NTU Update - April 8, 2016

Colleagues,

1)      Negotiations Update – Earlier this week, the NTU reached out to the Newark Public Schools of our intentions to formally begin negotiations.  Our contract negotiations committee is hard at work putting together all the proposals we received from the members in preparation for exchanging demands and proposals with the Newark Public schools.  We will continue to keep you as informed as possible without violating the confidentiality inherent in negotiations.

 2)      Community Schools – The NTU and AFT will be hosting a Community Schools Information session at Shabazz High School next Wednesday.  We invite anyone interested to know more about Community Schools to join us! It is important that NTU members and the community be involved in this process! 

Malcolm X. Shabazz High School

80 Johnson Ave

Newark, NJ, 07108

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

4:15 PM

3) Shanker Reminders – There is still time to register for our Albert Shanker Scholarship and Member Recognition Awards at this year’s Hall of Fame dinner!  This year, the NTU is honoring long time member Thomasina Lemon as well as several current members and students. 

4) Workers Compensation/Conentra - If you are injured on the job, even if Concentra puts you out of school, YOU STILL MUST FOLLOW THE DISTRICT’S PROCEDURES FOR BEING ABSENT (i.e., calling Subfinder, notifying your school that you will be absent).  Concentra is not responsible for notifying your employer of your absences, that is your own responsibility.  We have gotten reports of staff for being AWOL because they have not been calling their absences in.  

4) Workshop requests – Over the last few weeks, we have had several successful workshops at the Newark Teachers Union.  If you have an idea for a workshop you would like to present (or even one you would like to see us arrange), please send an email to ERC@newarkteachersunion.com.

5) Benecard – We are continuing to collect information about the district’s roll out of Benecard.  If you are having any issues, please fill out the survey on our website.

6)  Upcoming events

a.     Tuesday - April 19^th - Newark School Board Election (A-12 Carole A Graves "Trust and Believe")

b.     Tuesday - April 26th - Advisory Board Meeting, George Washington Carver

c.     Wednesday – April 27^th – NPS Budget Meeting, Science Park High School

d.     Wednesday - May 4th AFT National Teacher Walk-in Day

e. Westfield Library “teacher sale” - From April 26 to April 30, the Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library will be offering any teacher with proof of employment "buy 1, get 1 free" on regularly priced books during its annual used book, dvd and cd sale. The book sale financially supports the Library and such expensive Friends’ activities as the Children's Programs and the Museum Guest Passes.  Regular prices are $2 for hard backs; $1.50 for trade paperbacks and $.50 for paperbacks.

f. Barnes and Noble Educator Appreciation April 9 – April 13 (25% off books, games, music, etc & 10% off Nooks and food at Café)

One last thing, if you have missed any past NTU Updates, they are all on our website @  http://newark.nj.aft.org/

In Solidarity,