Jan-1

I hope you can find time to rest and recharge over Winter Break however you like to spend your time away from school.  Here are a few items for your consideration.

1.  PAY DECREASE –  Contrary to my previous explanations, I spoke to payroll and Ed Code demands that changes in pay must be evenly distributed among the remaining pay periods.  Therefore, the decrease for this year’s two furlough days will be evenly distributed over the remaining six paychecks beginning with the Dec. 29th paycheck.  I think this is much better than taking the hit for a full day in one month.

2.  BTA SURVEY ON THE WAY! – We will be trying out a new method for surveying members.  Using the online program Survey Monkey, we will be able to gather our own data about how our members feel about many aspects of BTA and the District.  Please take time to let us know your thoughts.  The link will be available this week and be open until mid-January to allow members plenty of time to weigh-in before BTA’s Exec Board and Organizing Team make long-range plans.  You will receive the link via email and a flyer in your box.  Please encourage your colleagues to participate in making BTA stronger than ever.

3.  PAYCHECK DECEPTION INITIATIVE QUALIFIES for the November 2012 ballot.  This initiative disguised as “paycheck protection” is yet another attempt to weaken the ability of unions to stand up for the rights of its members.  Don’t be fooled by the opportunity to save a penny in return for strengthening our foes who plan to attack our pensions, evaluation procedures, permanent status, and funding levels.  See page 34 of the November California Educator for the full story.

4.  PAC COMMITTEE FORMING – BTA is reviving the Political Action Committee and is looking for politically minded people to step up and organize our campaign activities.  Let us know if you are interested in this new and extremely important role.

5.  TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM COMING TO THE BUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION- Thursday Dec. 15th at City Hall, the District will present their plans for the new Transitional Kindergarten program.  The plan includes, two new positions to be created for a class at Mann Childcare Center and a class at Adult School Childcare Center as well as the program design.

6.  DR. DIANE RAVITCH IS COMING TO L.A. ON JAN. 17 – Location still to be determined.  Former supporter of the No Child Left Behind act has done an about face and written a book about testing, accountability and the merits of charter schools entitled, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, a must-read for all in the education community.

Important Dates

12/13 Burbank City Council Meeting City Hall

Stop WalMart in Burbank organization to speak out

12/15 BUSD School Board Meeting 6:00pm City Hall

1/11 BTA Executive Board Meeting – BTA Office

1/17 Diane Ravitch to speak in Los Angeles courtesy of United Teachers of Los Angeles

While we will be taking a total pay cut of 3.2% over two years, (1.08% in 2011-12 and 2.16% in 2012-13) this agreement includes no permanent cuts.  There will be two (2) furlough days in the 2011-12 school year on Dec. 16, 2011 and April 9, 2012.  Four (4) furlough days are tentatively in the 2012-13 school year to include Dec. 21, 2012, April 9, 2012 and two (2) staff development days to be determined once the calendar is established.

Due to members voicing their concern about the lack of available doctors on the Blue Shield Net Value plan, the negotiating team will meet with the Superintendent and Asst. Superintendent of Finance on Monday at 3:30 to review the new health insurance plans.  Members are advised to call their doctor to see if they will be covered under the new plan.  Some members will need to move to a more expensive plan to stay with their current doctor.

The negotiating teams will return to negotiate the 2013-14 agreement in August of 2012.

This concludes our negotiations for this year pending ratification of the agreement by the membership.  The bargaining team wishes to say thank you for your patience, participation and support throughout this process.

TA Successor page 1

TA Successor page 2

TA Article 5

TA Article 12

As we are planning for the beginning of a new school year, I wish I could focus on the eager, bright and shiny faces that will be coming into our rooms next week, however, we have a serious situation on our hands.

BUSD has unilaterally declared  “Impasse” in negotiations and we are forced to call you up for duty.  We are planning escalating activities throughout this process.  It is extremely important that we have maximum participation to show the District that you expect more from us.  They must know that it is more than six (6) people involved here.  If you wish to prevent permanent cuts, you need to participate.

We will begin with our traditional tried and true methods of:

1.  BLACK THURSDAYS – Wear black on every Thursday to demonstrate solidarity throughout this process.

2.  WEAR BLACK TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING – The next school board meeting will be held on Thurs. Aug. 18^th at 6:00 pm at City Hall.

