• Meeting opened @ 8:00 AM

• Dorothy D. thanked committee for organizing holiday party

• Water delivered

• Vending machine being worked on

• Snacks at lunch

• Many teachers object to this

• Vents in bathroom – asking for two years – will talk to admin. Again

• Coffee $ - please pay!

• School Shirts – will be coming for teachers – not sure when to wear

• GFT Teacher Scholarship: bring back if possible…thinking of ideas. Ask Elaine about selling Pick 3 lottery tickets

• Holiday Gifts to Admin. – Voted $200. – Yes!

• Website pictures – Many staff members did not want their pictures on website…will inform principal

• Negotiating team – Meeting with board Jan. 13-14, 2010

• Thank you to new Breakfast Committee

• Services for ALK children after school (autistic children spec. ed.) – many outside sources are being paid thousands of $.

• Training is needed
• See Lucy if interested

• Meeting adjourned – 8:30 – Motion: Colleen T. 2^nd: Leigh Ann P.

• Meeting opened @ 8:07 AM

• Introduction of Officers for new members

• President: Dorothy D.
• V.P.: Elaine H. (absent)
• Recording Secretary: Doreen D.
• Corresp. Secretary: Wanda K.
• Treasurer: Cathy S.
• Building Reps: Pat A., Colleen A., Jessica H., Guthrie P., Cheryl S.

• Sign up for Committees
  • Breakfast, etc.

• Check pay stubs

• Some issues on deductions
• Check gross amount
• Some problems found last year by various members

• Health coverage for young adults of members
  • Horizon is giving some members a hard time (must fill out lots of paperwork, etc.) for children between 18-23 who are not full time students. Question: has coverage changed? Looking into it…

• New position created – taking the place of shadows from private companies. Will be covered under contract.

• Electrician needed for teacher’s room for adding toaster ovens, computers, etc. Another vending machine will be added with snacks/drinks.

• Our poster machine is locked in the copy room. We are working on access to this room.

• A member heard our DRA’s will be sent out for copies.

• Laminating paper needed

• Vote: Furniture to be purchased for teacher’s room – spend $200. Or less – all in favor – yes!

New Business

·         PTO – Rosa told us about new officers – 2 new parents are Pres./VP, Rosa B. Secretary, Anna T. Treasurer

·         Sunshine Club Breakfast – Friday, 9/25 in teacher’s room

·         Vote: Food to be provided by GFT for dinner for Meet the Teacher night for members – 100% yes

·         Raffle prizes – Liz R., Dorothy D., Gina

·         Wanda K. read thank you card from Bob R. on retirement thanks

Meeting adjourned – 8:25 Cathy S., Jessica H.

Please click on the Title above to download the FAQs.

      ·         Meeting opened @ 8:00 AM

·         Voted on new GFT Constitution – 25 Yes – 11 No

·         Negotiating Team – sign up sheet passed around

·         Cleaning of Refrigerator in teacher’s room

o    Will be cleaned out today b 2:00 PM – announcement made

o    In Sept. Grade levels will clean every month – Vote: Motion – R. Hvizdos – 2^nd – C. Spirig. Suggested by D. Gaydos

·         No new business

·         Meeting adjourned – 8:20 – Motion: G. Zeiman 2^nd: J. Rotonda

While every grievance begins as a complaint, all complaints do not become grievances.  In order to know what complaints can be processed as grievances, you will need to refer to the collective bargaining agreement between the Guttenberg Federation of Teachers and the Guttenberg Board of Education for the definition of a grievance.  As you will see in Article VI, Section a. of the contract, the definition of a grievance is: "any difference or dispute between the Board and The Unit relating to the terms of this Agreement, its interpretation or application or enforcement, or administrative decisions or Board policies affecting terms and conditions of employment..."

The purpose of the grievance procedure is to provide for the speedy, orderly and equitable resolution of disputes.

Inherent in the grievance procedure is the remedy sought which must be identified in order to make the grievant whole.  In selecting an appropriate remedy, it is important to keep in mind that the purpose of the remedy is restoration not retribution.  The remedy should be consistent with the collective bargaining agreement in order to protect the integrity of the contract.

If you feel that the conditions for a grievance have been met, please do the following:

1. Carefully document all facts including dates and times pertaining to the grievance.
2. Contact the GFT President, Elaine Maggiano Heflich, who is also our Grievance Chair at hefmage@aol.com

Remember that there is a big difference between a gripe and a grievance.  A grievance is a formal challenge to the employer that the contract has been violated.

Fortunately, most problems can be settled informally without filing paperwork.  But it is imperative that you contact the Grievance Chair as soon as possible when you feel you have a grievance.  There are strict timelines for the filing process, and they start the minute the violation takes place.