Statement on the Deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd

The past week and a half has been perhaps the most challenging time for the United States in the 21st century. The high profile deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd (two of which we witnessed the heartbreaking video) has awakened a deep sense of unequal treatment of Black Americans by police and white vigilantes. This has led to protests and rebellions across the country where a number of police departments have responded brutally to journalists and protesters ironically protesting police brutality.

The wake of this has brought on rebellions and uprisings reminiscent of the long hot summer of 1968. Many historians direct our attention to the race riots of 1919 as a more apt comparison. Locally, we don't even have to go that far back. We vividly remember the 2015 uprisings in response to the death of Freddie Gray in police custody. Unequal treatment of Black people by law enforcement is abhorrent and must end if this nation is to live up to the full promise of its words. Dr. King reminds us that "a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear?"

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2020-2021 Pay Options

June 3, 2020 – The School District of Manatee County and the Manatee Education have signed  Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) that will adjust how employees are paid beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.  Every employee will have to select how they will be paid by filling out the Pay Option Form below and returning it to HR no later than Thursday, June 25, 2020

Currently, employees are paid semi-monthly (on the 10th and 25th of the month) and earn 24 pay checks in a school year. 

Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, employees will be paid bi-weekly (every other week).  Your annual salary remains the same in each option.  The options are as follows:

  • 22 pay checks over the work year (August – June),
  • 26 pay checks with pay over the summer
  • 26 pay checks with 5 checks paid in a lump sum on the last pay check of the work year

Deductions for health insurance, life insurance, flexible benefits will be deducted equally among all checks depending on the option chosen, and MEA dues deductions will be deducted over 22 pay checks. 

The MOUs, pay options form and some examples of what these changes could look like for teacher and para pay checks are below.

Please make your selection using the pay option form and return to HR no later than June 25, 2020. If it is not returned, you will default into the 26 pay option.

Pay Options Form:  PDF icon pay_option_form_2020_fillable.pdf

MOU Teacher Pay Options: PDF icon signedmouteacherpayoptions.pdf

MOU Paraprofessional Pay Options:  PDF icon signedmouparapayoptions.pdf

Examples of Teacher Pay Options:  PDF icon pay_options_teachers.pdf

Examples of Para Pay Options:  PDF icon pay_options_paras.pdf

The May Newsletter

PPE FOR LFT MEMBERS

LFT has partnered with our national affiliate, American Federation of Teachers to bring 30,000 masks to Louisiana teachers and school staff. These masks were donated to LFT by the United States Heartland China Association and the Wanxiang Group.
 
Inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has plagued frontline workers throughout the pandemic, which is why LFT and our partners are making these free masks available to any member who needs one. Please contact your local affiliate to get your mask or learn about their individual distribution plan.
 

DON’T FORFEIT OUR FUTURE: PASS THE HEROES ACT

 

AFT-Maryland Partners with National Federation for PPE

Public employees make up many of the essential workers throughout Maryland working on the front lines during this pandemic. They continue to show up and do their jobs to help cities, counties, and the state maintain some semblance of normalcy during this difficult and unusual time. Just because someone is a hero at work, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be well protected.

Tell your Senators: Don't Forfeit Our Future

Across the state, Marylanders have made significant sacrifices in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic. As public employees, health care professionals, and education professionals, you know how vital and essential the public sector is to Maryland.

Voting By Mail

By emergency proclamation of the Governor, the 2020 Presidential Primary Election has been postponed to June 2, 2020. This election will be primarily a “vote by mail” election. This means that ballots will automatically be mailed to all eligible voters. You should receive your ballot in early to mid May.

Reopening Schools

 

Local 420 has adopted two main goals for reopening our schools. 

First, to make sure that when our schools do reopen they are safe for students, staff, and the students’ families.  In consultation with the St. Louis Department of Health according to CDC guidelines;Our second goal is that our students will receive quality instruction which will result in successful outcomes for them and our community.

In consultation with the St. Louis Department of Health according to CDC guidelines; https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-schools.html and AFT’s Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and Communities; https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/covid19_reopen-america-schools.pdf  in order to increase our probability of success.

Our second goal is that our students will receive quality instruction which will result in successful outcomes for them and our community. No matter whether that instruction in on-line, blended; https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2020-05-03/school-districts-may-switch-to-blended-learning-an-area-dominated-by-charter-school, site-based or any combination of the three

To that end, three of our experienced Building Stewards have been appointed to the SLPS Restart School Task Force.  They are:

                    Kathy Gregory/Griscom – Instruction subcommittee

                    John Moore/Clyde Miller – Facilities & School Operations subcommittee

                    Carron Johnson/Gateway Middle – CoChair/Facilities & School Operations 

Please feel free to email any ideas and suggestions you may have to communications@stltu.org

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