P.E.A. Welcomes New Colleagues To Paterson

With 75 new staff members in attendance, the Paterson Education Association held its semi-annual "New Staff Welcome" at the Brownstone House on September 25. Organized by the Association's Membership Committee co-chaired by Udetta Chestnut-Garache (MLK) and Sharon Hancock (#8), the session was planned to familiarize the our newest colleagues with the Association, the contract, and the benefits provided by 286-page collective bargaining agreement.

P.E.A. President Pete Tirri welcomed the new staff and introduced the officers of the Association who were in attendance, including 1st Vice-President Jim Joyner, 3rd Vice-President Gene Harvell, Recording Secretary Joe Savastano, and Corres. Secretary Sophia Jones. Treasurer Wanda Koch was attending an NJEA workshop and 2nd Vice-President Vera Schemly was on bereavement leave at the time of the program.

Tirri then introduced P.E.A. Pension & Welfare Committee Chairperson Toni Gennarelli (# 5), who reviewed the health, dental, prescription and optical benefits negotiated by the Association. Gennarelli made it a point to advise the new staff that the State Health Benefits Program was going to change and they need to keep abreast of the ongoing discussions in that area. She also reminded them that the optical plan became a full family plan July 1.

Savastano, Tirri and Harvell listen to Gennarelli's Presentation

Presentations followed by representatives from tax sheltered annuity program representatives John Feeney of AIG-VALIC, Michael Ballan of SunAmerica and Randy Houston who discussed the NJEA-endorsed Prudential Disability Program. All remained at the end of the program to answer individual questions about their respective programs.

Tirri then took to the microphone again to walk our colleagues briefly through the bargaining history in Paterson. He stressed the importance of unity especially in bargaining times and told those present that negotiations will begin shortly for a successor agreement to the current contract that expires June 30, 2008. He added, "We have been able to achieve a strong contract, salary and benefits package by being unified and supporting each other." He pointed out that the Association has withheld services on several occasions, the longest being a two-week action when 15 members went to jail.

Other benefits in the contract he reviewed include:

  • 10 sick days and five personal days per year
  • Roll over of all unused days at the end of the year
  • Class Coverage Compensation for missed preps
  • Tuition reimbursement provisions
  • Perfect attendance bonus payments
  • Sick day buy back plan for tenured staff
  • Observation and evaluation procedures
  • Credit union and salary direct deposit features
  • Grievance and arbitration process

Tirri concluded the meeting by again expressing his appreciation for the wonderful job co-chairs Chestnut-Garache and Hancock and Officer Schemly had done to plan and present the workshop. As the meeting ended, many of those in the audience remained to ask individual questions of the officers.

Welcome to Paterson …

Welcome to the P.E.A. !!

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