Know Your Rights Training - TOMORROW

From Vickie Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Dear Chapter #327,

There is still room in the Know Your Rights training taking place tomorrow, October 24th, at MCOE (4:30-6:30pm) - click HERE to see the flyer.

This is a valuable workshop focusing on the fundamentals of your rights as a classified employee.  AND it's always a good time with the presenter, Markey Lees, our chapter's excellent Labor Relations Representative  who worked closely with us to negotiate our successful collective bargaining agreement.
You may contact Markey directly at mlees @ csea.com if you are able to attend.

Chapter Meeting and Survey

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:

Dear Chapter #327 Members,

Come to the next chapter meeting on October 17^th for Halloween treats and a raffle!  The floor will be open for Executive Board Nominations.

Click here for the Chapter Survey – it’s only 5 questions. Be one of the first 20 to complete and return and you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 Starbucks gift card (separate from the chapter raffle)

Finally, don’t miss today’s Manage Your Money workshop – 4:30pm at MCOE

Click here for the September minutes.

Click here for the October agenda.

Annual Benefit Guide and Membership Card

Look for a copy of the new and improved CSEA Annual Member Benefits Guide and your membership card in your mailbox at home during the first week of October. This popular guide outlines the many benefits and discounts you receive for being a CSEA member, bringing you value in membership. This year, the guide and card are in an envelope that looks like this:

Revised Health Benefits Matrix

From Kate Lane, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services:


Greetings all,

As you all know, the cap for health benefits increased by $100 to $1,105 effective October 1, 2018 in alignment with open enrollment and new benefit rates. The health benefits cap is traditionally applied to Dental, Vision and Life first with the remainder applied to medical benefits.

While updating payroll for the new rates we discovered an error in the CSEA unit #327 health benefits matrix (members in the blue unit only, exclusive of Walker Creek) that was previously sent out in the open enrollment packets, and wanted to be sure you have the correct matrix. I learned that we made a similar error on last year’s matrix and we have therefore developed a new internal control to have greater assurance we can prevent future errors.

The good news is that the vision plan (VSP) premium is lower, listed at $17.02 on the attached revised matrix rather than $19.25 per the original version distributed earlier.  The total monthly cap remains unchanged, but the distribution of the cap is changed as follows:

Total monthly cap = $1,105.00
Health insurance = $961.05 (+$2.23)
Dental/Life/Vision = $143.95 (-$2.23)

This change will effectively lower the dollar amounts in the “Employee Pays” column by $2.23 for all medical plans.
This change does not affect the Walker Creek CSEA unit #327 health benefits matrix, that remains unchanged.

No action is required for employees, unless you would like to make changes to your medical plan selection. If so, you will need to submit your plan change form to Personnel no later than September 28, 2018 by 5 pm.

If you have questions about the matrix, you can contact Michael Ghebregziabher at 415.499.5880.  If you have questions about benefits enrollment, you can contact the Personnel Department at 415.499.4854.

Thank you.

Click HERE for the Matrix.

Important Notice and 9/19 Chapter Meeting Agenda

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:

Dear CSEA Chapter #327 Members,

You may have received an e-mail recently from an outside organization encouraging you to drop your CSEA union membership.

You should be aware that there are extremely well-funded groups which are attempting to weaken - and ultimately do away with – organizations such as ours whose mission is to protect the most vulnerable workers in education:  classified employees.  The objective of these “right to work” groups is to divide and destroy unions, but it is up to US to decide our future and our fate.  If we stand united, there is nothing and no one that can weaken us. 

CSEA has been in existence for 91 years and is directly responsible for many classified employee rights and protections, including CalPers Membership (expanded in 1988 to include part-timers), overtime pay, paid holidays, personal necessity leave, and many other rights that previously only certificated employees received and which we now enjoy.   We must never take these benefits for granted.

