ISSUE NO. 6 | AUGUST 2018
UNION UPDATER The Official Newsletter of CSEA Chapter 265 Yuba City Unified School District
ne O , y Unit a t a r be m e M ! Time
WHAT'S INSIDE If Not for Classified Page 02 Register to Vote Page 03
CSEA 101: IT'S ELEMENTARY Cody Berry The California School Employees Association (CSEA) is the union that represents you. We’re the largest classified school employees union in the United States with nearly 230,000 members working in public schools and community colleges throughout California.
CSEA’s purpose is to help members secure a fair deal, earn a
What Does the Fochs Say? Letter from the President Page 03 Election Watch 2018: Tony Thurmond Page 04 Where You Can Find Money for College Page 05 Conference Report Page 05
decent wage, enjoy a good and safe work environment, and exercise professional and political power. And, since 230,000 members constitute a major purchasing power, CSEA is able to offer its members substantial discounts and considerations in the marketplace.
Classified employees have another major agenda: the students in our public schools and colleges. CSEA is setting the pace in
CSEA Cares Page 06 job Impact: Whats you do matters! page 07 Letter from a VP Page 07
meaningful education reform and is engineering ways to make changes in education that will benefit students.
Even though it’s not perfect, the labor movement has been the strongest voice in history when it comes to fighting for workers and their families. Through unions like CSEA, employees can join together to transform our individual power into mass power.
Contact your chapter leadership to find out more about the benefits of CSEA or to get involved. Chapter leadership contact information can be found on the back page.
Negotiation Reports Page08
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If Not for Classified Employees Who would bring students to school?
Who would serve students nutritious meals so they can learn in the classroom?
Who would give students the extra attention they need to learn?
Who would keep the campus clean and operating smoothly for students, staff and parents?
Who would answer the phone in the front office?
Who would keep the campus safe?
Classified school employees are a vital part of our education system. Without them, our children would not be able to learn.
Protect classified services. They’re essential to education.
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REGISTER TO VOTE KEITH MARTINEZ Voting is one of our most important rights and duties, but we must make sure we’re registered to vote before we can exercise that right.
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moved, changed your name or political party you must register to be able to vote in this election.
You can pick up a paper application to register to vote at a local public library, post office or DMV office. You may also register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov. This election is important to preserve California’s public
The deadline to register to vote in California is 15 days before the election. To vote in the Nov. 6, election, you must register to vote by Oct. 22. If you’ve never registered to vote,
education system and the rights of classified employees. Don’t miss your chance to exercise your right to vote. Register to vote today!
WHAT DOES THE FOCHS SAY?
Letter from the President ELI FOCHS
WE WON!!! YCUSD #265 WON THE MEMBER UNITY PROGRAM COMPETITION!!! I am very excited and proud to announce that WE WON the CSEA Member Unity Program Competition for 2018! In January, our Chapter was entered into a competition against dozens of other Chapters throughout the entire state. The goal of the competition was to create energy, activity, and most of all UNITY for our Chapter, by engaging in different kinds of activities that help our members become more unified in our direction and our Voice. I want to give a special thanks to Kris Schuster and Keith Martinez for leading the MUP Committee and for bringing home the trophy. Their energy really carried us over the finish line, and I am proud to work with such awesome people. I also want to thank YOU! Without your hard work every day and your willingness to . All of you should be really proud.
We are pushing hard for trainings this year, and we are inviting special guests to our Chapter meetings. Union Steward Training Starts in September, there is a Know Your Rights Training in October, and I believe we may even do Training….Please let an executive board member, or myself know if you would be interested in helping out and we can help you get signed up!
Thank you for all you do!!
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VOTE TONY THURMOND FOR SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Instruction,” Valdepeña said. “We can’t let billionaires buy this election for Marshall Tuck and charter school corporations. We need to stand and fight for our schools and for Tony Thurmond!”
LAUREN COATS
As a member of the California Assembly, Thurmond has CSEA supports Tony Thurmond for California
been a strong supporter of programs to help students that
Superintendent of Public Instruction because he will work
need the most support. He has been an advocate for more
for the wellbeing of all students.
access to early education, worked to secure more funding for programs that help keep kids out of the criminal justice
Thurmond is a longtime educator and social worker who
system, and fought to provide students in foster homes a
believes in the power of public education and will work to
better opportunity to go to college.
provide better educational opportunities.
“I think all kids demonstrate promise and potential, regardless of their neighborhood, regardless of their
“In my life, education has been the great equalizer that
background, regardless of their ethnicity,” he said. “I hope
allowed me to overcome humble beginnings,” he said. “I
you will help us get to the finish line so that we can serve
want the same opportunities for all of California's kids.”
all six million students of this state.”
Thurmond will face off in November against a charter
Thurmond understands the value of the work of classified
school advocate with ties to Donald Trump’s Secretary of
school employees in California’s public schools and knows
Education Betsy DeVos. Association President Ben
it’s important to invest in education. As Superintendent of
Valdepeña said electing Thurmond is crucial to protecting
Public Instruction, he will work to keep students safe,
our schools, our jobs and our students.
empower educators, and make college and career pathways accessible. That’s why CSEA urges you to vote for
“I hope that every one of you will join me in helping elect
Thurmond for California Superintendent of Public
Tony Thurmond to be our next Superintendent of Public
Instruction on Nov. 6.
From Left to Right: Michelle Sakurada Lauren Coats, Eli Fochs, Tony Thurmond, Cody Berry, Mercedes Geraldo, Jeff Hodges, and Keith Martinez.