• Urge the board to send their team back to the bargaining table and negotiate temporary solutions.
• Bring your colleagues to meeting and let the board know that we want to settle this process and concentrate on our students.

We will keep you posted on future events.

Your strong commitment, participation and support in these activities will impact the outcome for all of us.  Make time for these events.

In solidarity,

Lori Adams

BTA President

Brief overview of the negotiations process:

1. 1. Sunshine articles
2. 2. Pass proposals/counterproposals
3. 3. Impasse – When no agreement could be reached, a mediator is assigned to shuttle between the parties to facilitate an agreement.
4. 4. Fact finding – When mediation fails, an arbitrator is assigned to look at the facts and issue a ruling and the District can ignore it and impose their last best and final offer:
   1. a. Permanently eliminate 3 professional development days                 (1.6% pay cut)
   2. b. Class size of 31:1 to remain indefinitely
   3. c. 2.5% pay cut for 2011-12
   4. 5. BTA will study its options which may include
      1. a. Comply with the decision,
      2. b. Go along with the District,
      3. c. Vote for an authorization to strike.

Dear BTA Member:

We hope your vacation has been relaxing and peaceful.  We have a few points that we need to make sure you are aware of before returning to work.

Our first day back to work is August 8^th.  You should be receiving a letter from the District explaining where to report at 8:00 am.

Despite the tireless efforts of the BTA Negotiations team throughout the summer, BUSD has unilaterally declared impasse. (See the latest “News From the Table” below.)  The BTA Negotiations team has notified the District that we are willing to continue bargaining in good faith, but BUSD has walked away from the table.  While BTA is willing to work with the District towards budget solvency, BTA is not willing to make permanent cuts for a temporary situation. For BTA to maintain the integrity of our contract, BTA members will be asked to participate in a plan of action.

A special Representative Council has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 10^th at 3:30 at the BTA office.  Please be sure that your site is represented at this meeting.

Lastly, due to LA County’s inability to accommodate new STRS regulations, the school district, will be informing you that we will be reverting back to ten (10) paychecks per year.  You will receive more income per month but please begin planning to save for two (2) months without pay next summer.  The Ume Credit Union, formerly known as the Burbank Community Federal credit union, can help you open a special savings account for this purpose.  Their phone number is (818) 238 2900 and they are located at 3000 W. Magnolia Blvd.

Enjoy your last week of summer and if you have any questions, you may contact the BTA office via email at [javascript protected email address]9-nQ_bILHJrajYols8B3ZtgO+wTM\";var b=a.split(\"\").sort().join(\"\");var c=\"sLLr_IuQg3QnljtIn_JI3Z@s3H\";var d=\"\";for(var e=0;e\"+d+\"\"")/*]]>*/.

In solidarity,

The BTA Executive Board

—————————–NEWS FROM THE TABLE—————————-

In the Midst of Negotiations

District Unilaterally Declares Impasse

The BTA Bargaining Team met with the District four times over the summer and hoped to reach an agreement.  However, the District extinguished that hope by unilaterally declaring impasse on July 27th.

On July 20^th, the District proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that included items that we deemed detrimental to our members and our students.

These included:

• A formula that would have implemented a maximum of five furlough days if the state called for mid-year cuts (BTA is checking with legal counsel to see if this proposal by the District is in violation of AB114)
• A formula for the implementation of these days that was unbalanced and inequitable: A $50 decrease per ADA would have implemented one furlough day while it would have taken a $115 increase to restore the same day
• Any furlough days in effect at the end of the MOU would stay in effect indefinitely “until otherwise negotiated”.
• District average class size would stay at 31:1 indefinitely “until otherwise negotiated”.
• A salary reduction for all child care and adult school employees (equivalent to the furlough days for all other certificated employees even though they must work those days).

To add insult to injury, the District’s proposal contained an ultimatum stating “In the event that BTA does not accept this proposal by 5:00 p.m., July 21, 2011, this proposal will be withdrawn by the District, and the District will revert to its previous solvency proposal dated April 1, 2011 (with the exception of step suspension and changes to BCLAD stipends), and will seek determination of impasse with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).”  This, a less than twenty-four hour deadline, forced BTA to analyze, discuss and decide on multiple issues that deeply impact our members. In addition, the District was asking BTA to sign a MOU that had not been presented to our members for comment and input.

