February
Treasurer Report 2/22
SHEA VOICE
Winter Edition 2.0
Winter 2021-2022
Jan-Feb
Volume XIV No. 3
Suzanne Rizzo, Editor
Editors
Suzanne Rizzo (Middle School)
Contributors
MaryBeth Bruce
Keri Davis
Maggi McDonald
Paul Szymendera
SHEA VOICE
Sweet Home Education Association
Local #3041
1901 Sweet Home Road
Amherst, NY 14228
President's Message:
Paul Szymendera
As we welcome in the new year, it seems little has changed. Teachers have been stretched more than we thought possible. More and more of our members are burning the midnight oil answering student emails, preparing individual lessons for students who are quarantining, and/or worse, making emergency substitute plans as Omicron shows up in our own households.
Never could we have predicted that in many ways, this school year is indeed worse than last year. While last years' hybrid schedule was a huge adjustment for our students, staff, and curriculum; this year life is marching on as if society is ignoring the C19 variants.
By now, all of us have now been faced with the uncertainty of Covid 19 and how it will impact our classroom, school, community, and household. Too many of us are feeling frustrated and abandoned. This is the time when our unionism can find its strength in helping one another. Professionals just like you are struggling to stay afloat. Now, more than ever, we need to look out for one another. Keep an eye on your department and grade-level colleagues. You interact with one another every day. A simple extra "hello" can be just the boost someone needs to get through the day a bit easier.
We are in this together. We are better together.
Go Union~
Benefits of Being in a Union: For Your Profession
Giving You a Voice-
When policy and legislation that affects your profession are being set in Albany and Washington, D.C., NYSUT ensures legislators and policymakers hear the members' voices. The union's advocacy, by both its expert legislative staff and 600,000 statewide members, has produced a long track record of success in protecting the K-12, higher education, health care, and human service professions.
Improving Our Workplaces
Whether the issue is indoor air quality, unsafe labor practices, or exposure to hazardous chemicals and other toxins, NYSUT has a long and successful history of improving workplaces and enhancing safety for its members.
Doing Good in Our Communities
An important cornerstone of union work is ensuring social justice for all. As part of its mission, NYSUT and its members are committed to fighting oppression, working to expand affordable health care, helping the poor, and raising millions for charitable causes and disaster relief.
Governor Hochul Offers High Praise to Teachers
January 2022
Educators are stepping up and earning much-deserved thanks
Gov. Kathy Hochul this week thanked educators “for all they’ve done for our kids throughout this pandemic.” She promised to supply more than 7 million COVID tests to schools to ensure all schools can implement the “test to stay” policy.
Teachers are earning praise because they are stepping up and going above and beyond to educate kids despite huge challenges. Well-earned thanks for education professionals is coming from everyone from celebrities to fellow union workers:
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“Teachers who want safe COVID-19 working conditions are not the enemy.”
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“God bless you teachers, (parents and health care workers). You are so important.”
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“If you want to keep the best teachers, treat them like they are the best.”
Laugh A Little:)
Elections Matter.
Statewide Offices & NYSUT's Influence:
As you know, this year there are several statewide races up for re-election, including the offices of: Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, and Senator. For strategic reasons, NYSUT's Board of Directors may wish to consider an early endorsement in some or all of these races.
These are truly extraordinary times that call for extraordinary leadership. The sooner NYSUT can coalesce behind endorsed candidates, the sooner our advocacy work on their behalf can begin.
As a reminder:
Endorsements are made by the NYSUT Board of Directors following a thorough procedure which includes a statewide endorsement conference involving the participation of local presidents, a statewide political action committee, and NYSUT’s Legislative Department.
Since many of these races may have competitive primary elections, waiting until our normal endorsement process begins in August will not provide us opportunity to advocate for our preferred candidate in the primary election.
Local Unions Can Sway Local Elections
This year our nation may see local school board elections as a place for partisan politics. SHEA has played a significant role in the outcome of BOE elections for nearly a decade in our school community. While members may not live in the same district they work in, union members can make all the difference in the world. Know who the local union is backing and VOTE and help other supporters get out to vote.
CURRENT UNION NEWS
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If you have a major purchase, we can save you money on Appliances, Cars, Furniture, Kitchens, as well as 20 more benefits! All you have to do is visit www.BuyersEdgeInc.com. ... using login info below.
Your Username/Group #: 215 Password: NYSUT
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The Grand Healthcare System Signs New Contracts With 1199 SEIU At Five Upstate New York Nursing Homes, Including Buffalo & Rochester – ‘Union Wins Wage Increases, Better Benefits & The Addition Of A Pension To Help In Recruiting & Retaining’ Caregivers
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Published Friday, January 28, 2022 by 1199 SEIU News
(WESTERN NEW YORK) - Since December more than 580 Health Care Workers represented by 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Healthcare Workers East at five nursing homes operated by The Grand Healthcare System have ratified new contracts.
