EAST ORANGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

MS. JACQUELINE WHITE, CHAIRPERSON

Government Relations Update for May

Greetings Members,

“I want this to be a place where instead of asking, ‘What is the union doing?’ we all see ourselves as the union and instead ask, ‘What are we doing?’” Desiree Brennan *President of the Gateway Regional Education Association *2019 Gateway Regional Teacher of the Year
 -NJEA Review – May 2019-

It’s up to NJEA members to participate in actions that change the minds of our elected leaders.

On the Wednesday, May 15 at 4:30 pm, -NJEA members from every corner of the state will stand together to let legislators know it is time to pass legislation to make health care more affordable and provide job justice for ESPs. Register at njea.org/May15                                     

#RedForEd  ~ #FixtheUnfairness

We Wear RED Each Wednesday because:

• ·      Educators deserve respect;
• ·      Educators deserve affordable health care;
• ·      Public schools are important;
• ·      We are UNITED!       

Join NJ21United, a coalition of educators and community members who care about public education in New Jersey.

Twitter: @Nj21United ~ Facebook: NJ21United

Learn how to manage your student loans. NEA Member Benefits and Savi have partnered to create NEA’s Student Loan Forgiveness Navigator. NJEA Review, May 2019, p.55

https://www.neamb.com/products/nea-student-loan-forgiveness-navigator

Connect to EOEA on FaceBook and Twitter @EOEA_NJ

Government Relations Update for Aprail

Greetings Members,

“Union membership is like a gym membership. You can pay your dues, but if you don’t show up and participate, you do not become stronger.”

NJEA Review – April 2019

Learn how to influence your elected officials. Download the NJEA Political Action Guide today. https://actioncenter.njea.org/

President Trump’s recent budget proposal eliminates the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Urge your representative in Congress to protect PSLF now!

https://actioncenter.njea.org/protect-public-service-loan-forgiveness/

Vote for NJEA County Representatives from April 1^st -15^th. Vote by paper ballot or go to the address below to vote online.

https://www.njea.org/vote-online-in-njea-elections

Learn about the candidates in the 2019 ECEA Election Issue

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3Ih1BQCkjfuQ1p0UXR5QVlBcmYzNV9WUXhCTFFITEptdEs4/view

NJ21United is a coalition of educators and community members who care about public education in New Jersey.

GOALS:

*ensure that students have access to necessary resources and supports

*fairness in compensatory benefits that decrease the educational pay gap

*improve the educational environment in the state of New Jersey

*union protections that all of our members deserve.

Twitter: @Nj21United

Facebook: NJ21United



Government Relations Update for March

TAKE ACTION TIME:         

1.             Tell Sen. Cory Booker to Reject the False Promise of Vouchers

https://actioncenter.njea.org/tell-sen-booker-to-reject-the-false-promise-of-vouchers  

Despite the overwhelming evidence that shows private school voucher schemes negatively impact educational opportunities for public school students, Sen. Booker has affirmed his commitment to vouchers. Use the link to contact Sen. Booker and tell him to put public school students first by advocating for full, fair funding for public schools so that the needs of every child can be met.

2.             Tell your legislators to vote YES for Job Justice

https://actioncenter.njea.org/tell-legislators-protect-the-jobs-of-esp-members                

In February, the votes on two key ESP Job Justice bills, A-3395 and A-3364, were postponed. A new vote will be scheduled soon, but in the meantime, we need to keep up the momentum. Use the link to send a message to your legislator.



Government Relations Update for February

Greetings Members,

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. tells us that ‘the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice.’ Throughout history, we have seen that moral arc bends because people bend it. 

The Essex County Legislative Dinner is an excellent opportunity to learn about current legislative issues and how you can make a difference. It’s also a great opportunity to meet your district’s lawmakers and share your concerns. When you make your concerns a part of their agendas, you bend that moral arc even more.

VENUE: Nanina’s in the Park

    540 Mill Street

Belleville, NJ 07109

DAY: Wednesday, March 13, 2019

TIME: 4pm

REGISTER: https://goo.gl/forms/dcP2Yxj8YtDpV8QK2



Government Relations Update for January

Greetings Members,

SOLIDARITY ~ POWER ~ PROGRESS

On Saturday, January 19th, let us stand together in solidarity with women and their supporters by joining NJEA in Trenton (or Atlantic City) as we work towards creating genuine power within our communities. Our strength lies in combining our dynamic and diverse abilities to achieve true progress for all.

For more information go to https://www.njea.org/join-njea-members-at-2019-womens-march-in-trenton

VENUE: 180 W. State Street Trenton, NJ 08607

TIME:  11am – 1pm

REGISTER@ www.njea.org/womensmarch

After registering, please complete Ms. White’s Google Form (link below). Let's build our solidarity by meeting up at this event and experiencing it together.

https://goo.gl/forms/qGDc9LL2HXJJTLO92

NJEA makes it easy to contact your Senator and Assembly members. Sign onto NJEA’s letter that asks them to support collective bargaining and school employees by joining as a co-sponsor of S-2606/A-4352. This bill will cap premium sharing at a percentage of salary, not the cost of the premium. In addition, it requires more transparency around health benefits. Click on the TAKE ACTION tab at www.njea.org or use the link:https://www.njea.org/tell-senators-to-change-health-benefit-premium-sharing-laws/



Government Relations Update for December

Greetings Members,

Add the following Legislative Action Team (LAT) meeting to your calendar. 

DATE:    Thursday, January 10, 2018

PLACE:  Essex County Education Association (ECEA)

886 Pompton Avenue, Unit A-2 
Cedar Grove, NJ

The LAT organizes members for legislative and political action. You may be thinking that politics is not your thing but think again. 

