We finally have a voice!
Now that we have a union, ESS has to bargain with us before making any changes in our wages, hours, or working conditions, including any major discipline of our members.
If any managers try to discipline you, let us know so that we can help. You have the right to a union representative if you are called in for a meeting that could lead to discipline.
Our union has already been hard at work to make positive changes for ESS staff.
On October 21st, the members elected our bargaining committee: Brookli Potts (School 1), Sheila Wanzer (School 1), Susan Madden (School 5), Marilyn Blaney (School 6), and Teresa Francesconi (School 6).
We created bargaining priorities based on the bargaining surveys we collected, and the members ratified our bargaining proposals at our October 21st meeting as well. Wage increases, better benefits, and paid holidays were at the top of the priority list. We are still collecting bargaining surveys, if you haven’t turned one in yet.
The bargaining committee will be meeting soon to work further on proposals and get prepared for meeting with the company.
We are circulating steward petitions in the schools. We encourage each school and the bus aides to select at least two stewards. Stewards help with communication, solving problems, and representing people facing discipline, among other things.
Join a committee to support our contract negotiations!
We are all the union, and all of us have a role to play in improving our jobs.
We are forming a contract support committee, a communications committee, and parent, teacher, community, and labor outreach committees.