GEA
Galesburg Education Association
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Facebook Group
We now have a Facebook Group. If you're a member join us.
Forum Update
We have updated the GEA-Online Forum section. Registered GEA Members, ARs, and Executive Officers may post questions and answers in the Forum section now. Click on 'FORUMS' in the menu to the left.
June 29th Update
Today the GEA and CUSD #205's bargaining teams reconvened at 9:30 AM to continue bargaining the collective agreement between the two parties. At 11:30 AM the two parties agreed to halt negotiations and file a request for Mediation with the State. Future negotiation dates have been cancelled and we will reschedule dates with a Mediator as soon as possible. This is an extremely delicate time in the process. Please refrain from asking the Bargaining Team Members specific question and if you hear any rumors please be diligent in not spreading them. The team members are fully aware of the ramification of the process and feel the full weight of the tremendous responsibilities. Words of encouragement are always welcome. FYI: Mediation is a process where a Professional Mediator is brought in to attempt to assist two parties to reach an agreement. It is NOT a 'binding" process where we would have to accept the Mediator’s opinion. In fact, the mediator will not give an opinion. They will only assist the two parties in reaching an agreement. This process will NOT cause additional expenditures for the GEA and we are hopeful that it will allow our two parties to reach an agreement. We will still plan to have a membership meeting on July 27th. We are anticipating the meeting to begin at 9:00 AM but we have not yet determined the place. It will NOT be at Churchill.
Bargaining News
Colleagues: As I'm sure you are aware the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Galesburg Education Association and the CUSD #205 Board will expire at midnight on August 19th, 2009. The GEA Negotiating Team has been working for months in preparation to sit down at the table. On March 23rd through the 26th the GEA Bargaining Team met with the Board's Team and began bargaining a new collective bargaining agreement. Our team worked hard and was patient in the receipt of information from the Board’s team. On March 26th not having come to an agreement yet the two parties scheduled two more dates, April 27th and May 4th. Following the April 27th meeting the Board’s Team requested to cancel the May 4th meeting so they could have an opportunity to meet with the School Board in closed session. We acknowledge their request and agreed to reschedule at a later date with the concern that we may have trouble finding future dates that fit both teams’ schedules. On May 13th Diane V proposed the teams meet on June 5th. Despite June 5th being our teachers’ workday to pack up our classrooms we considered it. After consulting with our team members we concluded that June 5th would not work because of scheduling conflicts and proposed the next available dates of June 29th or 30th. The GEA bargaining team will again begin negotiation on the 29th and 30th. We are anticipating that many additional days will need to be scheduled during the summer to reach an acceptable agreement. Although late in the year, we are hopeful to have an agreement reached prior to the scheduled start of the 09-10 school year. We understand the summer break is upon us and we would have liked to have had this settled before we left for the summer. It is painfully obvious that isn’t going to happen. In an effort to give everyone as much notice as possible we would like to set a tentative Membership meeting. Please try to keep July 27th available. A time and place will be posted as the date draws closer. Typically we use the Churchill Auditorium. We will use this date to discuss an offer and have a ratification vote (hopefully) OR a briefing as to where we are and a possible straw pole to get direction from our members. Updated information will be posted here on the GEA Website . There is no doubt this is an inopportune time to negotiate a contract. As with all negotiations everyone should prepare themselves for all possible outcomes, from continuous employment to a possible job action (save your pennies this summer). We will continue to do our best to share the information we are allowed to share. Have a great relaxing summer break. Check the website and your school email occasionally through out the summer for new information.
Bargaining Update
On March 23rd through the 26th the GEA Bargaining Team met with the Board's Team and began bargaining a new collective bargaining agreement. Our team worked hard and was patient in the receipt of information from their team. On March 26th not having come to an agreement yet the two parties scheduled two more dates, April 27th and May 4th. Following the April 27th meeting the Board’s Team requested to cancel the May 4th meeting so they could have an opportunity to meet with the School Board in closed session. We acknowledge their request and agreed to reschedule it at a later date with the concern that we may have trouble finding future dates that fit the teams’ schedules. On May 13th Diane V proposed the teams meet on June 5th. Despite June 5th being our team’s workday to pack up our classrooms we considered it. After consulting our team members we have concluded that June 5th would not work and are proposing June 29th or 30th.
GEA Bargaining Update
After months of preparation the GEA Bargaining Team will sit down at the table with the Administration starting Monday morning. For the first time in many years the Bargaining Committee has utilized all our resources and has done an extensive review of our contract and the District's financial records. We believe our initial proposal to the Board is reasonable and affordable.The IEA accounting department's review shows the District's financial standing to be stable and without any long term debt. We are all painfully aware of the global economic situation which will provide a challenge to a historically demanding process. However, we are also mindful of the growing expectation to give more and getting little in return. We hope for a successful negotiation with the Board as the Teachers and Paraprofessionals of CUSD #205 and KWSED continue to go above and beyond for our students and our communities. Upon an agreement being reached the Bargaining Team will notify our members via email, our web site, and postings within the buildings as to arrangements for a membership vote. |
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