99 NOTES E-Newsletter | LAUSD Edition

December 2014 Issue

The new Safety & Materials Committee wants to know about your experience with violence and hostility in the workplace.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Your input is important and ensures that the committee can work effectively with the district to implement new policies to address these problems. The survey is anonymous and confidential.

Looking for reliable information on Immigration Administrative Relief? Go to iAmerica.org

SEIU is proud to be a partner in iAmerica.org, a new website providing accurate information on what President Obama’s Administrative Action on immigration means. While no application process exists yet, this website will be updated as information becomes available on applications for relief and trusted legal resources. Be aware of misinformation and scams from unscrupulous individuals.

Go to www.iamerica.org to see what it’s all about.

Standing United for Students

SEIU Local 99 stood united with teachers during a national day of action on November 20 for “The Public Schools All Our Children Deserve.” We rallied for improved schools in our communities, including safe and clean schools.

Make Politics Work for Us: Interview the Candidates Running for LAUSD Board

We know the candidates we elect to the School Board make critical decisions that impact the District’s budget, our jobs, and the quality of our schools. That’s why it’s important that we support candidates who value our work. Elections to fill four school board seats will take place on March 3, 2015. Come meet the candidates and ask them where they stand on the issues we care about.

Town Hall to Decide on Endorsements

Thursday, Dec. 18

5 p.m.: Dinner, 6-8 p.m.: Town Hall

2724 W. 8th St. Los Angeles, CA 90005

College Scholarships for Union Members & Their Families

SEIU Local 99 SEIU and Union Plus offer college scholarships for union members and their families.

Through several different scholarship programs, SEIU awards 50 scholarships ranging from $1000 to $5000 that enable SEIU members and their children to pursue their educational goals at colleges, universities, labor study programs and technical schools. The SEIU Scholarship applications for 2015-16 are available at

http://bit.ly/1yzouUr.

Union Plus also offers scholarships for current and retired union members, their spouses and their dependent children. Amounts range from $500 to $4,000. The application is available now at http://bit.ly/1sNpXnJ.

For more information, call the Member Resource Center at (213)637-0296.

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New Contractual Committees Addressing Training, Bullying, Work Hours and More

Thanks to our union strength, three of the committees established in our new contract have met with the District to find solutions to some of our most important workplace issues. Here’s a summary of the work of these member-led committees so far: Read more »

Job Classification Meetings: Join us to discuss issues important to your job

SEIU Local 99 is scheduling several Job Classification Meetings to discuss hours, training, safety and other issues that impact our jobs. Let’s work together to improve our jobs. If you would like to schedule a meeting for your job classification, please call Local 99’s Member Resource Center at 213-637-0296.

“Our classification meeting was very informative. We were able to identify and discuss shared issues related to workload, hours, and pay. We also learned about broader issues in the district that I wasn’t aware of. We will have more meetings to come up with solutions and a plan to get what we deserve.” -Sonia Ramos, Community Rep., Maywood Elementary

Want To Be a Teacher? New Career Ladder Program Aims to Offer Increased Support

Our union is currently working with United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and the District to develop a new program that will provide increased support and resources for Teacher Assistants, Special Education Assistants, and others who dream of becoming teachers. We recently won the support of the School Board who voted unanimously on December 9 to approve a resolution that will breathe new life into the District’s Career Ladder program. The resolution, introduced by Board Vice President Steve Zimmer, “directs the Superintendent to develop an investment plan to expand the capacity of the existing Career Ladder Program, starting July 1, 2015, and …a multi-year plan” that includes:

Updating the rates for tuition reimbursement,
Financial support to prepare for and take exams required by teacher preparation programs,
Training, mentorship, and professional development,
Improved access to the program and job placement,
Creating a Paraeducator Career Ladder Steering Committee to plan for the long term support and sustainability of the new program

If you’d like more information on how you can help support the creation of this program, call 213-637-0296 or click here to sign-up.

“Safe Havens” for Immigrant Families in our Schools

Local 99 Member and Norwood Elementary School Community Representative Lilia Garcia participated in a press conference to stress the need for immigration services in our schools.

President Barack Obama took administrative action on November 21 to move comprehensive immigration reform forward. The President’s action will unite families and strengthen our economy. It’s a great step for our country and we are proud of the role SEIU members, including many Local 99 members, played in this historic moment for working families.

As part of our efforts to continue to support immigrant families in our communities, SEIU Local 99 is working in partnership with LAUSD, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and other partners to ensure that our schools will be safe and trustworthy sources of information and services for those seeking assistance with the immigration application process.

On December 9, LAUSD students took home a letter from SEIU Local 99, LAUSD, UTLA and other unions letting parents and guardians know that we are working together to make sure “our schools will continue to serve as safe-havens for families.” More information on this program will be available soon.

Join the 2015 Kingdom Day Parade

SEIU will participate in the parade on January 19 on a double decker bus. If you’d like to ride the bus with us, you must register by going to http://99.seiu.org/2015mlkparade or calling the Member Resource Center at (213)637-0296. Participants will be selected on a first come, first served basis. Selected participants must go to Western Ave and Normandie Ave and look for the red “Starlight Tours” bus. The bus will depart at 9:30 am to join the parade. Latecomers will not be allowed on the bus.

You can also enjoy the parade with your fellow Local 99 members in our viewing area. Go to Degnan Ave and Martin Luther King Blvd. Look for the purple Local 99 canopy. The parade starts at 11:00 am. We recommend that you use public transportation to get to the parade. Parking is limited.