UniServ Resolution Update

So far….January 26, Rep Council:• Rep Council was presented with a Resolution to Withdraw from the WEA Riverside

UniServ Council• Rep Council requested more information before voting

February 23, Rep Council:• It is reported that the topic is still tabled and WEA continues to research the idea of EEA

separating from Riverside. There is a conference call scheduled with Dave, Ellen Joslin and John Okamoto

March 4, 2009:• EEA and Riverside received a letter from John Okamoto, Executive Director of WEA that

included 8 questions• EEA formed a team to respond to these questions (for more details see Separation

PowerPoint and document on EEA website) • Ellen Joslin, President of Riverside UniServ also responds to WEA’s questions

April 23, 2009• The EEA team meets to answer the 80+ questions sent by WEA to EEA and Riverside

Other information…

Washington State Current Organization Structure:

EEA’s team that is addressing the questions of the UniServ Resolution:

Serving members from13 locals (including EEA)

WEA-Riverside(Currently 21 UniServ Councils)

WEA

NEA: $158.00

WEA/Outreach $387.00$ 12.00

WEA-Riverside: $163.52

EEA Dues: $215.87

Members’ Paycheck Deduction: $936.39

Washington State Current Dues Structure:

NEA

• UniServ (short for Unified Service) councils are the regional offices and staff members who deliver the expertise and programs available through the statewide Association to members at the local level.

• A UniServ council is a group of local associations in the same geographic region. The Oroville Education Association, for example, is affiliated with the North Central WEA UniServ Council, which is based in East Wenatchee. Likewise, WEA Fourth Corner UniServ Council, located in Bellingham, helps members from the San Juan Islands, northern Snohomish County and all of Skagit and Whatcom Counties.

• Five large locals each serve as their own UniServ council: Kent, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma and Vancouver.

What's a UniServ Council?

WEA's UniServ councils are the direct link between local members and programs available at the regional, state and national levels.

• Each UniServ council -- in partnership with the WEA and NEA -- hires staff members to assist local members. A UniServ council's staff is likely to include a mix of former classroom teachers, lawyers, labor law experts, organizers, mediators, bargaining specialists and support staff.

• Those staff members help local associations in their region with bargaining, contract enforcement, grievances, professional growth seminars, community outreach, political action, public relations and numerous other areas.

• Each of WEA's 21 UniServ Councils has its own governance leaders, with members directly electing their local officers. Council leaders make major policy and spending decisions in conjunction with the policy directives set by member-delegates at the annual Representative Assembly

Overview of WEA’s list of questions for RUC and EEA…

•Defining a process will be a positive move for the WEA organization as a whole.

•WEA’s direct presence in SW Washington will be increased. Increased representation from SW Washington, the second largest geographical region in the state, will help to balance our Oregon influence, making a stronger Washington support for public education.

•As WEA responds to this resolution they demonstrate to all locals their willingness to look at a better structure to involve more members directly across the state in participation and leadership roles.

•Locals will see that all unions are valued as WEA can more directly support the needs of all members. This will make WEA a stronger union.

•Riverside Council will attract greater participation from present non-participatory locals as they recognize an increased level of identification of mutual needs.

•Currently, as different sized locals are combined with Riverside, there are not as many opportunities for membership participation from the larger locals or the smaller locals.

Advantages to WEA members and the statewide organization

Disadvantages to WEA members and the statewide organization

•This resolution is unprecedented in WEA as a small rural local has grown into a large urban local.

•Other large local members may want the same consideration to become their own UniServ Council.

•Change is difficult for all.

•Differing views on the resolution may result in divisive relationships among WEA members.

•This resolution will evoke a policy regarding the criteria (such as growth rate over time, financial stability, or overall membership needs) needed to become a stand alone council

Please provide a detailed opinion on the impact to WEA as a result of supporting the Resolution as it relates to other similarly sized locals with similar interests in becoming their own Council.

In your opinion, is there a membership threshold which would automatically justify the creation of a new Council?

•The creation of a new council should not be automatically triggered by a membership threshold. Multiple factors weigh in on this decision. A formula should be created as a guide where locals can be combined or become a stand alone UniServ.

•The decision should not be automatic. The process should encourage conversation between WEA and the affected local(s).

WEA leaders and staff work passionately to attract and retain great teachers and support employees, to strengthen the profession, to shape education policy and to provide a unified voice in support of stronger schools.

