June 26, 2020 This morning, the Unite Summit and SPS bargaining teams met for the second time to negotiate compensation for the 2020-21 school year. We proposed earlier this week that 1) SPS compensate all teachers according to the salaries described in their 2020-21 compensation letters and 2) in October Unite Summit would negotiate anyContinue reading “A False Choice — Layoffs or Pay Freeze?”
Author Archives: unitesummitteachers
A report on the SPS Board meeting and pay freezes
Today, Summit Public Schools held its board meeting and passed the 2020-21 school year budget. At the meeting, which was attended by over 45 teachers, 12 teachers spoke eloquently about the negative impact of the proposed unilateral pay freeze. They voiced concerns about paying essential bills; repaying students loans which they took out with theContinue reading “A report on the SPS Board meeting and pay freezes”
Join us at the SPS Board Meeting June 25
In this newsletter, you will find: An update on today’s bargaining session regarding the proposed pay freeze Instructions on how to attend and comment at tomorrow’s board meeting Today, Unite Summit presented the following counter proposal to Summit’s proposed 2020-2021 pay freeze: No pay freeze or any changes to the offer letters that were basedContinue reading “Join us at the SPS Board Meeting June 25”
State Budget Update Makes Pay Freeze Unnecessary
Dear Unite Summit Members, Today, representatives from 11 sites met to discuss Summit’s proposed salary freezes. Summit’s budget still presumes a 10% cut in funding, but this is based on out-of-date information because this week Governor Newsom announced that there would be no funding cuts to schools, though there may be some deferrals. ThisContinue reading “State Budget Update Makes Pay Freeze Unnecessary”
Pay Freeze Statement
Dear Unite Summit members, Today, we all received a notification from Summit that our salaries would be frozen. To put it very plainly, this was illegal. Summit absolutely cannot unilaterally freeze our pay — any changes to pay must be negotiated with our union. One of the reasons we unionized was so that decisions likeContinue reading “Pay Freeze Statement”
Black Lives Matter
Dear Unite Summit Family, We write in solidarity with the Black community and the fight for justice and liberation. We stand in solidarity with George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and others that have been killed by racist violence. It is impossible to separate their murders from the systemic racism and oppressionContinue reading “Black Lives Matter”
Bargaining Update #7
Bargaining UpdateUnite Summit and the SPS bargaining team held their seventh contract negotiation meeting yesterday. We began by discussing the announced summer school policy. Unite Summit is arguing that Rainier teachers should be eligible to work summer school in order to ensure that all our students, many of whom are not transferring to aContinue reading “Bargaining Update #7”
Bargaining Update #6 and Union Election Results
Union Elections We’d like to announce the election of our Unite Summit leadership! OfficersPresident: Fuchsia Spring (K2 HS)Vice President: Sarah Rivas (Denali HS)Treasurer: Morris Shieh (Tahoma) Site RepsDenali Middle School: Tristan MatlockDenali High School: Sarah RivasEverest: Kennan DamonExpeditions North Loop: Phoenix LawsonExpedition South Loop: Joseph HughesK2 High School: Miguel GravelleK2 Middle School: Alyssa MontantesPrep: DanContinue reading “Bargaining Update #6 and Union Election Results”
Bargaining Update #5
Union Elections!Today, our elected bargaining team approved our union bylaws, so we are now ready for elections! Liz DeOrnellas (Expeditions), Sarah Prabala (Denali MS), and Eric Doan (K2 MS) stepped up to serve as our elections committee. Nominations for our union’s leadership are now open — including for president, vice president, treasurer, and reps forContinue reading “Bargaining Update #5”
Union Elections!
ElectionsWe are holding elections for Unite Summit leadership! Our elected Bargaining Team will stay in place through contract negotiations, but we will also be electing a President, Vice President, and Treasurer before the end of the school year in order to formalize our structure and improve communications. We will also be electing a representative fromContinue reading “Union Elections!”