May 2015 Update
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SEIU 99 General Membership & Industry Division MeetingSaturday, May 30, 2015
10 – 11am: Industry Division Meeting
11 am – 12 pm: General Membership MeetingL.A. Trade Tech College (Cafeteria)
400 W. Washington Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90015Cafeteria is located on Grand & Washington. Across from Metro Blue Line Station. Enter parking structure from Olive & WashingtonImmediately after the General Membership Meeting join us for our annual Education Workers Recognition Lunch, May 30 at LA Trade Tech.Elected officials will show their appreciation for the contributions of SEIU Local 99 members to education by serving us lunch.This event is presented by SEIU Local 99’s Communications Committee.
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LAUSD Budget Update
While the District has been reporting that they are facing a $160 million budget deficit, it is important to remember that we’re still waiting for the Governor’s revised state budget, or “May Revise.” The Governor’s revised budget is expected to show increased state revenue. According to CA Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, the increases could be as high as $8 billion. A big bulk of that money is set to go to education. That means LAUSD will see millions in additional dollars. Let’s ensure that LAUSD uses these additional resources for student programs and good jobs. The School Board must decide on a final budget by June. We will continue to stay on top of this issue.
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LAUSD Postpones Move to Semi-Monthly Pay System
The District has notified our union that they are postponing the transition to a semi-monthly pay system for all employees until July 1, 2016. LAUSD had originally planned to move to the new system this July. However, it will be delayed for a year to ensure a smooth transition. The move to a semi-monthly pay system will help reduce the number of overpayment errors that have annually burdened thousands of Local 99 members.
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Local 99 Members Make the District Pay-Up!
A group of Sign Language Interpreters at Taft High School noticed that their Average Pay Time (APT) was being calculated incorrectly. They spoke with their union organizer about it and Local 99’s Member Resource Center (MRC) investigated the issue. The MRC determined that the District was indeed violating Education Code 45137. The case was presented to the District’s payroll department and after several weeks and great persistence from union members and staff, the District acknowledged theor error and paid members nearly $4000 in back wages – proving once again that it pays to know your rights. If you believe your rights on the job or union contract are being violated, please contact Local 99’s Member Resource Center at 213-637-0296.
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Districtwide Labor Management Committee Elections will be held at Industry Division Meeting
Our contracts establish Labor Management Committees that allow members to work directly with District administrators to address and resolve workplace issues. Members are elected to serve on these committees. The following Districtwide Labor Management Committees will hold elections at SEIU Local 99’s Industry Division Meeting on Saturday May 30, 2015 from 9:00 am – 11:30 am at Los Angeles Trade Technical College Cafeteria 400 W. Washington Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015. Members who are elected must be present at the May 30 Industry Division Meeting in order to accept their position. If a member will not be present at the Industry Division Meeting and still wishes to run for the Labor Management Committee position, he/she must submit a written letter of acceptance for the nomination to SEIU Local 99 prior to the closing of the nominations, with the reason for the absence.Unit B
Early Education – 5 seats
Special Education – 5 seats
Career Ladder – 4 seatsUnit C
Food Services – 5 seats
Information Technology – 5 seats
Maintenance and Operations – 5 seatsUnit F
Career Ladder – 4 seatsFor more information on Labor Management Committee Elections, including information on the Pupil Transportation Labor Management Committee and the Mechanic and Warehouse Labor Management Committee Elections which will be held at individual worksits on May 15, 2015, please click here
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Stay In-the-know!
Sign up for our text alerts and get instant updates on your mobile phone on contract negotiations and other issues that matter to you.
Text SEIU99 to 787753
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Improvements to Paid Necessity Leave:
Local 99 members will have fewer restrictions on use of personal leave
SEIU Local 99 members in Units B, C, and F have won more flexibility in the use of paid personal necessity leave. Our union led talks with the District on this issue and they agreed to expand the reasons for personal leave to include serious events that are not specifically listed in our contract. Previously, members could only take personal necessity leave in very specific cases such as a death in the family, an accident, birth of a child, or a natural disaster. Under our new agreement with the District, members can now also take paid personal time off for “other significant event of a compelling nature ….which the employee cannot reasonably be expected to disregard, limited to one occasion in any school year.” This new agreement is now part of our contract. For the full language visit our website at www.seiu99.org.
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Stand Strong for Quality Schools & Summer School Expansion!
Join us as we stand strong to show our support for the A-G requirements that allow all students to be prepared for college and career. The LAUSD School Board will be voting on re-affirming their commitment and funding for this important program. As part of the effort to ensure all students complete the A-G requirements and graduate ready for college and careers, we are calling on the District to increase services and programs to help students succeed, including the expansion of summer school. It’s a win-win situation that will greatly benefit students and increase job opportunities for Local 99 members. Read more about the A-G Requirements here.
Join us at the LAUSD School Board Meeting
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 4:00 pm
333 S. Beaudry Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
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What if you could pick the person who decides on your wages, benefits and working conditions?
The fact is, you can! LAUSD School Board members vote on our contracts and decide on issues like our benefits, work hours, training and other issues that directly impact our jobs and schools. That’s why it’s important to elect board members who value our work and understand that students need strong services and support – inside and outside the classroom. Election day is Tuesday, May 19. Help get-out-the-vote. For more information visit our campaign page.
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Let’s make our voices heard for summer relief
 SEIU 99 Member Rose Rivas in the state capitol with Assembly Member Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, the author of the Summer Unemployment Insurance Bill AB399. Nearly 100 members travelled to Sacramento on April 28-29 to speak directly with legislators about the need to pass AB399: The Education Workers Summer Relief Act. If passed, this bill will allow classified school workers to receive unemployment benefits in the summer.
“I believe the trip to Sacramento made a difference but it’s important to continue to let legislators know how important it is for school workers to have access to summer unemployment insurance benefits,” says Rose Rivas, Senior Food Service Worker at 4th St. Elementary School. “We are all dedicated to the students we work with every day, but many of us struggle in the summer to provide for our own families. We need to keep taking action until we pass this law.”
The bill moved past the first step when it was approved by the Assembly Insurance Committee last month. It is scheduled to move to the second step in late May when it goes before the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Email the Appropriations Committee Chair, Assemby Member Jimmy Gomez at https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD51. Urge him to help provide a safety net for school workers by supporting AB399.
Learn more about our campaign to win summer unemployment insurance here.
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LAUSD is hiring Custodial/Building & Grounds Workers
FREE 10 Day Custodial Fundamentals CourseMinimum requirements for consideration:
- High School Diploma, or GED, or Passing the LAUSD High School Proficiency Exam
- Successful completion of above Custodial Fundamentals Course
- Successful completion of employment exam
- The right or authorization to legally work in the US
- Must be 18 years old, speak, read, write & understand English
- Must Pass Fingerprint Background Check and Tuberculosis Test
To register for information on upcoming classes please visit: http://goo.gl/forms/X9pN2agcso
Starting wage is $12.05 an hour plus benefits and opportunities for promotion.
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Health Care Benefits Protected at LAUSD … now let’s move forward to win more!
On April 14, the LAUSD School Board voted to approve an agreement on health care benefits which protects Local 99 members’ existing coverage with NO increase in our costs. The agreement extends our current benefits through December 2017, with a possible extension through 2018. Read more. |
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