The primary benefit of being a union member is the ability to vote on a collectively bargained agreement (members in good standing), as we did recently.  As well as the right to union representation in employee/employer situations and the right to run for office in our chapter.  With the significant assistance of our CSEA Labor Relations Representative (LRR), your negotiations team worked hard for our new multi-year contract, containing a wage increase for the next three years and an increase in the health benefit cap.  Your CSEA dues help to pay for our LRR’s expertise and attendance at the many negotiations meetings that took place.  The other members of the negotiations teams are strictly volunteer.

As our Superintendent stated at MCOE’s Back-to-School event in August, she understands and appreciates the value and benefit of both certificated and classified unions.  Our union leadership provides an important line of communication with management on behalf of our members.  We are fortunate to have a positive, collaborative relationship with our Superintendent – many chapters do not.

Each dropped membership diminishes us as a whole.  These uncertain times provide an opportunity to recommit yourself to your union and specifically, our local Chapter #327.  We know you are out there and we care about you. 

Please contact any member of our Executive team directly if you have any questions or concerns.

In Solidarity,

Vicki Ascher, Chapter President - vascher @ marinschools
Terri Nadell, 1st Vice President - tnadell @ marinschools
Christine Franceschi, 2nd Vice President - cfranceschi @ marinschools
Adriane Lommel, Chief Job Steward - alommel @ marinschools
Debbie Aviron, Secretary - daviron @ marinschools
Nancy Duns, Treasurer - nduns @ marinschools
Alex Young, Communications Officer - ayoung @ marinschools

Click here for the 9/19 chapter meeting agenda.

August 29 - CSEA Chapter Meeting

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:

Dear Members of Chapter #327,

Welcome back to a new school year!  I hope everyone enjoyed their summer.  We are jumping right in to our CSEA activities, starting with our first Chapter Meeting of the new year on Wednesday, August 29 at MCOE from 3:30 to 4:30pm.  Among our business items will be voting on the revised job descriptions for the Maintenance and Operations Family as part of its job reclassification study.  We will also have a guest speaker, our CSEA Labor Relations Representative, Markey Lees, to update us on the latest happenings in the world of unions.  We are all affected and it’s important to know what’s going on.

Remember, you can use break & lunch periods to attend chapter meetings.  Of course, you must let your supervisor know in advance. 

Below are links to the agenda, minutes from our June meeting and the proposed revised M&O job descriptions.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Agenda
Minutes
Custodian Groundskeeper job description
Maintenance Custodian job description
Maintenance Worker job description
Utility Worker job description

Contract Negotiations

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Dear Members,

Your collective bargaining team is pleased to report that we have come to an agreement with MCOE for a three-year multi contract for the Chapter #327 Green Unit.  Please click to see the Negotiations Update and Tentative Agreement.  The decision was made to provide salary schedules with the hourly wage and an additional version showing the monthly wage, based on Full Time Equivalent (FTE).

Ratification by the members will take place on September 5th at Walker Creek Ranch.

Chapter #327 Notice

From Vickie Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Please click HERE for the notice regarding contract ratification.

REMINDER: Voting today!

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:

Good morning,

Please remember to stop by today to vote on the proposed contract.

There will be a ratification vote on Wednesday, June 20 at MCOE in Room A.  Only chapter members in good standing will be able to vote.  Please stop by between 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm or 4:30 pm - 5:15 pm to cast your vote by secret ballot.

Let your voice be heard  :)

Contract Negotiations

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:

Dear Members,

Your collective bargaining team is pleased to report that we have come to an agreement with MCOE for a three year-multi contract for the Chapter #327 Blue Unit.  The Chapter #327 Green unit, Walker Creek Ranch, is currently still in negotiations with MCOE. 

Article 5

Salaries and Fringe Benefits

5.1.  3% Increase effective July 1, 2018, 3% increase effective July 2019 and 3% increase effective July 2020.

5.2  MCOE will increase the Health insurance premium, effective October 1, 2018 by $100 per month.  This will ensure that employee only will have no out of pocket costs.

