u·ni·ty (noun)
1. the state of being one
2. harmony of opinion, interest, or feeling
3. singleness or constancy among individuals or groups

Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Something has been happening all across the District… members are joining together to give a common message: We stand together in what we want and we are willing to fight for it.

I believe our message is continuing to come across loud and clear, even when we are silently unified. Keep wearing those black t-shirts! (Contact Larry and Joanne Baker if you need one).

It will continue to take our common strength to get through the next few weeks. Our next bargaining session is 3/7/08.

Contact your action team member or site rep for a list of coming ACTIONS guaranteed to show our strength and unity.

One of those I would like to highlight especially: NO FREEBIES!

Starting in March, VTA is asking you to NOT DO ANYTHING FOR FREE for the District. We are all guilty of it. I’m like that character in Oklahoma!: “I’m just a girl who can’t say no!” But I’m not asking anything more of you than I would ask of myself. Say NO when asked to do that slightest little favor by your principal that has nothing to with your job description. Say NO to another worthless committee just so the District can say a decision was made using “collaboration.” Say NO to after school detention that is outside your duty day: send referrals to your administrator instead. Say NO to that night event that you’ve “volunteered” for but isn’t your adjunct duty and you’re not getting paid for. Do what you need to do to serve our students, but nothing more. NO FREEBIES!

On another note, I recently received word that the School Board is refusing to meet with Sylvia Aquino and me in closed session about some recent seriously appalling administrative behavior. Our intent was to communicate our perceptions to the Board so that they are aware of what is going on. We even stated that we would have been willing to meet with them individually if they preferred. Board President Kitzes and Board Member Mazzuca did offer to meet with us alone and we will take them up on it. But what about the other 5 board members? Don’t they care how their employees are being treated? Their response: we have the grievance and complaint procedures to follow in order to communicate with the Board. Maybe they prefer to have the District’s dirty laundry aired in public? Sylvia and I will work on how to communicate our message, but one thing seems obvious: They don’t care what we think or how we are treated.

So, read up on Article 11 (Grievance Procedures) and call Sylvia Aquino at 530-902-1002 if you believe there is ANY contract violation and you haven’t been able to work it out with your immediate supervisor. Sylvia is ready and willing to take any and everything to Level 2 and beyond.

Apparently, that’s how the District and Board wants to play it. Too bad… we used to be able to problem solve things around here…

So, keep up the hard work, smile with the students you serve, and stand strong together as VTA members. NO FREEBIES and make sure to participate in the SEVERAL OTHER ACTIONS COMING SOON!!!

Brenda