Update - August 29

At the general assembly meeting on Tuesday, August 29 the membership in attendance voted unanimously to accept the tentative agreement as written. Our new contract will be published soon, and you will be able to find it in our Documents page. Some of the contract highlights are:

• Increase in pay - 6.2% this year and an estimated 6.15% next year (depending on the actual IPD next year).
• Increase in VEBA - From $900 per year to $1,200 per year.
• Added recess at elementary with NO teacher supervision.
• Decreased class overload numbers along with an increase in the overload money pool.

These are highlights. The deal includes other money increases and protections of our existing rights. For instance, an increase in substitute pay, and a defense of our personal days and how we use them.

The text of the collective bargaining agreement will be published in a month or so. When it is, it will be posted in our documents page.

Update - August 25

At the general assembly meeting on Wednesday it was reported by the bargaining team that the MVEA and the district are still far apart on pay and a few other items that are important to members. We are in danger of falling behind our neighboring school districts and once we fall behind it is very hard to make up that lost ground. It was decided to ask membership to picket outside the district office on Monday, August 28 in support of the bargaining team who will be bargaining inside the building.

Please make every effort to show up for a shift on Monday.

Update - August 21

Cheryl's email to members:
Your Bargaining team met with the District this evening from 4:30-9:15. We do not have a Tentative Agreement at this time and still remain far apart on key issues important to members. It is vitally important that you attend the General Membership meeting this Wednesday, August 23 at 4:30pm in the MVHS cafeteria.

Your team looks forward to seeing you there to discuss our next steps. We will likely be voting, so plan to attend.

At this time we have two additional bargaining sessions:

• August 28, 8-?
• August 29 8-10am

On August 29th at 12:00 in the Cascade Commons (Mount Baker/Little Mountain) your Bargaining Team will update you on progress made and where things stand. We hope to be able to offer you a tentative agreement to vote on--otherwise we will vote on next steps. Again, please plan to attend.

In Solidarity,

Your Bargaining Team:
Lance Belka, Lead Bargainer
Cheryl Thramer MVEA President
Nora Nunez-Gonzalez
Sara Larson-Cooper
Catherine Ousselin
Cecilia Guzman-Marron
Juniper Carpenter
Nick Lawrie, WEA Fourth Corner

August 15 Bargaining Update

There was reported progress today during bargaining. However, there is still a lot of work to do. Members were asked to consider turning up at the school board meetin on the 16th, but this action has been cancelled. However, bargaining will continue tomorrow. Per Cheryl's email to home addresses, please put two important dates on your calendar:

• August 23 at 3:30 at the MVHS Cafeteria - This is our previously scheduled general assembly meeting, and it will be an important meeting. Although we hope to be able to present a tentative agreement that night, if we do not have one, we will need to discuss the status of the bargain and next steps. It is very important to attend! We will likely be voting at this meeting, and you will need to attend to have your vote counted. If you are not a member, you will need to sign up before this meeting.
• August 29 at noon, location TBD - Your Bargaining Team will either present a tentative agreement at this time, OR discuss the status of the bargain and discuss next steps. This meeting is vital. We will be voting at this meeting on important actions. We need all members to attend. If you are not a member, you will need to sign up before this meeting.

August 14 Bargaining Update

There was a bargaining session today (8/14) and will be another one tomorrow (8/15).

The next bargaining session after the Wednesday 8/15 session is scheduled for August 28.

From the Home Page

It is mid-August, and our current agreement with the Mount Vernon school district expires in 17 days. There is one more bargaining session this week - tomorrow (8/15), and then not another one until the 28th, just three days before our contract expires. We (the executive board) are asking for your help. A show of force tomorrow will strengthen our had at the bargaining table. While our bargaining team is inside, our membership should be outside with signs demanding just compensation. for details on this call to action.