Collective Bargaining Conference sessions
Sessions for:
All negotiators | Teacher negotiators | ESP negotiators
Sessions of general interest for all negotiators (All)
1. Local Contract Action Teams (All)
All locals are encouraged to enroll at least two members in this vital training program.
LCAT training will run the entire length of the conference starting on Friday evening, running through the end of the conference at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Negotiating contracts for school employees requires the active support and involvement of the membership and supporters in the public. This session will stress techniques and strategies for recruiting and energizing every member of your local to become active in the work of negotiating a contract and all other local functions.
2. The Education Minnesota Crisis Fund (All)
The Crisis Fund has changed. Learn how and when the local can access help from the Education Minnesota Crisis Fund to have a maximum impact on bargaining.
3. Local Web Sites and Social Media as Local Organizing Tools (All)
A local union’s ability to communicate with its members as well as the public is greatly enhanced through the use of Internet resources including local websites and social media like Facebook. This session will provide participants with an understanding of the potential of a local site using Education Minnesota’s system, along with the possibilities and pitfalls of using social media.
4. Negotiations Resources: Surveying Members to Enhance Bargaining (All)
Familiarize yourself with the negotiations tools on the Education Minnesota website, www.educationminnesota.org. The site contains a variety of useful information and tools to assist you and your local in doing the research necessary for preparation and conducting of negotiations. Tools include a contract language search engine, and a survey tool that can be used to develop an understanding of the needs of your local members.
5. Conversational School Finance (All)
A local union needs to be aware of school district finances. This session will introduce terms and practices involved with school district funding and bookkeeping.
6. MSBA Discussion of the School Boards Perspective on Collective Bargaining (All)
Representatives from the Minnesota School Boards Association will offer perspectives on negotiations of school employee contracts and respond to questions on contract bargaining.
7. Introduction to HRAs, HSAs and FSAs (All)
Medical spending accounts such as Health Reimbursement Arrangements, Health Savings Accounts and VEBAs have become more common during the last few years. This session will describe the difference between each of these programs and discuss possible combinations of health insurance.
8. 403(B) Administration and Compliance (All)
• Does your employer 403(b) plan include all the features and providers necessary for a well-rounded plan?
• How difficult is it to add plan features (i.e., loans, Roth 403(b), hardships, etc.)?
• What bargaining power do you have under state law?
• What is the district’s responsibility to the plan?
• These questions will be answered and more.
9. The Public Employee Insurance Plan (PEIP) Pool (All)
While health insurance continues to be a huge issue at the bargaining table there are few opportunities for local unions to re-introduce meaningful competition into the market place. The Public Employees Insurance Plan provides an opportunity for a local to choose PEIP as their insurance provider. Learn about this unique insurance plan and what your local union rights are for selecting PEIP.
10. Bargaining Issues: A Legal Perspective (All)
Many legal issues arise during bargaining. Can the employer refuse to provide budget documents? Are the District’s negotiators bargaining in good faith? Can they summarize negotiations in the monthly newsletter? This session will cover a variety of legal questions that come up before, during and after negotiations.
11. Bargaining Payroll Deductions for PAC Contributions (All)
In response to greater federal involvement in local schools, our unions must engage in lobbying on the federal level. Payroll deduction for PAC contributions is one way locals can have an impact far beyond their local district. This session will introduce both the pending Federal legislation that can impact bargaining as well as the issue of bargaining payroll deductions for PAC contributions.
Sessions of specific interest to ESP negotiators (ESP)
12. Certified Negotiator Program (CNP) for ESPs – Extended time frame (ESP)
The CNP for support professionals provides an overview of key elements of the collective bargaining process and develops the knowledge and skills of new negotiators, all under a framework to support professional bargaining situations.
CNP training will be offered to the first 20 who register. This program will run the entire length of the conference, ending at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
13. Bargaining Laws Rules and Regulations (ESP)
This session will offer a comprehensive review of the legal rights and obligations of both the union and management with regard to collective bargaining.
14. Costing ESP Settlements (ESP)
Knowing the cost of a salary proposal is necessary before presentation of the proposal to the district. ESP compensation schedules are complicated and complex, making it difficult to understand the cost implications of a proposal. This session will demonstrate an Excel spreadsheet that has been developed by Education Minnesota to be used during negotiations to determine the cost of proposals.
Sessions of specific interest to teacher negotiators (T)
15. Costing and Spreadsheets for Those Who Don’t like Math (T)
Are you afraid of numbers? Do spreadsheets send you into a tailspin? Have you always been baffled by the percentages thrown around by the “know-it-alls”? Then this is the session for you. Presenters will connect with the math-anxious participants using hands-on experiences/exercises and the Education Minnesota teacher’s costing program. To make the most of this session, participants are encouraged to bring along a laptop computer.
16. Identifying and Including Special Education Issues in Contract Bargaining (T)
Collective bargaining agreements are an essential tool for meeting the increasing challenges facing special educators. This session will offer an opportunity to discuss this issue and to exchange ideas on how best to address special education in your contract.
17. Bargaining Professional Development and Evaluation (T)
Language about terms and conditions of employment, professional development and evaluation are of ever increasing importance to teachers. This session will identify some strategies and offer suggestions for addressing these issues at the bargaining table.
18. Bargaining Workload Issues (T)
Workload has become more important than almost any other contract concern. This session will work with local negotiators to better equip local unions with strategies for establishing more manageable workloads.
19. Salary Schedule Construction (T)
This session reviews approaches to compare salary schedules, and the characteristics of the best teacher salary schedules. This session will include a discussion of proposals to eliminate salary schedules.
November 22, 2010