GEA-Action.org

GEA Exec Board endorses Board of Trustee candidates

Fran Zumwalt

Jul 14 | 8:08 PM

Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 July 2010 20:35

Hello Colleagues,

This message is to inform you that on July 1, 2010, GEA’s Grossmont Board Election Committee (GBEC) interviewed three candidates who intend to run for three Grossmont Board of Trustees' seats in the November 2, 2010, election.

The candidates interviewed included current Board of Trustee President Robert Shield and Members Richard ‘Dick’ Hoy and Jim Kelly.

After the interviews, and much discussion, GEA’s GBEC recommended to the GEA Executive Board that GEA endorse the candidacies of Richard Hoy and Robert Shield.

On July 1, the GEA Executive Board voted to endorse for re-election to the Grossmont Board of Trustees -- Richard Hoy and Robert Shield.

On behalf of GEA Members, I would like to thank GBEC Members for their work interviewing candidates, including Bryan Ross, GEA VP (10), Tom Mincks, GEA Treasurer (05), Linda Pierce (01), Pam Howard (04), James Messina (06), Tom Smith (06), Doug Coffin (08), and Randy Cambou (10).

Early in the fall semester, Dick Hoy (who is available during the day) and I will be making lunch time site visits to meet with GEA members.

Until then, have a great summer!

Fran Zumwalt
GEA President

RATIFIED - GEA Members vote to ratify the June 7, 2010, Tentative Agreement

Fran Zumwalt

Jun 14 | 7:11 PM

Last Updated on Monday, 14 June 2010 19:34

Hello Colleagues,

On Monday, June 14, 2010, the GEA Executive Board counted the contract ratification ballots you cast on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week.

A majority of GEA members voted to RATIFY the Tentative Agreement.

The Grossmont District School Board will consider approving the TA at the next School Board Meeting scheduled on June 21, 2010. A majority of the board must vote to ratify the TA before it can be adopted as new contract language.

It is never a good thing to accept a reduction to salary or a reduction in time with our students (5 furlough days = a 2.7 percent salary reduction and a shortened 175 day school-year for our students). BUT, all of your work, wearing red STOP t-shirts on Fridays, participating in pickets at school board meetings, and your work before school to educate parents, helped convince district negotiators to move off of their 10 percent reduction plan.

The voice of ALL GEA members was heard and made a difference.

Thank you for your participation.

Fran Zumwalt
GEA President

JUNE 2 & 3 GEA BEFORE SCHOOL PARENT INFORMATION PICKET

Fran Zumwalt

May 28 |11:11 AM

Last Updated on Friday, 28 May 2010 20:52

Respected Colleagues,

Mediation has reached a critical period.

GEA and District negotiators met on Thursday, May 27, (yesterday) in an effort to reach a contract settlement, despite the fact that PERB has declared we are at IMPASSE.

A settlement was not reached, but both the GEA and district bargaining teams agreed to meet again next week (Tuesday or Friday).

We are still scheduled for a second mediation session with the PERB mediator on June 7.

The GEA Bargaining Team is CERTAIN of the following:

A) The pressure created by the COLLECTIVE ACTION OF MORE THAN 800 GEA MEMBERS at the May 13th Grossmont School Board meeting inspired the district to meet with GEA on the May 27th -- and next week -- in an effort to negotiate a settlement.

B) The pressure of COLLECTIVE ACTION BY GEA MEMBERS MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND MUST CONTINUE -- if we are to reach a fair contract settlement.

REMEMBER WHAT IS AT STAKE (The District's proposal = 10% in CUTS)

5% Salary reduction (a permanent "recalibration"),
5 furlough days (2.7% reduction),
A Cap to health benefits (2 to 2.5%),
Unbundle retirement health benefits ($400-$500 monthly cost passed on to retirees), and
The option for the district TO TAKE MORE FROM YOU if district revenue PREDICTIONS get worse!

2008-2009 ENDING BALANCE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2009 = $32 MILLION

2009-2010 ENDING BALANCE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2010 (DISTRICT PREDICTED) = $23.4 MILLION

A 10 PERCENT CUT TO GEA MEMBERS = $8.5 MILLION -- AND WOULD ENABLE A 2009-2010 ENDING BALANCE GREATER THAN THE $23.4 MILLION THE DISTRICT PROJECTS WILL EXIST IN SEPTEMBER 2010.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW:

PARTICIPATE IN COLLECTIVE ACTION NEXT WEEK -- See the attached JUNE PARENT INFORMATION PICKET SCHEDULE. Note when your school's Reps plan your school's before school picket (either June 2 or June 3 next week). WEAR your RED T-shirt that day -- and help distribute a new PARENT UPDATE flier to parents before school starts.