Elected officials and appointed officials make decisions about the everyday things that you consider routine. Things like garbage collection, recycling programs, property tax, rent regulations, road repair, etc. Elected officials and appointed officials determine everything about your job and your work day, your salary and your benefits, as well as the amount of time you work and more. Shouldn’t you be a part of the conversation? 

Go to https://actioncenter.njea.org/lat to find LAT meetings throughout the state. You may attend meetings where you work, where you live, or both. 

Additionally, add the following Legislative Dinner to your calendar. The Legislative Dinner is an opportunity to develop relationships with elected and appointed officials, hear from party leaders, and meet endorsed candidates.  

DATE:    Wednesday, March 13, 2018

PLACE:  Nanina’s in the Park

(540 Mill Street, Belleville, NJ 07109)



Government Relations Update for November

Greetings Members! Your voice and your vote made an enormous impact in the midterm elections! 

NJEA Endorsed Candidates

1.      NJEA’s endorsements in federal, state, and local elections helped propel pro-education candidates to widespread success on November 6th. Learn about the endorsed candidates athttps://actioncenter.njea.org/njea-pac-endorsed-candidates

• ·      Donald Norcross (CD 1)
• ·      Jeff Van Drew (CD 2)
• ·      Andy Kim (CD 3) – TBD but he’s leading the incumbent
• ·      Josh Gottheimer (CD 5)
• ·      Frank Pallone (CD 6)
• ·      Albio Sires (CD 8)
• ·      Bill Pascrell (CD 9)
• ·      Donald Payne, Jr. (CD 10)
• ·      Mikie Sherrill (CD 11)
• ·      Bonnie Watson Coleman (CD 12)
• ·      Senator Bob Menendez

2.      All nine of the NJEA endorsed candidates for the special elections in the NJ Legislature won.

• ·      Verlina Reynolds-Jackson & Anthony Verrelli (D 15)
• ·      NJEA member Linda Carter (D 22)
• ·      Pedro Mejia (D 32)
• ·      Britnee Timberlake (D 34)
• ·      Clinton Calabrese (D 36)
• ·      Joseph Lagana & Lisa Swain & Christopher Tully (D 38)

3.      New Jersey voters approved a $500 million referendum to fund improvements to school security and infrastructure, as well as to expand vocational education programs.

PARCC Update-The proposal to adopt new regulations to the PARCC exam includes the following provisions: 

• ·         Reducing the required number of high school PARCC tests from six to four.
• ·         Allowing students who do not demonstrate proficiency on the Algebra 1 and/or ELA 10 assessments to retake them or take alternative assessment options.
• ·         Allowing ELL students in their first year in the U.S. to substitute an ELA PARCC assessment with a language proficiency test.
• ·         Clarifying that a student’s IEP or 504 plan establishes the individualized accommodations, adaptations, and/or modifications that must be provided.
• ·         Ensuring that local boards of education provide student state assessment results to teachers, parents, and students within 30 days of receiving them from the NJDOE.
  

Find out more at https://www.njea.org/state-board-officially-proposes-changes-in-parcc-assessments-2

New Jersey State House Tours-Free NJ State House tours and programs are available for students from kindergarten through college. Visiting school groups for grades 4-12 may receive funds to help offset their transportation costs.  For more information, contact the Tour Office at 609-847-3150 or visit the website. https://njstatehousetours.org/tour/index.php/school-groups

Take Action-Urge Governor Murphy to veto bill A-2001/S-2455. If passed this bill will change New Jersey’s county college employees from the School Employees Health Benefits Plan (SEHBP) into the plan for state employees. Any changes to the health insurance should be part of a negotiated agreement. This bill is an attack on collective bargaining rights. Sign and send a letter to Gov. Murphy by going to the NJEA Take Action page https://www.njea.org/tell-gov-murphy-veto-attack-on-collective-bargaining or call 855-630-5896.

Government Relations Update for October

Greeting Members! Your voice is powerful! Use it to share the following issues.

Take Action

Go to the NJEA Take Action page to find out how to contact your legislators. Tell them to support the following bills.

(https://www.njea.org/category/home/take-action-home)

v     S-2606/A-4352 – This bill proposes changes to how mandated health benefits premium sharing for public employees is calculated to restore fairness to the bargaining table. Make sure you sign the Ch.78 petition that is circulating.

v     S-296/A-3185/A-3395 – These bills propose to secure the rights and protections for our Educational Support Professional members by pushing legislation to prevent subcontracting.

Voter registration deadline-October 16th is the last day to register to vote in mid terms

Phone banking-On October 24th, a phone banking event will be held at EOEA office. Participants can use the link to register or call the office at # 973-672-7331.       



Government Relations Update for September

Greetings Members!

Welcome back to the 2018-2019 school year. May you experience many successful moments professionally and personally! 

Here are a couple of things to consider as we begin: 

*The PARRC exam now represents 5% of teacher's evaluation (https://www.njea.org/win-murphy-and-repollet-slash-parcc-percentage-in-teacher-evaluation/ )

*Register or sign into your MBOS account (https://www20.state.nj.us/TYP_MBOSREG/ser_Login_mbosreg ) 

*Consider voting by mail in the upcoming mid term election (https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/voting-information-vote-by-mail.html )

*Join the Government Relations Committee. A small act can make a huge impact.

Remember:

“EVERYTHING about your job - your day - your salary & benefits – your work hours, maybe even what you can eat at lunch (if your district has a peanut-free policy)—IS DETERMINED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS, or the appointed officials they choose.

Shouldn’t you be involved in politics?” L.A.T. https://www.njea.org/become-associate-lat-member/

Keeps abreast of legislation that affects education. Promotes letter writing campaigns when necessary. Works with ECEA and NJEA to Get Out the Vote

CYBER-LOBBYING!