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members in action |
Watch for a Workplace Union Meeting Coming Soon!
Pizza and Soft Drinks Provided to WPEA
Members
Mark your calendar and plan to attend your
scheduled workplace meeting and learn what the union is
working on for you. For more information, contact
your WPEA Staff Rep Allan
"Jake" Jacobson.
WPEA Honored to Represent WSSB
The faculty at the Washington School for
the Blind (WSSB) had been represented by the Washington
Education Association for several years. In 2003, the
employees were told that because they were “state employees”
and not Vancouver school employees, this union would no
longer be representing them.
 The
disappointed faculty knew they still needed a union, so they
voted to join the Washington Federation of State Employees.
Their membership with this union was short lived, because
many of the teachers at the school felt they never really
received adequate representation. In 2005 the WSSB faculty
voted to decertify this union as their exclusive bargaining
representative, which left them without a contract.
In December of 2006, WPEA Staff
Representative, Allan
“Jake” Jacobson, contacted WSSB’s teacher
representative, Judy Koch-Smith, to talk about the
benefits of WPEA representation. We KNEW we could do a
better job of representing this small group of teachers.
He shared how we have successfully been
helping resolve issues for the faculty at the Washington
School for the Deaf (WSD) who share many of the same
concerns and issues as WSSB. Our most recent win for WSD was
acquiring the much needed facility improvement funding.
WPEA, along with WSD members, met with legislators this past
session to make sure they understood the gravity of the
situation. We also successfully killed a bill that would
have had a negative impact on both of the schools.
“Even though we are a small group – along
with the WA School for the Deaf teachers – they are eager to
help us maintain a fair working environment, and I really
appreciate that,” said Judy Koch Smith, Certified O&M
Specialist.
Jacobson set up several informational
meetings with the faculty, giving them the opportunity to
ask questions and learn more about WPEA. Over the past
several months, WSSB employees turned in enough interest
cards for an election to decide if they wanted to be
represented by WPEA.
In May of this year, the WSSB faculty voted
to join WPEA!
We are honored to represent these highly
specialized and dedicated teachers. With WPEA representing
faculty at both the School for the Blind and the School for
the Deaf, we will have even more power and political clout
for both schools.
We appreciate all the support WPEA received,
with a special thank you to Judy for her support and help
getting our message out.
“It is important for WSSB teachers to have
representation, and WPEA has stepped up to listen to our
needs and concerns,” concluded Koch-Smith.
School
For the Blind Votes Overwhelmingly to Join WPEA!
WPEA
is honored to welcome our 30 new members from the School for
the Blind in
Vancouver. This
group consists of teachers that help blind children learn
much needed skills to live a productive and healthy life. They are a welcome addition to WPEA and have similar needs
that the legislative department has been fighting for side
by side with the School for the Deaf. Welcome aboard!
Want to know what's going on in your union?
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Contact your
Staff Rep today about
scheduling a brown bag lunch meeting
in your workplace.
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Attend your
Quarterly Membership Meetings and scheduled workplace
meetings.
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Give
WPEA your home e-mail so you can receive
up-to-the-minute news
on important union issues and actions.
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Be a Member Leader -- signup for the
Bulldog Action Team.
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Check the web site weekly for all the
latest news, actions, bargaining, and work-related
information you need to know!
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