The new Union agreements include increased wages, shift differentials, longevity bonuses and wage steps that recognize experience, increased benefits for Per Diem Employees, COVID bonuses and the addition of a pension for some and increased pension contributions for others.
1199 SEIU and The Grand Healthcare System share a common goal of increasing retention rates of Nursing Home Staff, Union Officials said
When turnover rates are low, more employees are being hired than leaving, operational costs go down and quality of care improves, they said.
Fair wages and benefits that appeal to Workers and reflect appreciation and value for the work they do goes a long way to retain the most qualified and experienced Staff, Union Officials added, and the continuity of care for residents has also been shown to lead to better outcomes for nursing home residents.
“I’ve been here thirty-plus years and this is the best Union contract yet,” said Avery Lewis, a Maintenance Technician employed at the Buffalo Community Healthcare Center.
"We got what we deserved - for us and our residents," added Monica Morrison, a CNA at the Buffalo Community Healthcare Center.
“Getting to an agreement felt long, tedious, tiresome and sometimes made us angry, but out of all the contracts we have had this is the best one. I am proud of our Bargaining Unit because we stuck to our guns about what was needed to retain Staff and we got it done,” said Michelle Payne, a CNA employed at the Rochester Community Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East - the largest and fastest-growing Health Care Union in America whose mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all, represents more than 400,000 Nurses and Caregivers throughout the States of New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland and Florida, and in Washington, D.C. and Florida.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness program gets big overhaul
By Sylvia Saunders
In a huge win for educators and other public service workers, the Biden administration announced a much-needed overhaul of the broken Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
Unions have been pushing hard for the changes, which are expected to help more than half a million borrowers. The U.S. Department of Education estimates 22,000 borrowers will become immediately eligible to have their loans erased automatically — and another 27,000 borrowers previously declared ineligible could see their debts disappear if they submit employer information.
The PSLF program is infamous for denying student loan forgiveness to thousands of public servants, dismissing applications due to administrative errors and other technicalities. Unions have filed lawsuits and fiercely advocated to force the federal government to fix the problems and fulfill the bipartisan promise of public service loan forgiveness.
Since its inception, the PSLF program, which is supposed to forgive the student debt of public-service workers after 10 years of service and 120 qualifying monthly payments, has rejected 98 percent of applicants.
The changes announced Oct. 6 include a broad expansion of the kind of payments that count toward PSLF. Originally the program was limited to federal Direct loans through Income-Driven Repayment plans. Now borrowers can also count payments they’ve made on other loans, including Perkins and Federal Family Education Loan program loans. NonIDR payments and late payments will also count. Borrowers must apply for a limited waiver available through Oct. 31, 2022.
Starting later this fall, the USDOE is launching an extensive outreach campaign to let borrowers know about the changes. This will include emailing borrowers who have hit 120 PSLF-eligible payments but need to verify their employment to receive forgiveness. The department will also notify borrowers about any additional payments that can be automatically counted and the option for reconsideration of denied applications.
It’s important that borrowers go to studentaid.gov/pslf to make sure their contact information is correct.
NYSUT stands ready to help members navigate the PSLF changes. The statewide union offers free student loan debt workshops and counseling services in partnership with Cambridge Credit Counseling. Since the COVID-19 crisis, NYSUT has moved the workshops online, helping members with informational webinars and individualized follow-up support.
Cambridge counselors noted that if it turns out you’ve made more than 120 payments on a Direct loan after recalculating the number that now qualify, you can receive a refund for those extra payments.
If you’re holding Perkins or FFEL loans, you must consolidate them into the Direct loan program by Oct. 31, 2022, so their balances can be forgiven. It won’t be possible after that date.
For the latest NUST Updates visit: https://www.nysut.org/
It's Elementary, My Dear
Calling all elementary teachers...
If you see something noteworthy going on in your building... Shoot me a quick "Shout Out" and I will print it in the SHEA Voice. Pics are always welcome! We all see great things going on daily, yet are often unrecognized for it. Make a colleague feel great by acknowledging something special that they do:)
Contact: srizzo@sweethomeschools.org
Make a Difference
Heading Higher and Higher
Calling all high school teachers...
You guessed it! If you see something noteworthy going on at SHHS, shoot me a quick "Shout Out" and I will print it in the SHEA Voice. Pics are always welcome! We all see great things going on daily, yet are often unrecognized for it. Make a colleague feel great by acknowledging something special that they do:)
Contact: srizzo@sweethomeschools.org
Make a Difference