NEASO

June 8, 2009 NEA-NEASO Contract Ratification Vote
The NEASO Elections committee is offering a remote voting option to members who cannot be present at the vote on Monday. Detailed instructions are below.

*To vote remotely, you must register with Jean before 11 am on Monday and fax your ballot between Noon and 4 p.m. EDT on Monday Read More...

NEA Asks Staff Union to Rollback Thirty Years on Benefits
[Posted 6/1/09]
NEASO's bargaining team spent last week bargaining a hard fight against concessions NEA would never accept for its own members. In the end, the week of bargaining ended with a phone call to the assigned mediator Read More...

NEASO Silent Walk-Thru

NEA departments were carrying hand-made signs, such as: “Got Contract?” and “United We Can Achieve a Fair Contract Read More...

The Most Insulting Contract Offer I Have Ever Seen
NEASO Sisters and Brothers,
You need to know that NEA management yesterday presented our bargaining team with an economic proposal that is not just bad, it’s insulting.

Do you care about salaries? They’re proposing no raise at all this year, and a paltry half-percent increase in 2010 Read More...

Not Quite As Tough As the Riddle Of the Sphinx
What do you call hundreds of strong-minded individuals who turn out to pretty much agree on what they want?

One answer is “NEASO members.”

That’s the main finding of the bargaining survey that the HQ bargaining committee carried out before negotiations began Read More...

Bargaining Update [Week of 4/24/09]

[posted 4/27/09]

The NEASO Bargaining Team appreciates all of you showing up at lunch on Wednesday, 4/22, to show your support. All that green and noise lets management know that we’re serious about our contract and committed to protecting our benefits.

A couple of updates:

I have appointed J. R. Roystone (ITS) to serve as temporary Chief Shop Steward while David Schlein is Chief-Spokesman for the Bargaining Team. J.R. is a board member and a long-time NEASO leader.
We continue to meet with NEA across the table. So far we have tentatively agreed (TA) on three proposals. The TA we signed today concerns our probationary employees. We have given NEA our first economic (salary, benefits) proposal. NEA has not responded to that proposal.
The atmosphere continues to be respectful and serious. We still have a lot of issues to discuss and work to do to get an equitable agreement. We return to the table on May 11.

Schlein, Sluchansky, and the Sausage Factory: A Bargaining Explainer
[posted 4/16/09]
One of the first contracts David Schlein bargained, back around 1980, was at the Labor Department. Helping the management team was a young intern named Steve Sluchansky Read More...

Bargaining Update [Day 2]
[posted 4/13/09]
NEASO and management showed good faith today and reached Tentative Agreements (TA) on 2 Articles. Remember that while TA’s show progress, nothing is final, until the entire contract is signed. We have a break in the negotiations for all of next week, though NEASO’s bargaining team will continue to caucus. A couple of reminders:

If you haven’t given your phone number and private email address to your steward, please do that ASAP.
Show your NEASO spirit—wear your buttons, display your bandanas, and post your NEASO sign.
Watch for information on another activity next week.

In Solidarity, Andrea

Bargaining Update [Day 1]
[posted 4/9/09]
At this stage of negotiations, there is very little to report. Each side exchanged proposals and asked questions. We meet again tomorrow (4/10) from 9.30 am – 4.00 pm. The bargaining team really appreciated your send-off this morning. The Rally was great and we send our thanks. Tomorrow is RED day, so show your support and wear RED. In Solidarity, Andrea Prejean, NEASO President

An Urgent Message About Pensions
In her latest President's Corner, NEASO President Andrea Prejean warns that management may try to weaken our NEA pension plan in the upcoming contract talks, and writes about how we can defend it.