Can you do one thing every month that will help the environment?

What's missing from Michigan's proposed social studies standards? Read Bridge magazine feature: 

https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/history-gets-conservative-twist-michigan-social-studies-standards

Clarification on a couple of issues related to the $1000/$2000 one-time Lump Sum Payment which is to be received in the July 20 paycheck:

IF RETIRING AT THE END OF JUNE:

• We have confirmed with OLR that members retiring June 30/July 1 are eligible for the Lump Sum Payment
• The payment will be paid in the July 20 check

TAXES AND THE LUMP SUM PAYMENT:

Furlough Days

• Furlough days must be taken prior to July 1^st 2018
• Furlough time is like PL time - use it or lose it...please don't call on July 2 saying you forgot to use your furlough day...you paid for them, take them.
• Payroll deductions for furloughs will cease effective paycheck 6/22/18 (the pension pay back will also cease effective paycheck 6/22/18).

One Time Cash Payments

A&R's Early Summer Picnic is fast approaching.  This year the picnic will be held at La Bella Vista Pavilion, in Waterbury, on July 6.  Cost of the picnic is just $15.  All A&R members are welcome to attend.

Deadlines to register:

• June 19 - Payments by mail must be received at the union office by this date
• June 25 - Payments in person must be made at the union office by noon of this date.
• Registration/payments cannot be made at the Pavilion on the day of the event -  the above deadlines must be met.

Registration Form

KNOW YOUR CONTRACTUAL BENEFITS

All union members are eligible "to receive one-half day off with pay to attend (1) annual picnic and one (1) holiday party".

The above right is specified in MOU III (page 92 of the green book).

We look forward to seeing our brothers and sisters at the picnic.

- posted 6/6

The concern over parking for employees of the Department of Education has been bothersome, however, no formal communications between the union and PDE has ever occurred. On March 3, 2017 the first meeting took place between John Kashatus and Director of HR Diana Hershey to discuss parking concerns at the Department of Education. The union sited Chapter 71 Commonwealth Parking Facilities particularly section 71.4 (1) and (3). The efforts of the union were unsuccessful and it appeared that PDE would continue to implement parking on a quasi-seniority basis.

Dear CTU Brothers & Sisters,

Today, June 18, 2018, all schools will dismiss three (3) hours earlier than the normal dismissal time. The early dismissal is due to high temperatures developing into the afternoon.

Please see the following DFT/DPSCD contract language:

Article Twenty-Five: Emergency School Closures

Emergency Weather Conditions

"When individual schools are closed after the start of the school day, teachers will also be dismissed."

In the case of students who are not picked up immediately after dismissal:

Article Seven: School Schedules

Section seven:

"At the elementary school level, teachers will escort their students to the designated dismissal door; any students not picked up will be escorted by the teacher to a place identified in the building procedures. At the middle and high school levels, teachers will clear the halls of students in their area of the building." 

The meeting was called to order at 8:07 p.m.

WELCOME

Debbie Turano welcomes the membership.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

David Mussaw leads us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

MINUTES APPROVAL

D. Turano asks for the approval of the minutes.  Minutes are approved.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW VP OF EMPLOYEE/EMPLOYER RELATIONS & SECRETARY

D. Turano introduces Brian Hayden as the new VP of Employee/Employer Relations. 

Call HMH CEOs to urge them to stop putting Corporate Wealth before Patient Health

The corporatization of New Jersey’s healthcare hurts patients and diminishes the quality of care.

View this PDF

As community hospitals are consolidated and merge at an alarming rate, healthcare services are increasingly being provided by big corporate health systems like Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH). Decisions on healthcare are no longer made by providers, but rather from the corporate offices whose primary interest is to increase their monopolistic strength and improve their bottom line.

"Hackensack Meridian Health's original mission to provide quality healthcare services to their patients and the surrounding community is being sacrificed in favor higher corporate profits." 

NJ’s large corporate health systems like HMH have aggressively fought back efforts of elected officials, regulators, their employees or the public to hold them accountable to their original mission. HMH uses aggressive PR strategies, publicity around hospital rankings, and token contributions to community health to whitewash their true priorities – maximizing revenues.

Meanwhile, patients wind up with limited choices of providers, as more are pushed out-of-network. Hard-pressed families face increased costs in the form of often insurmountable deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance. Patient care suffers as HMH turns to ‘assembly line’ healthcare strategies instead of adequate – and safe – staffing strategies.

HMH and the other big corporate health systems have lost sight of their mission and are fighting with their own health providers that traditionally held their corporation accountable to the public. The solution is for HMH and others to respect the voices of their caregivers and patients and allow of regulation that will ensure public accountability.