WWPEA

1. WWPEA 2011-2012

2. Meeting Agenda • Agenda Items • Introductions • Paychecks gross x 22 • New administrators, WW-P success • Negotiations update/gift • Politics and Education – 2011-2012 • November Elections and You • The Pension and Benefits Bill of 2011

3. Politics and Education – 2011-2012 • “Ed Reform” • Workers Rights

4. Ed Reform VOUCHERS

5. Vouchers and Charter Schools - their impact on public education & you! Ed Reform Public tax dollars diverted for private education Shrinking public school budgets = fewer staff, larger class sizes, and fewer resources

6. The Opportunity Scholarship Act (S1872/A2810) Ed Reform - Vouchers • Diverts public funds to private/parochial schools • Gives a dollar-for-dollar tax credit to corporations who contribute to the scholarship fund • Parents would have to agree to waive their Special Education rights to participate

7. New Jersey Parental Rights Program Act (S2914/A4033) Ed Reform - Vouchers A school voucher bill that would allow parents to choose out-of-district public AND private schools.

8. Ed Reform CHARTER SCHOOLS

9. Charter Schools Ed Reform - Charters • The Governor and his “ed reformers” want more charters schools in NJ • Charters divert funds from public school district budgets • Princeton International Academy Charter School (PIACS), plans to take • 100 K-2 students from our school, and • An estimated $1.2 million from the WW-P school budget

10. Ed Reform - Charters Action in the Assembly: the good and the bad of it • All of the following bills have passed in the Assembly.

11. Ed Reform - Charters Anti- Public School Legislation Bill A2806/S1858 - clears the way for private and religious schools to convert to charter schools Bill A3083/S2198 - allows public colleges and universities to approve charter schools and expedite the approval process.

12. Pro Public School Legislation Ed Reform - Charters Bill A3852/S2243 - requires local voter approval for any proposed charter school Bill A3356/S3001 - ensure that charter schools be fiscally and educationally transparent & accountable AND demographically represent the community.

13. Worker’s Rights WORKER RIGHTS

14. Christie’s Education Reform Worker’s Rights • Eliminates teacher tenure which provides due process protection against unwarranted disciplinary or dismissal action • Institutes merit pay based heavily on student tests • Damages the collaborative nature of education

15. Right to Work Worker’s Rights Bill A4223 (O’Scanlon/Handlin) – the “NJ Right to Work Act” would prohibit payroll deduction of union dues from wages or salaries of public employees.

16. Right to Work Hurts Everyone Worker’s Rights • Lower Wages The average worker in a right to work state makes about $5,333 a year less than workers in other states • Fewer People with Health Care 21% more people lack health insurance in right to work states • Higher Poverty and Infant Mortality Rates Right to work states have a poverty rate of 12.5 percent, compared with 10.2 percent in other states & the infant mortality rate is 16 percent higher in right to work states. (Source: http://www.aflcio.org/issues/legislativealert/stateissues/upload/rtw.pdf)

17. Why union membership is important… Worker’s Rights without it, school handbooks are imposed and there is no negotiating.

18. WWPEA LAT

23. What you need to do… • Write supportive letters to the editor • Make a monetary donation to a candidate • Help to make phone calls from our WWPEA phone ban • Host a meet and greet event to highlight a candidate • Attend a meet and greet in your legislative district • Volunteer at a campaign headquarters (may do flyer distribution, phone calls, etc) • Volunteer to be on your building LAT committee (legislative action team) • Help to coordinate a ballot drive All members should be registered to vote. If you have moved, make sure you file the proper papers for your new voting district on time so that you can vote in November.

25. What you need to do… • Write supportive letters to the editor • Make a monetary donation to a candidate • Help to make phone calls from our WWPEA phone ban • Host a meet and greet event to highlight a candidate • Attend a meet and greet in your legislative district • Volunteer at a campaign headquarters (may do flyer distribution, phone calls, etc) • Volunteer to be on your building LAT committee (legislative action team) • Help to coordinate a ballot drive All members should be registered to vote. If you have moved, make sure you file the proper papers for your new voting district on time so that you can vote in November.

26. The Pensions and Benefits Bill of 2011

27. Benefit Changes

28. What you will be paying towards your health benefits • No payment towards health care premiums during the 2011-2012 school year. • Begin paying towards our premiums at the Year 1 level based on the Premium Sharing Schedule, September 2012. • Premium increases over the next 4 years • The premiums will be paid in pre-tax dollars

29. PENSION CHANGES

30. Pension contribution Members will now contribute an additional 1% of salary (from 5.5% to 6.5%). An additional 1% will be phased in over 7 years, for a 7.5% total contribution. NJ will phase in its contributions by increments of 1/7 every year until 2018 when it will make its full contribution thereafter. This provision is intended to be a legal requirement.

31. Retirement Age 60 or 55 (if you have accrued 25 years of service and you were hired before 11/2/08). 62 if you were hired after 11/2/08. 65 if you were hired after 6/28/11.

32. Final Average Salary 3 highest years for members hired on or before 5/21/2010. 5 highest years for members hired after 5/21/2010.

33. Formula n/55 for members hired on or before 5/21/2010. n/60 for members hired after 5/21/2010

34. Cost of Living Adjustments No COLA for current or future retirees. COLA may not be reinstated until the system reaches funding targets, which may not be met for 30 years or more.

35. Early retirement Members hired before 6/28/11 are eligible after 25 years of service and previous age penalties still apply. Members hired after 6/28/11 are eligible for early retirement after 30 years of service. But, for every year you are under 65, there is a penalty of 3% per year.

36. Post-retirement Medical Benefits Members hired before 6/28/11 must have at least 25 years of service to qualify for health benefits. Those hired thereafter need 30 years of service. Members with 20 years or more of service as of June 28, 2011 will not have to pay towards their premium. Members with less than 20 years of service, will contribute towards their premium.

37. Out-of-state restrictions The original clause that would have restricted health coverage and hospital treatment services to in-state facilities and practitioners was eliminated from the legislation due in part to push back from NJEA members.

38. It’s time to