Article 8

Leaves of Absence

8.14 Bereavement Leave – Added domestic partner.

Article 11

Safety

11.7 Added All unit members will annually be offered the opportunity to participate in necessary health related safety trainings that may include, Compression only CPR and Safe lifting techniques.

I would like to thank the members of the bargaining team:  Christine Franceschi, Adriane Lommel, Terri Nadell, and our CSEA Labor Relations Representative Markey Lees for their efforts on our behalf.  They spent many hours carefully considering the interests of our chapter members and worked to get the best result for all of us.   

This proposed contract must be approved by our chapter members in order to move forward.  There will be a ratification vote on Wednesday, June 20 at MCOE in Room A.  Only chapter members in good standing will be able to vote.  Please stop by between 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm or 4:30 pm - 5:15 pm to cast your vote by secret ballot.

Reminder: Final 2017-18 Chapter Meeting

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Dear Chapter Members,

Happy June!  Please join us for our final meeting on Wednesday, June 13 at BJ's at the Northgate Mall.  We'll start at 4pm with a brief business meeting, then enjoy a meal and social time together.  The chapter is paying for dinner (up to $15) but you must RSVP by end of today.

Click here for the Agenda.
Click here for the May minutes.
Click here for the June newsletter.

See you Wednesday!

Negotiations Update

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Dear #327 Chapter Members,

Please click here to see the 2018-19 negotiations update.

June 5 RSVP

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:

Dear Chapter members,

Please make sure to RSVP for the June 5 retirement celebration – click HERE for the flyer. 

It’s a French theme this year, complete with delicious crepes and a send-off for five of our chapter members.

Only 20 CSEA folks have RSVP’d as of today and the event is just one week from now.

 Remember, the chapter is paying for you if you are a current, active member!

Thank you.

Last Call - Professional/Personal Growth

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Please submit Professional/Personal Growth reimbursement applications by May 31st for the period covering January - June 2018,

Thank you.

May 23 Chapter Meeting

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:

Dear CSEA Members,

Please join us for a celebration of Classified School Employees Week on May 23 in the Board room at MCOE. 

We’ll have a brief business meeting at 12:15, followed by a buffet lunch.  In order to accommodate various lunch schedules, the lunch will be available until 2pm.  Your Executive Board will be present in shifts.  Please stop by and say hello!

Click here for the Agenda.

Click here for the April meeting minutes.

CSEA Chapter Meeting - April 18

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Dear Chapter #327,

Please join us for the April Chapter Meeting.  Click HERE for the AGENDA.  Click HERE for last month's MINUTES.  We will have a guest speaker, Tania Morales, CSEA Political Action Coordinator for our Area.  Become informed on important topics such as the November elections and the effect of the Janus Supreme Court Case on unions. 

We’ll have a status report on contract negotiations, too.

Also, be sure to mark your calendars for our May 23 Chapter meeting during Classified School Employees Week – there is such a thing as a free lunch!  More info. coming soon.

Discounted Delivery of Organic Fruit and Vegetables to Your Home or Work

CSEA is proud to partner with Farm Fresh To You, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) service, to offer our members a special discount of 10% off ongoing produce and mini service deliveries on Farm Fresh To You organic boxes of fruit and vegetables.

Click here to view the flyer!

REMINDER - Chapter Meeting Today!

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:

Hi all,

Final reminder for our Chapter Meeting today at 3:30 in the Foundation Room.

Also please remember that you can use your break(s) and/or PN to attend.

We’ll have a vote for our Area B Director and a presentation by the two Paraeducators who attended this year’s Paraeducator conference.

AND….a special raffle prize!

See you there…

March 21 - Chapter Meeting

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Dear Members,

Please see the attached AGENDA for our March 21st Chapter meeting.  Also attached are last month's MINUTES.

Also, we will conduct a Chapter vote to elect our Area B Director.  There are 10 Areas throughout the state of California and each has one Director.  This person represents our Area (B) on the CSEA Board of Directors.   INFORMATION about the two candidates is attached.  We are required to have three Election Tellers to conduct the secret ballot.  If you are interested in helping out with that, please let me know.  The process is very simple – it just needs to be done according to CSEA rules. 

