Dear Colleagues
Happy end to the first day of school.
In June, over $100,000 in retro pay was awarded to 6 pre-school teachers after we signed an agreement making them part of local 795. Most people did not know, but there were some pre-school teachers who were part of the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union and others who were part of OAPSE 100. We had tried for years to get these teachers to be part of our local, but protections put into place by the State Employees Relations Board (SERB) make it difficult to switch bargaining agents. We were only successful because of the Board’s willingness to recognize the changes that have happened over the years in requirements for pre-school and the fact that we made this an important part of negotiations in May 2013.
There were terrible inequities that existed in working hours, mandatory work when everyone else is on vacation, as well as differences in medical benefits. There were licensed teachers with master degrees making less than non-degree aides in the same room. On Friday, August 22 there was an official Union card signing ceremony to honor these teachers. Retired program coordinator Bev Metzger stated that even with all the inequities she was impressed over the years by the fact that these teachers never hesitated to give their all, working side by side with other teachers making much more money, and never complained.
This success is a huge recognition that these teachers are professionals that deserve the same working conditions as all other teachers in the district. Pre-school advocates are getting more and more vocal these days as people realize the importance of early childhood education. Let’s hope that the same advocates also realize that these important jobs should be paid the same as other teachers.
By the way, join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chtu795
In Union,
Ari Klein
CHTU President