Thank you in advance for your POWERFUL COLLECTIVE ACTION on the PARENT INFORMATION PICKET!

Together we are stronger!

In Solidarity -- AND -- Have a safe weekend!

Fran Zumwalt, GEA President

GEA - BEFORE SCHOOL – JUNE 2 AND 3 PARENT LEAFLETING SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, June 2	Picket Start Time	School Start Time	Stagger Start
Mt. Miguel	6:30 am	7:00 & 7:58 am	Yes
Granite Hills	6:00 am	7:00 & 8:00 am	Yes
Santana	7:15 am	8:15 am	No
Valhalla (and Steele Canyon?)	6:35 am 7:30 am	7:25 am 8:19 am	Yes
West Hills	6:30 am	7:15 & 8:14 am	Yes
Chaparral	7:15am	8:00 am	No
THURSDAY, June 3	Picket Start Time	School Start Time	Stagger Start
Grossmont	6:30 & 7:30 am	7:15 & 8:15am	Yes
El Cajon Valley	7:15 am	8:00 am	No
El Capitan	6:30 am	7:10 & 8:08 am	Yes
Monte Vista	6:30 am	7:00 & 8:00 am	Yes

June-8: GEA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Fran Zumwalt

May 25 | 1:36 PM

Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 May 2010 13:43

GEA Members,

There will be a DISTRICT-WIDE GEA MEETING:

When       -- Tuesday, June 8

Time        -- 3:30 PM

Where      -- Grossmont High School - Old Gym

Purpose:

1) To update you on the June 7th - PERB Contract Mediation. If there is a Tentative Agreement (TA), we will inform you about the details of the TA.

-- OR --

2) If there is NO TA, we will inform you about next steps in the Impasse process.

There will be seating for 1000 members. This meeting will be for members only, and closed to media.

Respectfully,

Fran Zumwalt
GEA President

June Informational Picket Planned

Fran Zumwalt

May 20 | 8:56 AM

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 May 2010 08:57

Hello Colleagues,

Your participation in the May 13 GEA Rally provided the catalyst for media coverage. See the link below:

http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/education#ixzz0oRUr7iKp

The GEA Organizing team has planned the next GEA member collective action. The goal: EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS' PARENTS.

There will be a "Before School Informational Picket" planned for either Wednesday, June 2, or Thursday, June 3, depending on what day of action best fits the local school site's schedule (Staff Development or collaboration days may help to determine which day is better).

Red T-shirts should be worn on the selected day -- and the local GEA Reps and Organizing Team Members will work with the school's GEA members to determine which day is best for contacting the most parents.

Media will be contacted -- New GEA fliers will be distributed -- participation is very important now!

Thank you in advance for supporting your colleagues in collective action to educate our students' parents and to reach a fair contract settlement.

I am proudly promoting your powerful actions on June 2 or June 3.

Respectfully,

Fran Zumwalt
GEA President
GEA-Action.org
619-460-3465

More Articles...

Page 1 of 5

Start

Next

End

May 13 Rally

Important Information

Recent Updates

Latest District Offer

PLEASE NOTE: The District declared impasse BEFORE GEA had an opportunity to respond to this offer.

District Compensation Proposal for GEA

February 2, 2010

This proposal shall serve to modify the District’s October 22, 2009 proposal. The modifications are necessary based upon, among other things, the Governor’s January Budget proposal which included additional reductions in revenue for K-12 Education.

Effective with the 2009-2010 school year, reduce the work year for all unit members by two days with a corresponding reduction in annual base pay. Effective with the 2010-2011 school year, reduce the work year for all unit members by an additional three days, for a total of five (5) days with a corresponding reduction in annual base pay.
Reduce the salary schedule by 5% effective July 1, 2010.
Restructure health benefits for the 2011 Benefit year and beyond by, among other things, finding a replacement for PacifiCare and implement a maximum District contribution at each “tier” of coverage (e.g. employee, employee plus spouse, employee plus children and employee plus family) based upon 2010 District premium contributions for the lowest cost HMO plan. Further, co-pays and deductibles would be raised significantly for each health insurance plan.
Modify health benefits for retirees. The District proposes to “unbundle” retiree premiums and “cap” the District contribution for retiree premiums at the same rate as active unit members, effective July 1, 2010.
Restructure Article 10 to eliminate release periods for department chairpersons.

The District reserves the right to seek further compensation reductions in 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, commensurate with and in proportion to any reductions in State Revenue beyond the current projections for 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.

The District is open to discussing restoration language based upon increases in state funding. It is anticipated that the aforementioned reductions will last through 2011-2012.

The overriding goal of the District is to avoid layoffs in the 2010-2011 school year.

For GUHSD Parents

March 4 Picketing Photos

Video Content