Looking forward to seeing you next week J

CSEA check-in

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Dear Walker Creek Ranch CSEA members,

We had planned to hold a monthly chapter meeting at WCR in April, but unfortunately, we are unable to do so.  We will schedule a site visit to WCR in May instead, during Classified School Employee Week (the week of May21).  We will send out a specific date when it is calendared.  Our regular Chapter meeting will take place at MCOE on April 18 at 3:30pm.

In the meantime, please see the two items of interest below:

* WCR employees have 100 hours of "release time" as contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 4.3.  You may use release time to attend Chapter meetings at MCOE or any other Association business.

* On Tuesday, March 13, our Initial Proposals for both blue and green units will be "sun-shined" (required by law to be made public) at the Marin County Board of Education meeting at MCOE.  There will not be discussion on the specifics of the proposals, but it would be a good idea for as many Chapter members as possible to attend to show our unity.  Please try to come if you can.  The meeting starts at 3:30 but our item will probably not be heard until at least 4pm.

Chapter Meeting - February 28

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Dear Members,

We have a Chapter Meeting on Wednesday, February 28 at 3:30pm in Room A.   Click here for the AGENDA and the MINUTES from our last meeting in December for your review.

Items of business include tax return discount info. from H&R Block, an update on our Professional/Personal Growth fund, and nominations for the new position of 2nd Vice President.  Regarding the 2nd VP vacancy, your Executive Board is nominating a candidate, Christine Franceschi, for the position.

Any member in good standing is eligible to run – you must attend the chapter meeting and can either nominate yourself or have someone else nominate you.  If there is more than one candidate, we will have a secret ballot vote at the meeting.   These election procedures are found in our Chapter Constitution and By-Laws in Article IV, Section 6.  Please contact me if you have any questions. 

The 2nd VP assists the president in his/her duties and/or as may be assigned by the executive board.  The 2nd VP also works with the Chief Union Steward to call and conduct periodic meetings between Site Representatives and Union Stewards.

We look forward to expanding your leadership team!


Hope to see you on Feb. 28th  (If you aren’t able to attend the entire hour, the election will most likely take place at about 3:50-4pm.   You could come for that portion of the meeting if you’d like to participate.)

Message from your CSEA Chief Job Steward

From Adriane Lommel, Chapter 327 Chief Union Steward:


I would delighted to have anyone who is interested attend the Site Rep Training. If you can’t make it, please contact me as my greatest desire is to help our chapter to connect at the job site with as many members as possible.

Should you want to help as Site Rep, you will be able to work closely with me our future site visits, be a link between me and your co-workers and helping us all share the wealth of knowledge and celebrating the good things that happen and being creative when challenges arise.

You can contact me
aneutron @ pacbell.net or alommel @ marinschools.org

Give it a try you might learn something new and be able to help us all stay together and informed.
Are you up for it!
Much love and it is always an honor and privilege to serve.

CSEA: upcoming

From Vicki Ascher, Chapter 327 President:


Hello Chapter #327,

Hope your New Year is off to a great beginning

I want to let you know about two items:

If you have ever considered becoming a Site Rep or would like to learn more about what that position is all about, there will be a Site Rep Training  on Thursday, February 1 at MCOE, 4:30 -6:30.  Our fabulous Labor Relations Representative, Markey Lees is presenting the workshop, so it’s sure to be a good time.  Registration is appreciated – click here to see details on the flyer. 

Secondly, our next Chapter Meeting is on Wednesday, February 28, 3:30pm at MCOE.  Agenda coming soon.  We currently have an opening for a Second Vice President on our Executive Board.  If you recall, our chapter voted to add a second VP  in November and we hope to elect a member to that newly created position at our February meeting.   Please consider joining your CSEA chapter leadership, or nominating someone you think would be interested in being part of our team. 

Stay tuned for more info. coming soon!