This resolution is consistent with WEA union values by helping EEA to attract and retain great teachers and support employees. We are in direct competition with Oregon for staff. We wish to provide as positive an image around Washington state public education as we can and we wish to be supported as best we can in this by the resources of a UniServ and WEA governing groups, boards, and advisory committees. SW Washington WEA members hear much from Oregon media sources that do not include issues facing Washington.

By having increased communication between the WEA and Council President forums from SW Washington, including a new EEA council, we believe our added voice will help shape educational policy which includes SW Washington needs and provide a unified voice in support of educational ideals. With more organized voices from our area, we have an increased ability to influence political activity in our region and to work with local legislative representatives in support of public education.

If we wish to attract and retain great teachers in our area, we need to take advantage of every opportunity available to be more involved in WEA leadership and promote the great things that Washington does to support public education.

How is this Resolution consistent or inconsistent with WEA union values. Values, missions, and goals listed came directly off the WEA website:

The mission of the Washington Education Association is to advance the professional interests of its members in order to make public education the best it can be for students, staff and communities. This resolution is consistent with the WEA mission of advancing the professional interests of its members by directly addressing the needs of a district in transition from a small rural local to a large urban local. Another stand alone Uniserv will enable improved opportunities for professional development of the interests of its members in addition to providing expanded opportunities for training in leadership roles.

Our goal is to build confidence in public education and increase support for Washington's public school system.

We build confidence in public education in SW Washington when our members can speak directly to Olympia, legislators, and local constituents. When more members are involved in local, UniServ, leadership, and political activities, they are more confident and able to voice a positive opinion about public education in Washington in contrast to information coming from Oregon. By creating a new UniServ, more direct opportunities are available for the membership.

WEA works to increase WEA members' professional status and job satisfaction, improve the quality of and access to public education for all students, and to forge partnerships with parents, business, other unions and community groups.

This resolution is consistent with WEA values by addressing the ability to improve professional status, job satisfaction, and improve the quality of public education by creating new and maintaining existing partnerships with others.

•Coordinated Bargaining among SW Washington locals.

•Increased coordinated training with VEA to address member and student needs.

•Ability to build community through additional leaders.

•Greater identity with the urban values of the greater Vancouver community.

•Greater ability to inform EEA members of training opportunities, in-services, and membership openings on existing WEA subcommittees, or small group boards that directly relate to the student population that is in a large urban local. Many subgroup populations in large school districts are not as evident in small districts. Therefore the needs of those locals for trainings may differ greatly.

•Our local district is largely made up of the 17, 18th and 49th legislative districts. We are mainly the 17th district. If we are a stand alone UniServ, our members information received from the UniServ and WEA can better focus on the legislators in our area.

•Our local has worked diligently to create and maintain partnerships with other unions, locals, and community organizations.

The resolution is consistent with EEA’s union values:

•To advance the interests of the profession of teaching and to promote the cause of education in the ESD

•To collectively bargain for our members

•To enable members to speak with a common voice on matters pertaining to the teaching profession and public education

•To hold property and funds and to employ a staff for the attainment of these purposes

•To uphold and implement the policies of the WEA and NEAWe believe we are standing up for the rights of our membership and serving their professional needs by asking for a stand alone UniServ that will speak to a large urban local viewpoint and their training, political, retirement, rep training needs, and bargaining needs. The current system is not working to fully meet these needs.

We cannot speak directly to RUC Union Values as we do not have a copy of these to cite and address. We assume them to be in support of the job duties performed by level 5 staff such as:•Bargaining

•Collective bargaining trainings•Coordinated bargaining•Bargaining support in locals as their contracts come due•Collaboration with other Level 5 staff who are likewise bargaining

•Sparks, Gyros•Building Rep Trainings•Liaison to WEA for member locals•Political activism

•WEA-PAC trainings and support•Financial support for training activities•Leadership

•Bargaining•Trainings•Political•Other

Advantages to RUC members, Evergreen members, and the RUC Council structure

The advantage to RUC members includes:•The ability and empowerment of all present RUC delegates to vote and participate with a voice, without the fear of feeling outnumbered with others present, or as wishing to break apart the unit. At present we need to work through a way for more open participation of all RUC delegate members from all locals.