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SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE:
Where You Can Find Money for College Just when we were getting use leisurely drinking our morning coffee, school starts back up again and we are back in the thick of things. For some of us this also means starting back to college. Working and going to school is a challenge, but often very necessary. Did you know that CSEA offers $1000 Member Career Grants for our members who have chosen to go back to school? Applications are available online at http://www.csea.com/web/Benefits/Education-Services/Career-Grants. You will need to set up your CSEA profile to access this information. Who should apply? CSEA members in good standing who are enrolled in the fall term (or plan to enroll for the semester/quarter immediately following award of the grant) in an accredited school of higher learning can apply for a Career Grant. The member must also be working toward a definitive degree or specific career goal. How are grants awarded? A limited number of grants are awarded based on need, career goals and objectives, citizenship (including leadership, character and service), and participation in CSEA activities. When are applications accepted? Applications are accepted June 1 through October 31. How do you apply? Download an application and return it along with the required information as indicated on the application. If you have any questions, please contact me at vp1.csea265@gmail.com.
Mercedes Geraldo CSEA Scholarship Committee
CONFERENCE REPORT ELI FOCHS
I attended trainings that were put on by CSEA, to help us better serve you. What I love about CSEA is that almost every major function in CSEA is done by
What an amazing Conference! I am so proud of our chapter, as we sent a full delegation to CSEA conference for the first time in years, and your delegates to Conference did you proud! They made new connections to other Chapters and Leaders within CSEA. I think you can expect to see some new faces show up at our Chapter meetings this year to do presentations and answer your questions. Your delegates and
Volunteers, everything from Member Benefits to Training. We do the majority of the work of the Union as Volunteers, and it is absolutely electrifying to see a room full of people like you and I, working to make the Union stronger, better, and effective. Your Conference Delegates are fired up and ready to serve! Thank you for all you do!
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We Are Family! The Humanitarian Fund Committee, Member Benefits, and your CSEA family send our deepest concern to our members and families being affected wildfires.
SPREAD THE WORD…CSEA HELP IS AVAILABLE! CSEA offers Emergency Assistance by providing funds to subsidize losses experienced due to evacuation or loss of home. The maximum assistance under the program is $1,000 per applicant. For more than 30 years, the Dorothy Bjork Assistance Fund has provided financial relief to members in need. Often referred to as the Humanitarian Fund, the Dorothy Bjork Fund subsists solely on the generous donations of CSEA members and is disbursed through two different programs: the Emergency Assistance Program and the Humanitarian Assistance Program. To be eligible for any of these programs you must be a CSEA member in good standing or a CSEA staff employee in paid status.
If you know someone in need, please have your union brothers and sisters contact CSEA Member Benefits at (866) 487-2732 or humanitarian@csea.com for information and assistance.
facebook.com/csea265
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THINK ABOUT YOUR JOB AND HOW IT IMPACTS STUDENTS LAUREN COATS
It’s a simple question, and right now, every classified employee needs to be able to answer it. In these tight budget times, the answer is key to preventing cuts to classified services.
Whether you work in the district office or the county office of education, at a school site, bus yard or a community college campus, your job certainly benefits the students in some way — even if indirectly, such as paying their teachers.
ARE YOU READY TO DEFEND YOUR JOB?
Take a few minutes now to think about how you would describe that impact to a newspaper reporter — or a school board member. Why? The next time CSEA asks for classified employees to address board members or answer a reporter’s question, you’ll be ready to communicate the value of your job to the students, teachers, administrators, parents and ultimately, your community.
And when they ask? Volunteer to share your answer!
WELCOME BACK letter from a VP
MERCEDES GERALDO
It has been a pretty quick summer for me. I had a couple weeks off after summer school, then it was off to the CSEA 92nd Annual Conference. This year, you the membership sent 7 delegates to the conference, all but two were first timers. I am so proud our delegates. Every one of us was engaged in the process and made our voices heard. Thank you for allowing me to represent you.
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UNION UPDATER
EXECUTIVE BOARD
NEWS FROM NEGOTIATIONS TEAM
PRESIDENT ELI FOCHS PRESIDENT.CSEA265@GMAIL.COM
ELI FOCHS
WORKING TOGETHER, WORKING FOR YOU
In late May, we started the 2018-2019 negotiations. We have finalized the reformatting of the Contract, and the new copy should be uploaded soon. The
1ST VICE PRESIDENT MERCEDES GERALDO VP1.CSEA265@GMAIL.COM
Contract is a lot easier to read, with line numbers for better referencing. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the new format. We are very close to finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) around the Transportation Department. The MOU would be in place for one year, and would create new
2ND VICE PRESIDENT KEITH MARTINEZ VP1.CSEA265@GMAIL.COM
opportunities for our phenomenal Bus Drivers. If the Bus Drivers like the new contract language, we can extend the MOU or make it permanent. We also have agreed on a new job description for the Warehouse and we are almost done with the new description for the Children's Center. The District has opened the
SECRETARY CODY BERRY SECRETARY.CSEA265@GMAIL.COM
Article for Hours, and we are discussing the possibilities of more hours for our members.
As a point of clarity, when we ratified our last contract in June of 2017, that
TREASURER PAMELA HALL TREASURER.CSEA265@GMAIL.COM
ratification covered the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 contract years. (17-18 is when the new insurance cap became effective). Â We will be sending out a Survey this Fall for the 19-20 negotiations, that is your opportunity to have a say in what your Union negotiates for.
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER LAUREN COATS CPRO.CSEA265@GMAIL.COM CHIEF STEWARD MICHELLE SAKURADA MSAKURADA@YCUSD.ORG SITE REP COORDINATOR VIRGINIA KOZIOL VKOZIOL@YCUSD.ORG SERGEANT AT ARMS RODOLFO LEON Union Updater is published monthly, September through June. Please send your ideas, suggestions, or questions to CPRO Lauren Coats, LCOATS@YCUSD.ORG or (530) 674-4900 ext. 31260