL-CIO
&
Baltimore DC Building Trades Unions
ANNUAL NIGHT in ANNAPOLIS
MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2018
Lawyer’s Mall
College Avenue at Rowe Boulevard
6:00 P.M.
CLICK TO READ
Recently there has been an increased amount of members that were confused about their rights--more specifically when it deals with union representation during questioning or an investigatory interview that may lead to disciplinary action.
Congratulations to our 2018 Teacher of the Year, Maggie Clark from Oneka Elementary!
Governor John Bel Edwards has announced his education agenda for the regular legislative session that opens on Monday, March 12, and ends on June 4. The governor's agenda includes reasonable, fair changes to the teacher tenure process and teacher evaluati
The nation — once again — is mourning the senseless deaths of children due to another school shooting, the latest one claiming the lives of 17 students Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Many of our members are responsible gun owners. Some belong to the NRA. Voices across the political spectrum are coming together to say enough is enough.
President Trump sent his proposed 2019 budget to Congress on Monday February 12th. When running for office, he pledged to leave Medicare benefits untouched. However, his budget proposal would reduce Medicare spending by $554 billion over the next 10 years. If you are concerned about the budget proposing huge cuts to the Medicare program, contact our Senators with your concerns and urge them to vote against this budget proposal.
Statement From CTA President Wendy L. Doromal
“Now that 7055 has passed and will be signed into law, it will no longer be the Florida legislature that busts unions and strips teachers and education support professionals of their contracts. It will be every teacher and education support professional who still refuses to take a stand with their colleagues by joining the union. This is no longer about saving dues money. It is about saving the rights, benefits and guarantees of a union-negotiated contract.” ~Rick Kuplinski, AFT
