Brothers and Sisters,

In my first address as NEASO President I spoke about the need to remove as much communication as possible off the NEA servers.  This new web site is a giant step in that direction.  We'll be using this website as our main communication vehicle.  The communication committee has been working diligently for many months to design and populate the site.  You can access documents that you might need (contracts, grievance information, or constitution or bylaws information) on the site.  It’s important that you check this site frequently or use the RSS Feed so that you can receive important information quickly.  Take a few minutes to post on the message board, read the minutes from the last Board of Director’s meeting or post a question for our Executive Director/General Counsel Dan DiJames. Although the entire communication committee has put in many hours, special thanks go to Alain Jehlen for his leadership on this project and Jean Mondejar for the many hours she has spent keeping us on track. If you’re interested in working with the committee please contact Alain Jehlen ajehlen@nea.org, Lisa Zimmerman lzimmerman@nea.org or me.  If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please feel free to email me at aprejean@nea.org or call me at 202-822-7891.

In Solidarity,

Andrea Prejean
NEASO President

NEASO Brothers and Sisters,

     This past weekend I heard from our sisters and brothers in South Carolina.  They had suspended negotiations this summer and only recently went back to the table.  At the table, management demanded that each employee take 10 days off without pay.  They indicated that this was the only way to prevent RIF's. Management in South Carolina told the staff that SCEA is two years from closing its' doors.  At the same time they have hired a corporate lawyer to represent them at the table at an estimated cost of $50, 000.  I've already offered my support to their president and at the November Board Meeting will ask the Board of Directors to decide on actions of support.  You can follow their struggle at their blog http://scso-nso.blogspot.com/ 

    At the same time as SCEA is fighting, the New Hampshire Education Staff Organization has been dealing with a singular lack of respect by their Executive Director.  At one point, staff was directed to not speak to any HQ staff.  All communication was to go through their Executive Director.   After a series of successful Unfair Labor Practices (ULP”s) were filed, they have now engaged in facilitated intervention led by NEA and NSO staff.  Please follow their struggle at their blog http://www.nheso.blogspot.com/.

     Recently HQ management approached IUOE, AFSE, and NEASO and asked us to discuss the upcoming holiday project.  Given the economy and the dire need of food banks, NEA will be collecting for that charity.  The project will run generally like it has in the past, with AD time given to the departments that bring in the most food -- though there will be 3 categories this year (small, medium, and large departments).  In addition, we discussed a volunteerism project.  HR will be sending out the exact directions and parameters in the coming weeks.

    The annual election of Officers and Directors will be held Wednesday, November 18, 2009.  We have a full slate of candidates and I encourage everyone to vote.  It will only take a few minutes of your time. Our election chair is Liesel Kuhr (lkuhr@nea.org).  If you have any questions about absentee voting, please contact her or Jean at jmondejar@nea.org.

     Our Executive Director/General Counsel, Dan DiJames led a session at MB this week on bargaining, which included discussions on member responsibility and involvement.  Successful negotiations depend on all members taking an interest and being involved.  Please think about what you will do, how you will become involved as MB moves toward negotiations in 9 months.

     A good time was had by all staff at the recent HIN/HQ Lunch Bunch Party.  Take a look at the picts.  http://tinyurl.com/ykp6vhx.   

          Please take the time to go to the National Staff Organization’s website and read their newsletter Contact http://www.nationalstaff.org/index.htm.  This will help keep you up to date on the labor activities within the NEA staff organizations.

     As always, if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to call me at 202-822-7891 or send me an email.

In Solidarity,

Andrea Prejean
NEASO President