Advantages to EEA Members:•Improved alignment with other like sized locals for representation at WEA functions and Board activities•Address the unique needs of our large urban local

•Have adequate dedicated Level 5 staffing for our size and number•Improved access to Level 5 staff for greater use in training and bargaining.•Improved utilization of members’ dues•Net increase in the services they receive

•Improved WEA focusing of services to the SW WA area so we can better compete with Oregon for staff.•In tandem with VEA, RUC and an EEA Council we could provide powerful programs and affect an economy of service. •We have a long time relationship with VEA and will have the opportunity as a similar sized UniServ to expand upon that relationship and work in tandem with them and RUC on many activities.

•Ability of our members to increase our focus on legislative influence with support of WEA-PAC and UniServ staff guidance and support. •Better financial accountability to our EEA members with a deeper understanding of distribution of funds.•The ability to stage SPARKS, GYROS, and other needed trainings when possible with full time support of Level 5 staff and accompanying resources.

The advantages and disadvantages to both EEA and RUC members were listed in the first series of WEA questions.

Disadvantages to RUC members, Evergreen members, and the RUC Council structure

Disadvantages to RUC•RUC may need to re-examine the present dues structures and services to all locals so RUC would be financially stable.•RUC may need to re-examine how staff and governance are utilized.

Disadvantages to EEA if we remain in our present UniServ structure:•Limited access to our “share” of Level 5 staffing•Disproportional expectation of dues and support provided at the local level.•Lack of available time and resources from RUC and Level 5 staff to be available to address the many needs of a large urban local•Feeling as though we are seen as a dividing force in RUC when we are just trying to find a process to meet the growing needs of our members in a fashion that is proportional and responsible to their needs.

•Because small districts cannot always travel the large distances to attend monthly RUC meetings, frequently those of us who live at the heart of the RUC area attend in larger proportion. •Thus, when we try to voice an opinion or float an idea, or vote, it can appear as though we are trying to overwhelm the group present, when in fact we are just trying to give voice to our members’ needs, vote on an issue of importance to us and obtain valuable services in a proportional manner.

The advantages and disadvantages to both EEA and RUC members were listed in the first series of WEA questions.

Financial viability of the respective parties

The EEA office has all the budget/financial details.

A disadvantage to this Resolution is that RUC may face some financial difficulties if there is not some changes in their current budget structure. RUC will need to re-evaluate their line item expenditures and adjust dues structures to reflect their current membership.

UniServ related questions

•Please provide a detailed description from both a Local and Council perspective, of the benefits or deficits in programs for members as a result the current structure.

Already answered in initial questions from WEA.

•In terms of current programmatic deficits, please outline and/or describe attempts at both the local and council level to address the shortcomings or enhance programs.

As Evergreen Public Schools has grown and our membership reflecting that growth, the demands on EEA leadership has increased dramatically. Up to six years ago, the EEA leadership and Riverside staff had opportunities to visit each site on a regularly scheduled basis. The increase in workload has resulted in the loss of that program, making it increasingly difficult to network directly with our members. In an attempt to address this shortfall, EEA instituted a board liaison to each school, with limited success. As the needs of EEA members have become known, we have sought assistance from Riverside.

EEA’s requests for member services have been voted down. During debate it is stated that the larger urban locals’ needs will not benefit the smaller locals. It then necessitates EEA to create and provide the resources for their own member services.

•Example 1: 2007-08 NCUEA attendance request was denied based on the fact that NCUEA is not available to small locals. Discussions occurred and the 2008-09 request was accepted.•Example 2: SPARKS/GYROS: Requested Level 5 Facilitation at both EEA/VEA events in a passed motion at the October 15, 2008, Riverside Council Meeting. The motion was followed by an announced potential workload grievance. The motion was not fulfilled.•SPARKS was facilitated by EEA/VEA Sparks Graduates. Level 5 met for one day with the Sparks Graduate facilitators to share insights.•Gyros will be facilitated by Doug Petro instead of Riverside staff.•Schedule and time constraints prohibit daily communication meetings between EEA Leadership and Riverside staff, despite EEA request.•Additional Level 5 support for bargaining and member advocacy will relieve the local president to focus more on organizing and programs, and less on membership advocacy. •Pursuit of an NEA Urban Grant was approved by the April 2009 Exec Board to offer monthly member forums.

•What are the contingency plans for the respective parties in the event WEA does not support the Resolution? Please provide a detailed description.

If this resolution is not supported, we will request mediation and support services from WEA to resolve the staffing, representation, and member services currently not being met for members.

