NTU Update - January 14, 2016

Colleagues,

1)      Contract Update: On Monday, the members of the NTU Negotiation Committee met and reviewed the contract surveys we have gotten.  We are starting to boil everything down to a list of several demands.  We have not yet formally met with the district to begin negotiations formally, but we will continue to keep you updated.  IF YOU HAVE NOT FILLED OUT THE CONTRACT SURVEY YET, PLEASE DO SO IMMEDIATELY!

2)     Stipend Update: NPS has confirmed that staff will be getting their salary and EWA stipends on January 29.   NPS has also informed us that the waiver money for staff who waived their health benefits went out in December.  If you did not get it, please let us know!

3)      Prescription Plan Update: Last week, we had sent out some information regarding the Superintendent’s unilateral attempts to change out Prescription Plan.   We filed a complaint with PERC (the public employee relations commission) for an immediate injunction. The district tried to get PERC to throw the case out saying that because the change would not impact the actual benefits, it falls outside what the SFB committee has control over. PERC denied NPS’s petition and is reviewing the case now.

Just yesterday, we got another ruling from PERC (see attached) further disputing the district’s attempt to have the case dismissed.  NPS is trying to get past the negotiations process, and PERC is not allowing that to happen.  The Supplemental Fringe Benefits Committee has been part of our collective bargaining contract since 1972.  In 1988, language was put in place to specifically list out how this committee would select the companies that handled all fringe benefits. 

We need you at this month’s Business and Advisory Meetings.  Now, more than ever, our voices need to be strong and united!  Every day someone asks, “Where are we in terms of getting a contract?”  The answer is, “The more strength and unity we have, the more power we have, especially when it comes to negotiation!”

4)     Class Size/Supplies Survey -  We have been working with the district on resolving class size and supply issues for those who have filled out the survey.  It is the easiest way for us to record when problems are occurring and monitoring to see if they are being dealt with.  If you have not filled out the survey and are having these problems, DO SO IMMEDIATELY!

5)      Two more huge tenure victories!  This week, NTU had two more huge tenure victories.  We continue to have great success in our tenure cases.  

6)      Seton Hall Open House: Seton Hall University will be holding at Open House/Information Session for our next Executive M.A. & Ed.S Degree Programs in Education Leadership, Management, and Policy on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 4:30pm at the NTU Offices at 1019 Broad Street, Newark. Our program will enable you to work towards a Supervisor, Principal, and Superintendent certifications through a nationally acclaimed leadership program.  This cohort program is being offered in Newark at a special discount as a result of the partnership between NTU and Seton Hall University. 

In Solidarity,