AM Brew - August 22, 2022

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, August 22, 2022

Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year! We have one week before we begin welcoming our students to our schools! As with every year, these last few days are filled with excitement. I look forward to giving you a preview of the upcoming year and answering your questions on Wednesday, August 24 at 6pm.

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President

Washington Teachers' Union

WTU Town Hall Q & A with President Pogue Lyons

Aug 24, 2022 6:00 PM

https://aft.zoom.us/j/92624505093?pwd=RDh3VVFHckswUklwdjdCSzNLUnpZdz09

Passcode: 027091

WTU Settlement - School Counselors

As previously announced, WTU has reached a settlement with DCPS to settle the group grievance filed by WTU on behalf of School Counselors who worked additional days without pay from 2011 to 2016. WTU and DCPS have sent communications about the settlement to each person identified by DCPS as a counselor during that period. If you have not received a communication but believe the settlement should includeyou, please contact Maria Granone, Executive Director at [email protected] or call her at (202) 517-0729.

IMPACT Grievances

Please contact your Field Representative if you would like to file an IMPACT grievance. The deadline is September 1, 2022

Enroll Now – Sick Leave and Maternity Leave Banks

The WTU has extended the Open Enrollment Season for the Sick Leave and Maternity Leave Banks through September 2, but after that veteran teachers will not be able to join for the 2022-2023 school year. New Hires will be able to join during the entirety of the 2022-2023 school year. Also, if any members want to opt out of either bank they have until 9/2/2022 to do so.

The 8 hour donation required to join either bank will be taken out of your account on or after October 1, 2022, the beginning of the fiscal year.

Click here to submit your information to enroll: https://forms.gle/3fP8XwSiU8kYXjiW9

If you are choosing to opt-out of either bank, please do so by September 2, by sending a formal request to Charmaine Wilks at [email protected]. If you miss the Open Enrollment dates, you will not be able to enroll in "the Banks" until the next Open Seasons in June 2023 and August 2023. This is strictly for the use of the Sick Leave and Maternity/Paternity Leave Banks and not the Dental/Vision enrollment.

Monkey Pox Update

D.C. public health officials expanded eligibility for the monkey pox vaccine Friday and loosened the residency requirement as a strategy to destigmatize the virus, even as the city sees record numbers of infections. Learn more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/08/12/dc-monkeypox-vaccine-eligibility/

Additional Resources:

AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

Professional Development

Teacher Leaders

Click here to join: https://aft.zoom.us/j/92524589891?pwd=UG1wTXA3NGZFSDYyWVk2WGduQlU2QT09

Fall Course Preview

Sign-up: https://forms.office.com/r/i6LF64kK8m

AFT Student Debt Clinic

AFT is hosting a student debt clinic webinar Thursday, August 25. Register at https://cvent.me/17XZka. The webinar will include information about how to enroll in the free AFT Summer student loan member benefit. Additional information can be found at www.forgivemystudentdebt.org – this website contains all of the information on how to access PSLF in an easily digestible and understandable format.

Upcoming events

DC Council Committee of the Whole hearing schedule and sign up including September 16th one on School First in Budgeting and October 25th on Teacher Turnover and Data Warehouse.

Schools First in Budgeting
The hearing is scheduled for Friday, September 16, 2022 at 1:00pm

Teacher/Principal Turnover
The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 1:00pm.

For more details: https://chairmanmendelson.com/testify/

Reminders:

Summary of Contract Negotiations

WTU and DCPS have officially reached an impasse in contract negotiations after DCPS presented a “last, best, and final” offer that was simply unacceptable to the hard-working Teachers of the District of Columbia and also rejected the WTU’s attempts to continue negotiations. Accordingly, on July 28, 2022, the WTU filed a notice of impasse with the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) and requested impasse resolution regarding both compensation and non-compensation matters in the CBA. The PERB determined that the Parties are at impasse, referred the case to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service for the assignment of a Mediator, and is in the process of requesting a Mediator agreed upon by WTU and DCPS. Once a Mediator is appointed, WTU and DCPS will attempt to reach an agreement with the help of the Mediator. If the Parties are unable to reach an agreement within a set time frame, the PERB will appoint an Arbitrator or Board of Arbitration, who will conduct a formal hearing in which the Parties present their positions, and decide any unresolved issues in an Interest Arbitration Award.

We’re continuing to update our database.

Please help us ensure we have your current personal contact information on file. Email [email protected] to provide us with updated information.

Be sure to follow the WTU on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up on the latest from your Union.

Do you like this post?