Have you thoroughly read the UniServ Guidelines? If so, please list the questions you have related to that document as it relates to the Resolution.

EEA leaders attended the NCUEA training on UniServ guidelines and services. We have thoroughly read the UniServ Guidelines. We have the following questions:•How will WEA guarantee local participation in the control and implementation of state option programs?•Is program evaluation shared with the state affiliate or the sole responsibility of the leadership of the local(s) within the unit?

What initiatives are you willing to undertake to establish Evergreen as a powerful voice of education in the region?

With increased staff dedicated to EEA as well as increased funding, EEA will no longer operate in triage mode and will be able to better network and organize members:

•Local. Additional opportunities to network with members in settings other than representation mode.•State. Additional opportunities to hear first hand discussions of issues at the WEA Board and Council President meetings will enable rich discussions among the membership.•Political. More time will be available to better organize members in the political arena and participate in activities, including the ability to send more members to the PoliSPARKS event.•National. Additional opportunities for leaders to attend NCUEA and other national forums to bring those perspectives to the region.

Legal ConsiderationsWhat if any, from your perspective, are the legal issues attached to the Resolution whether or not the Resolution is approved or opposed?

The legal considerations we are aware of include honoring bylaws and constitutions of all entities, staff contracts, and tenants in common agreement.

What are the anticipated legal issues from your perspective between now and August 31, 2009?

Should WEA designate EEA as a SOUP council, there will be legalities in honoring EEA’s staff contract.

Do you anticipate legal action by members, locals, the current Council, etc. should the Resolution be supported? If the Resolution is opposed?

We do not anticipate legal action by any of the above.

Have you set aside resources to retain an attorney who specializes in non-profit law to review and insure legal compliance with state and federal law?

The EEA has resources and the EEA Rep Council is the authority over that money and its use.

Are there any unresolved legal issues related to the building payoff by RUC?No.

Questions not asked but should have been asked. . . Will WEA legal assistance be provided to EEA should it become necessary?

Human Resources and Labor Relations

Please provide a list of questions you have related to the CBA and its application to the Resolution as well as potential outcomes in the event the Resolution is supported or opposed.

•Is the WEASO contract on line or available readily for use by local governance? If not, why? •How does an employer (the members of WEA) have a say in the wages and working conditions of its employees if they are not directly members of the WEA Board, like EEA members?•How will WEASO categorize EEA Office Manager with 23 years of prior related service credit in terms of salary placement and job responsibilities? •What is the WEA retirement plan referred to in WEASO, specifically provision 4.2(b) of the plan?

Please describe your understanding of the contractual rights of employees covered by the CBA as they relate to benefits which result in associated costs to a UniServ Council.

EEA will determine how to fund the provisions of the CBA in their budget process. We acknowledge the costs for our office manager will reflect WEASO membership at transition.

Please outline your understanding of how staff would be aligned under a new Council structure in the event that RUC and Evergreen are separate Councils.

•Retain EEA office manager, converting pay and benefits to the WEASO provisions.•EEA would hire a Level 5 to service EEA. The senior Level 5 will be given a choice to stay at Riverside or transfer to EEA. If so chosen, she would be hired. If not, the most junior Level 5 would be transferred involuntarily as provisions 6.4C of the WEASO contract due to decline in membership to Riverside with EEA members being part of a new council.

If the Resolution is supported, how will Evergreen insure that the position and supporting associate staff position are not overwhelmed with workload?

•If you are referring to the “position” as Level 5, we currently have 0.6 FTE level 5 services shared with other locals. It is viewed that servicing only EEA will be a workload reduction for the Level 5. •The EEA associate staff currently provides assistance for direct EEA trainings and programs facilitated by our assigned Level 5. •In the event that the associate staff’s workload becomes too great, the EEA Executive Board will make a decision regarding additional staff. EEA has a history of using student interns and special needs students to assist with basic office tasks, which would continue to be options for workload relief.

Same question to RUC regarding your staff positions.Current Riverside support staff will see a decrease in workload due to serving one fewer Level 5 and fewer Riverside members.

Have you read the most recent addition of the WEASO newsletter Just Rewards? Please provide a written response to the WEASO article covering the Evergreen Resolution, directed to WEA.