Although the District expressed that they would only entertain offers from BTA that included the points above, BTA presented a counter that was fair, in good faith and represented the best interests of our membership, including:

• A formula that would have implemented a maximum of two furlough days in the 2011-2012 work year if the state called for mid-year cuts
• A formula for the implementation of these days that was balanced and equitable: A $75 decrease per ADA would have implemented one furlough day and an equivalent $75 increase to restore the same day
• Any furlough days in effect at the end of the MOU would no longer be in effect but could be negotiated in future years as needed
• District average class size would be maintained at 31:1 for 2011-2012 only, and return to 30.5:1 at the end of the MOU but could be renegotiated in future years as needed

While BTA continues to be willing to negotiate, it is clear that the District is not. We will continue to keep you informed.  It will take the efforts of ALL BTA members to reach a fair and equitable contract.

Below is the latest BUSDeNEWS on when to return to work.

We are currently still negotiating our 3-year, 2010-2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement (contract).  BTA has filed a grievance against BUSD for unilaterally cutting our three Professional Development days and the commensurate pay that goes along with those days.  With the beginning of the new school year quickly approaching, there is no time to sort this out legally so the District is stating below that they will continue to honor our previously agreed upon calendar for this year.

Please plan to be at work at 8:00 am on Monday Aug. 8th and prepare for a smooth start to the new school year.

Our next day for negotiations is scheduled for July 15th.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Lori Adams
BTA President

—– Forwarded Message —-
From: BUSDeNEWS <[javascript protected email address]>
To: BUSDeNEWS <[javascript protected email address]
Sent: Fri, July 8, 2011 8:35:58 AM
Subject: Teacher Work Year Calendar for 2011-2012

Teacher Work Year Calendar for 2011-2012

In the past months we have been working with BTA to finalize the work-year calendar for all teachers for 2011-12. The beginning and ending dates are negotiable through the collective bargaining (negotiations) process. We continue to debate the legal status of the previous state-mandated staff development days (3) for teachers. This issue is going to require further legal analysis to fully resolve. Until that process concludes, our District will continue to support the three staff development days for teachers. Consequently, the upcoming work year for teachers will continue to be a 187-day work year and now startson Monday, August 8, 2011.

The first three days, Monday, August 8th through Wednesday, August 10th are District-funded staff development days and our site-based teacher work days will continue on Thursday and Friday, August 11th and 12th. School still starts for students on Monday, August 15th. The District administration and site principals have collaborated on a schedule for the staff development days that will combine District- and site-based activities. More specific information and details will be forthcoming. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Respectfully
Stan A. Carrizosa

June 27, 2011

Both teams met at the District Office and exchanged counter proposals.

The District presented a “Comprehensive District Proposal” which included

(1) their intent to end current contract negotiations acknowledging tentative agreements already reached in Article 5: Complaint Procedure and Article 12: Evaluation Procedures,

(2) a suspension of three paid staff development days until the funding for those days is no longer flexible and they are mandated by the State,

(3) For the 2011-12 fiscal year the District will use the Fund Balance to pay for 1 Staff Development Day on August 10, 2011

(4) permanent change in class-size to 31:1 at the K-12 level,

(5) negotiations on salary and benefits for the 2011-12 school year and allow 2 re-openers

(6) the District may reopen negotiations for the 2011-12 school year on Article 7, Wages if there are any changes that negatively impact the District’s federal and/or state revenue funding levels.

BTA presented an MOU as a counterproposal which included:

(1) a total of 5 furlough days over the next 3 years,

a. one staff development day in the second semester of the teacher work year for the 2011-12,

b. one instructional day in the second semester of the 2012-13 school year,

c. three instructional days in the second semester of the 2013-14 school year

(2) maintain class size of 31:1 at the K-12 level for the 2011-12 school year,

(3) language to restore the staff development day for an increase in the Base Revenue Limit (funding from the State),

(4) language to restore the staff development day for an increase in funding from other State or Federal sources,

(5) the intent to end negotiations acknowledging any articles tentatively agreed to by both teams.

The next day for Negotiations is scheduled for July 15, 2011.