IN THIS ISSUE...

FROM THE PRESIDENT

• Remembering Why We Have Labor Day
• Extra Standard Review Dates
• Important Dates to Remember 

MEMBER RELATIONS 

• Let's Get Organized
• Appraisal Update
• Classroom Grants Available
• Membership!!   
• Earn incentives for signing up members!! 

COMMUNICATION

• 2011-2012 Salary Schedule Amended
• Thank You LEA Negotiations and Leadership!  
• What's Up With Appraisal? 

COMMUNITY

Calendar

• • FR Council September 15
  • October 1, 2011
  • Probie Training
  • Shredding Event
  • Harvest of Books
  • October 1-16th

SAVE WITH MEMBER BENEFITS   

• Honey Baked Ham Specials 
• Summer Loan Special Extended!!
• LPS Employees CREDIT CU open at 5625 O Street

                               LEA President, Jenni Absalon

Labor Day is a celebration of worker's rights and the triumphs that the labor movement has gained over the last couple of centuries. Many people think of Labor Day as just another holiday where they get off of work or out of school, and don't take the time to look at and appreciate what the holiday is really about.

The roots of Labor Day can be traced back to a time and place when the balance of life was askew. It was 19th century America. The industrial revolution was in full bloom, and people were needed en masse to feed the hungry machine of progress. Millions responded, lured from the farms by the dream of a secure year-round income in an environment sheltered from the often harsh elements. They awoke from the dream to find themselves toiling twelve and fourteen hours a day in dingy and sometimes dangerous conditions in factories and underground mines.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership -- the American worker.

IF YOU HAVE...

                An eight hour workday

                A five day work week

                Paid sick days, vacation days, and holidays

                Family and medical leave

                Health, life, and disability insurance

                A pension

                Safe and healthy working conditions

                Proper job training

...THANK A UNION MEMBER.

Labor Day may be a fitting tribute to America's workers. But what about the other 364 days of the year? Despite all the talk about the importance and dignity of working people, they get little power or glory in the everyday world of news media.

What if the situation were reversed?

Once a year, big investors and corporate owners could be honored on Business Day. To celebrate the holiday, politicians might march arm in arm through downtown Manhattan with the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Donald Trump. Executives could have the day off while media outlets said some nice things about them.

During the rest of the year,

For instance, such coverage would reflect the health hazards that workers face. On an average day, 18 Americans die from on-the-job injuries while an estimated 165 people die from occupational diseases. Other daily work-related figures include 36,400 injuries and 3,200 illnesses.

Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article 

 Important Dates to Remember  

Classroom Grants Available                     

Opportunities for Educators, Students, Schools, & Communities

GRANTS AVAILABLE---Click Here

Happening Now   

NEA Education Votes

Keep Up to Date on education Issues----Click Here

LEA MEMBERSHIP ENROLLMENT-----Earn Incentives 

Good News! We have an updated salary schedule for 2011-2012 which reflects an additional increase to your salary!  The dedicated Educators Health Alliance Board of Directors manages the health insurance plan for 72,000 educators in the state of Nebraska. Because of the prudent management of the plan the EHA Board declared a month premium holiday as well as a 0% increase in health insurance premiums.  Your LEA Negotiations Team and Leadership negotiated the additional salary increase using the health insurance savings.   

 Click Here to View the LEA/LPS Professional Agreement 

Please take the time to know your contract.  The 2010-2011 salary schedule is on page 40 of the agreement. The amended salary schedule below will replace the salary schedule currently on page 41.   

2011-2012 Amended Salary Schedule---Click Here  

Once in ICE click on Salary Notification link

Below is an explanation regarding the additional money in the salary schedule.    

Salary Schedule Changes for 2011-2012

• Article XII: Fringe Benefits 12.1 reads in part: "The 2011-2012 district contribution rates were computed based upon an assumed 8% PPO premium increase in 2011-2012. If the 2011-2012 PPO rate increase is less than 8%, the district contribution will be recalculated as per the spreadsheet KB 5-10 Rev 09-10 Teachers Neg Various Models.xls. The savings in district contribution will be distributed evenly by FTE with an adjustment made to each cell within the schedule."

Therefore, because of this language, the savings generated by the 0% increase in EHA rates, is now reflected in the attached and amended salary schedule which indicates the increase in salary for all individuals above what was originally agreed upon for 2011-2012.

Other Information for 2011-2012

• In December, 2011, all members in the EHA Plan will have a premium holiday. This means that you will NOT pay a premium for the month of December. This not only reflects the 0% in premium rates but the over-all financial stability of the EHA plan, so much so that members of the EHA plan can actually skip a month's premium. The district's contribution to members' premiums for December have also been added to the salary schedule for all members of the bargaining unit.

• As you know, the Nebraska Legislature changed the contribution rate teachers will make to the state retirement plan. This increase will equal 0.06% increase. This additional contribution to the retirement plan, under normal circumstances, would mean a reduction in members' take home pay, but because of the two health care cost saving added to the salary schedule through agreement between LEA and LPS, members will still see an increase in salary for 2011-2012 above what was initially negotiated.