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Good day. We hope you’re enjoying your last bit of summer as we wind our way towards the end of August. The negotiating season for our successor contract is almost upon us, and we are seeking members for a newly-constituted Collective Bargaining Committee which will be appointed and approved by the membership at the regularly-scheduled September 9 membership meeting.So what does the Collective Bargaining Committee do? See this article in the upcoming Union Teacher, and if interested, please apply. All BTU members are welcome to apply. Experience is not required. Interested in submitting an item or items to be considered for the BTU Collective Bargaining package? It’s really simple: Go here and let us know what you want us to consider!
Opening of school reminders: Last week we mentioned that there was some confusion on behalf of some building administrators as to how the six hours of work to be completed would be managed. The agreement between the BPS and the BTU says that staff have the right to do the six hours of work anytime between August 15 and September 2. In most schools this has gone well. In some it has not, as a few administrators have unilaterally chosen which days staff could or could not work. This has been clarified in a memo to principals from the School Department.Here’s the memo from August 19: Dear Headmasters:
As you know, Labor Day is very late this year and as a result, an agreement was reached between the BTU and School Committee to allow staff to access facilities before the first day of school. We understand it is an imposition as staff is preparing the facility for school opening. This is most difficult for the facilities that housed summer programs programs and those sites where any construction projects are still in progress.
Nevertheless, it is expected that staff have access to facilities from now until the opening of school. Please collaborate with your BTU reps as well as your custodians, and facilities area managers in establishing a mutually agreeable solution. One suggestion is to provide regular communication to staff detailing the schedule as to when certain parts of the facility will not be accessible, as in the case of floor waxing. This communication would be beneficial to all since it would minimize wasted travel time for teachers as well as provide greater efficiency for the custodial staff.
Again, when limiting access to the facility, please work with your BTU rep, custodians, and area managers.
Please contact us if we can be of assistance.
Sam DePina
Administrator of Operations This should clarify any misunderstanding, and we thank the School Department for clearing this up. Those who opt to do their six hours in the fashion above do not have to work Wednesday, September 2. Note: We know that some schools have voted to work on September 2 in lieu of some other activity (like a portion of the 18 hours owed), and these schools obviously will take care of this matter.
A reminder on Salary Schedules: The same salary in effect in June will be in effect through October 31, 2015, at which point a 3% across-the-board salary increase will kick in. See both current and new schedules. |