Recently, WPEA has been hosting Union 101 informational classes.  We’ve gotten a few questions as to what this class entails, whether or not it’s the same as a member meeting, and if they are mandatory.  So we want to set the record straight as to what a Union 101 Meeting is all about.
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WPEA is continuing to conduct basic union education meetings. These meetings are designed to inform members about how unions work and specifically how the WPEA works. The curriculum consists of breaking down and explaining the basic functions of a union, some union history and the role of the membership.  In the past, we’ve received many questions as to what is a grievance, what is a shop steward and how does the contract work.  In Union 101 we break each topic down and explain the process, the role of WPEA, and allow each member to grasp a general understanding.
 
 The topics included in the class include:
1. How unions work (history)
2. Where do my dues go?
3. Why the union is important
4. What opportunities are there to get involved?
5. Representation
6. Organizing
7. Politics
8. Bargaining updates
9. Committees
10. Where do we go from here?
 
WPEA will be scheduling member meetings with a classroom setting specifically designed to increase your knowledge of the role of Unions. In each one hour session, we will explore the inner workings of WPEA and provide you with the information to answer your questions about your union. While this session is not mandatory, we encourage all members to attend.  Please be on the lookout for a session coming to your workplace. If you would like to schedule a class for a specific date, please contact the WPEA office.

Good News!  The Higher Education and General Government tentative agreements are now available to view.  Please remember these contracts still need to be funded, Hard copies will be made available, upon request, once that occurs.  If you have any questions please contact your staff representative.  

Higher Education
General Government

​Last week, American Income Life (AIL), with WPEA’s consent, sent mailers to WPEA members offering a $2,500 Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) policy at no charge to you. 
 
WPEA feels that this benefit has great value for our members.  Last year, we were able to get funds to three members’ families who lost a loved one through an accident – these were all WPEA members in good standing.
 
There have been issues in the past with American Income Life that WPEA wants to avoid, so we’re telling you up front what to be aware of:
 

• If you don’t respond to the first mailing, a second mailing will be sent. 
  
  American Income Life will only try to contact you if you’ve returned the card because you want to assign a beneficiary.  If you don’t want to assign a beneficiary, don’t return either card from the first or second mailings – you will still be covered. 
  
  When a member fills out and returns a card, requesting to designate a beneficiary, an AIL representative will contact the member so they can get together and sign papers.  The reason that there must be a personal contact is because AIL must be sure that the member is who they claim to be.

 

• The time between you returning the card and being contacted by an AIL agent may take several months. 

Unfortunately, between returning the card and being contacted by an Agent, members forget that they’re the ones who signed the card and provided AIL with personal information like birthdates and names of beneficiaries and cell phone numbers (it’s not WPEA).

if you receive a call, which seems out of the blue, try to remember that you provided the information AIL is using  These calls are legitimate, although the AIL agents often don’t take the time to explain what has initiated their call and members end up upset with WPEA.  Agents can also be overzealous or rude or just crazy – if you meet one of these, get as much information as you can and then call me!
 

• An AIL Agent will contact you to set up an appointment for you to sign off on the beneficiary portion of the benefit (and of course, because they are insurance agents, they may try to sell you more insurance). 
  
  Please remember that if you don’t want to meet with an AIL representative, you will still be eligible for the benefit, but the funds will go to your estate in the event of your accidental death.  If you want to designate a beneficiary, you must meet with the agent for your signature, but remember, you don’t have to meet at your home – feel free to pick a public spot like a public library or a police station, anywhere you feel safe and comfortable – and you never have to purchase more insurance.

 
I hope I’ve explained this well enough so that you will be prepared to receive a call to meet if you have filled out the card.  If you need more information, please feel free to call me at (360) 943-1121 x100 and we can speak further on it.
 
Thank you for taking advantage of this benefit to your membership with WPEA!
 
Fawn Hacker
Membership Coordinator