1.Resolutions of a local executive board are meant as a statement of record from one entity to another. It is not meant as indicated in the letter as a way to keep others from joining the conversation and decision making process.2.With regards to an injury to one is an injury to all seems to include everyone except injury to EEA. 3.Why is the 5th largest local not aware of the UniServ Task Force? Who are the representatives? 4.How will additional staffing and additional NEA funding be realized when its based on the number of members served? Combining UniServs will not increase membership.5.What basis do they have for the statement “ The splintering of locals has the effect of poor utilization of members’ dues dollars and a net decrease in the services they receive?” EEA members pay $404,000 to Riverside and do not even receive 1.0 FTE services of a level 5 staff.

Please describe your understanding of WEASO’s right to bargain over the Resolution as it relates to working terms, benefits, conditions of employment, etc.

If the resolution is accepted, EEA will be obligated to honor the WEASO contract as it relates to working terms, benefits, conditions of employment, etc.

Full awareness/knowledge of RUC members of the Evergreen Resolution

Please describe the extent to which RUC and Evergreen members are aware of the resolution?•Feedback has been received from EEA membership•All documents have been posted on the EEA website •Newsletter featuring the resolution have been provided•EEA has been forthright in communicating our understandings of the implications to our member regarding: budget, dues, organizational, facilities, staffing, contractual, program, and political. The EEA perspective has been posted on our website for EEA members as well as outside Council locals to access should they wish. •The response from Riverside members at RUC Council meetings were fraught with inaccurate assumptions. Our first formal indication of how other Riverside council locals felt was reflected in their response to the first eight questions to WEA.

To what extent are other Local Presidents within RUC aware of or have specific knowledge of the resolution?

Besides those present at the Riverside Council meetings where this was discussed, it is unknown to EEA to what extent other Local Presidents within RUC are aware of the resolution. There was an article in the Riverside Council newsletter sharing information about the resolution that was distributed to the Council at-large.

To what extent have other Local Presidents within RUC spoken about the Resolution to their respective members?

Unknown. There was voice of concern at the Riverside Council meeting in January with regards to misperceptions of ownership of the building and contents.

To what extent has there been public discussion of the Evergreen Resolution that has resulted in RUC or Evergreen related action or motions according to the RUC and/or Evergreen constitutions and bylaws?

•The resolution was discussed initially on January 5, 2009 by the EEA Executive Board. A motion was unanimously passed to accept the resolution as written. All members of the Board signed the resolution for distribution.•Initial presentation of the resolution to Riverside President, Ellen Joslin, resulted in her signing the resolution with a note of support.•A standing motion to table the discussion due to time constraints of the meeting was made and seconded at the EEA Rep Council (January).• Leadership was asked to ferret out pros and cons of this request. Upon further discussion at the EEA Rep Council (March), the membership affirmed a task force of EEA leaders to collectively answer the questions posed by WEA.

Please indicate in detail the types and categories of questions from members about the resolution.

1.Concern voiced if this resolution would mean loss of current EEA staff.2.Concern voiced over WEA services should EEA become its own Council.

Legal servicesRA attendance

3.Concern voiced if Riverside allowed EEA out, but WEA did not recognize EEA as its own Council, where does that put EEA? 4.Concern voiced should this resolution result in dues increases for EEA members.5.Concerns voiced regarding the realization of how much dues EEA members generate for Riverside versus the current level of services and how that was allowed to occur.6.A member communicated to EEA that she wrote to WEA asking what concerns should be considered. She stated the response from WEA indicated a task force was in place to explore the request.

When is the proposed vote by the Evergreen membership to take place?The Rep Council has been charged as the authorizing body for Evergreen’s final decision to disaffiliate. EEA leadership has committed to share all information received in this process with Rep Council including the questions and concerns that have been vetted between EEA, Riverside, and WEA. The last meeting of the EEA Rep Council is scheduled for May 18, 2009.

When will the matter go before the RUC membership?There has never been a Riverside all-membership vote on organizational aspects of business. All votes are done at the Riverside Executive Board or Riverside Council.

What steps or processes with the parties take to ensure that there is not a conflict of interest in taking action on the Resolution?

EEA has conflict of interest language in our governing documents. Please provide any written communications or questions from members about the Resolution.

Received only oneWhat, if any, information are you currently lacking that would provide a more thorough understanding for your respective members?

We would like to receive a detailed accounting from Riverside for spending over the past 3 years, including the individual expenses for each line item total. That may help members see where monies were spent.

Are there questions within this section that WEA should have asked but did not? If so, please respond with the questions and why they are important.

Has WEA asked other affected locals within Riverside for their perspective about the resolution?

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