C.V. Educator

December 2004

Newsletter Archive

EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION NEWS

Once again the Evergreen Freedom Foundation has requested that the Central Valley School District give them all employees e-mail addresses. The District is required by state law to comply. If you have not already received an e-mail from them, you can expect one.
The Evergreen Freedom Foundation is a conservative public policy research group that has been a vocal opponent of the Washington Education Association. They have filed numerous lawsuits against the WEA. The EFF claims that: WEA does not work for you, WEA officials do not respect teachers or respect the law. These claims are preposterous. The purpose and mission of the WEA is to promote public education and support public school teachers. The successful passage of I-732, the COLA initiative, was the result of a two year effort by the WEA and local affiliates. The EFF is not interested in promoting public education or supporting public school teachers. Their mission is to destroy unions. Their agenda is to take away collective bargaining rights and drain funding for public education through unregulated charter schools and vouchers.
The EFF will also make promises of big refunds if you sign their form letter and resign from the WEA. Here are the facts. If you resign from the WEA and NEA, you must also resign from the CVEA. We are affiliates and one must belong to all three or none. If you give up your membership you will receive an 8% refund of your dues. You will continue to pay 92% to cover the cost of services provided to all teachers in the District such as grievances and collective bargaining. With your loss of membership you will also lose:
1. $1,000,000 in liability insurance if a member is sued on the basis of employment related activities.
2. $150,000 in accidental death benefits for members who are victims of death by homicide while at work.
3. $50,000 in accidental death and dismemberment benefit that cover you while on the job.
4. $1,000 in life insurance.
5. Under certain circumstances, up to $35,000 to pay attorney’s fees if a member is charged with a crime related to employment.
6. WEA Action and NEA Today Magazines.
7. The right to participate in any future CVEA votes or elections.

COLA SET

The latest Washington Economic Forecast estimates the Consumer Price Index for 2004 at 1.1% and 1.4% for 2005. Under I-732, this translates into the COLA for 2005-06 and 2006-07 respectively. The suspension of I-732 was for two years only and these will be the numbers that Gov. Locke must use for his budget proposal for the next two years.

Building Visitation Schedule

I plan to be in the following buildings during lunch to meet members and answer questions. kr

January 3 .....................Ponderosa
January 10.......................Progress
January 24.......................Horizon
January 31.................ESC/Barker

CALENDAR

December 20-31, Winter Break

Tuesday, January 4, CVEA Executive Board Meeting, 3:30PM

Tuesday, January 11, CVEA Rep Council Meeting, Players and Spectators, 4:00PM

Wednesday, January 12, Eastern Washington UniServ, Council Meeting, 5:30PM

CVEA

Street address: 12202 E. Main,
Mailing: PO. Box 14065 Spokane, WA 99214
Phone: 926-0201
Fax: 891-9183
Cell: 990-3206
email: CVEA@aol.com