April 2008

LMEA and District to Meet and Discuss Professional Transfers

Help a Retiree (and yourself!) By Contacting Your State Representative About the COLA Bill

For the first time in many years, a bill to adjust retirement pensions for inflation has been introduced in Harrisburg. Now we must do our part to make sure it passes! Please contact your start representative and urge him/her to pass HR 2379. As your PSEA President Jim Testerman points out: “The COLA issue is relevant for all PSEA members, retired and active. A system of regular cost-of-living adjustments for pensions will be important for members who retire in future years, as well as for current retirees.” Members can find the contact numbers of their legislators on the back of their PSEA membership card or use our website www.lmeaonline.org by going to links/political action.

LMEA Attends the Minority Leadership Training Conference

The LMEA sent six members to Pittsburgh in March to attend workshops in subjects that included legal issues, leadership, diversity, social justice, time and stress management, and PA Transforming School Counseling Initiative. Pictured here are [left to right] Debbie Williams, Darlene Edwards (Mideast Region), Rodney Taylor, Elaine Presscott, Monica Mixon, Jackie Gaines, Renee Neely.

Is There a [small] Contractor In the House?

The LMEA office in Bala Cynwyd is in need of some repairs to the outside of the building. The wooden stairs, 6’ x 14’ landing, and railing located in the front need to be replaced this summer and we are encouraging members (or their relatives) who do this kind of work to put in a bid for the project. Competitive bids must include the following: 1) a total estimate of costs; 2) a detailed estimate of work to be done, materials used, and time to completion; 3) two or more references. It is hoped that by the June 9 Executive Council Meeting there will be at least three bids to consider.

Compensation Awareness:

The Federal Department of Labor has an excellent website where one card spend [too] many hours sifting through data kept of just about every facet of working in America. Here are just a few pieces to consider this month (all data is national):
$196.90………………………average monthly union employee contribution toward health plan premiums (of those required to contribute)
8 %...........................................percentage of nonunion workers who don’t have to contribute toward health plan premiums 40
%.........................................percentage of union workers who don’t have to contribute toward health plan premiums (up from 31% in 2003) If you want to dive into the numbers here’s the address: http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/home.htm

Unit Meetings

Once each year the president of the LMEA holds a unit meeting in each of the schools and major departments. These meetings are an opportunity to share issues and have questions answered directly by the LMEA leadership. The schedule for the remaining 2007-08 Unit Meetings is as follows:

NEXT UP:
Merion………………..Apr.24 @ 3:45
Harriton………………May 6 @ 2:45

A Few More Important LMEA Dates to Remember

April 22………………VOTE in the Pennsylvania Primary!!
May 12………………. Executive Council Meeting @ 4:00
May 14……………….General Membership Meeting
May 20……………….LMEA Elections
May 29……………….LMEA Spring Banquet

Did You Know This Is In Your Contract?

“Cardiopulminary Resuscitation (CPR) recertification for first-aid retraining provided by the School District shall be made available to all interested employees.” Article 54 B (p.56)