To All Members of the GFT:
At this point all of you are aware that the GFT and the Administration have come to an agreement regarding the Concession Package. We are now finally ready to vote. Since the reverse 911 call last night we have received many phone calls and e-mails with questions regarding the vote and we will attempt to answer them now.
1. We do not know, nor can we request, exactly who will be hired back. We do we know what exact positions will be restored. The hiring and re-hiring of staff falls into the category of “managerial prerogative” and even if specific language was added into the side-bar agreement it would not be legally enforceable. The addition of the language that include the funds being deposited in the salary account was the result of long and hard negotiations and that language is as conclusive as we will get from the administration. This side-bar is the final version, nothing can be added.
2. At the moment, the GFT is the only group within the district voting on the Concession Package. We feel we are the largest union within the district and should take the leadership role as the union most interested in bringing back its members. Essentially, the atmosphere of the meeting with all the other groups suggested the other units were more than willing to take a wait and see attitude. We do not want our members to have to wait any longer to know if they will have financial security next year. We decided to move forward with an assurance from the Board that if concessions are given members will begin to be re-hired immediately. If the other groups vote the package down or simply do not vote at all the Concessions Package will fail, but we will be able to say we did everything we possibly could to save our members.
3. The reduction in pay will not affect pensionable salary because you will still be paid your salary and the concessions will be deducted from it. You will also not pay income tax on the deducted amount.
We hope these statements answer your question about the Concession Package that do not relate directly to the actual voting procedures. The actual voting procedures will be as follow:
· Voting will take place on Thursday July 15th and Tuesday July 20th between the hours 10am and 2pm at both the High School and Middle School.
· Members wishing to vote absentee will follow the following procedure:
They will print out the ballot found at the bottom of this e-mail and fill in the appropriate space for their vote. They will then insert their ballot into an unmarked envelope. The unmarked envelope will then be inserted in a second envelope with a legible return address. The first blank envelope assures your anonymity and the second, with your name and address, will be used to verify your vote. These ballots must be postmarked by Friday July 16th in order to insure they are received in a timely fashion. The envelopes should be addresses:
Rob Barbier
C/O of Garfield High School
500 Palisade Ave
Garfield, NJ 07026
Since the idea of the Concession Vote first surfaced officially in mid May the leadership of the GFT has made no secret of the fact that we support giving these concession. To this end we have sent passionate appeals to our members stressing the sense of family we feel because Garfield is truly is a special place to spend a career in the best profession in the world. We told you a story about a boy and some starfish in order to remind you a sacrifice need not be great individually in order to help many collectively.
We would now like to discuss one other factor you need to consider as you decide how you will vote. The entire district is watching the GFT to see whether we stick together or fall into factions. Just so you know, most are predicting failure. Our own members doubt the membership cares enough for the jobless, since July 1st that is what our members involved in the budget cuts are officially. Principals have told us to our face we should not even bother because we cannot get a passing vote. One principal was even willing to show me their staff list and tell me exactly how my members in their building would vote this measure down (Administrator and psychic, who knew). Someone even told me a Board member remarked – “the teachers will never give up a dime to save their own, they are so greedy they would eat their own young”.
No matter what some of our own members think about shared sacrifice. No matter what the other unions think they should do or not do. No matter what some administrators within this district think of the GFT. And no matter what some Board members may think of us. We now stand to be counted and measured. The result of this vote not only has the ability to restore our members their jobs but also just as importantly, to send a message to the district not only do we care about our own, we take care of our own, and we protect our own.
Official GFT Ballot
This ballot is to decide if the GFT Local #3977 will agree to the concessions outlined in Side-Bar Agreement dated 7/15/10.
_______________ Yes, I agree to ratify the Side-Bar agreement with the Board of Education and I agree to ratify the concession package
_______________ No, I do not agree ratify the Side-Bar with the Board of Education and I do not agree to ratify the concession package