BFTSP

It was a long night…

The results are in and the bond failed.  There was about a 500 vote difference.  It was not a good day in BISD. I think that the issues ahead of us will be difficult.  The federal stimulus money, the low interest rates and the low construction costs that we lost out on will haunt us.  As one of my favorite people said at the watch party “you can’t fix stupid”.

And she is your lawyer…

I received this message today from Linda Bridges, president of  TxAFT

Just wanted to let you know that Texas AFT General Counsel Martha Owen was recently named a 2009 “Super Lawyer” by Texas Monthly Magazine in the field of Labor  and employment law, and also, as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” for 2009.

Martha  is our lawyer, too.  She is a wonderful lawyer and a great lady.  Those of us in BFT who have worked with her are not surprised at these honors.  Watch Texas Monthly and if you have a copy share it with your colleagues.

PAC Committee on the go…

Last evening a group of community members who are supportive of the BISD bond met at Brian’s BarBQ.  It was an organizational meeting.  Kim Starr is the chair and our own Rachel Seymour is the treasurer.  The reason for the committee is that BISD cannot promote the bond they can only present factual information.  This committee will be the community group that will promote it. 

The BFT Leadership Team will meet on Thursday the 24th to discuss our role in this endeavor.  Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend especially if you would like more information or you would like to get involved in promoting the bond.

Call the BFT office if you plan to attend.

Ballot power….

The BISD board called for a bond election in November.  The Master Plan committee’s recommendation on the needs of the district were accepted.  I served on this committee and made every meeting save one (during the musical).  It was a well thought-out plan which addressed needs of the district. 

The next step for BFT is to have a general meeting of the entire membership.  At this meeting the entire membership will hear information about the proposal.  The membership will then vote to support the bond issue, or to not support the bond issue or to remain neutral on the proposal. 

Please leave your comments below.

My plea on Friday….

 The plea was made to the president of the AFT, Randi Weingarten and Congressman Al Green.  The Social Security Fairness affects only certain public servants in 12 states.  It is important to the Texas AFT that this issue be brought to the forefront so that it can become a higher priorty for the AFT.  As I introduced myself before this plea, I mentioned that I have paid Social Security taxes since I was fifteen years old and that I am continuing to pay these taxes. 

Below is what I told them and I hope that you will use this information to continue to get out the word to all about the effect on those covered by TRS.

-Texas school employees and retirees in districts like mine in Brazosport–and school employees in a dozen other states–need the Social Security Fairness Act.

-Right now the Government Pension Offset of spousal benefits and the Windfall Elimination Provision severely cut earned benefits of Texas school employees under Social Security.

-These penalties apply if they retire from a school district that chose not to participate in Social Security back in the 1980s.

-It has nothing to do with any choice the employee made. In fact, the employees affected have chosen to work in other jobs covered by Social Security, in addition to their school district jobs.

-It comes as a shock for many of them to find out when they retire that their spousal benefit from Social Security is cut (sometimes to zero, if two-thirds of their state TRS pension is more than their spousal benefit entitlement) or that their own individual benefit is cut by $372 a month because of the WEP.

-They have no automatic COLA and have seen a 20-percent drop in the real value of their pensions over the eight years since their last20cost-of-living raise from the legislature.

-They need the stable foundation of retirement income that is provided by inflation-adjusted Social Security benefits, and many of them have earned it–but they don’t get what they earned because of the WEP and GPO.

-Congress should be looking for ways to improve retirement security for all Americans, not singling out some of them for benefit reductions that make their retirement financially insecure or even push them into poverty.

-How can we move this issue forward on the congressional agenda and deal with this unfairness in this current session of Congress?

Are you in the loop?

Well if you aren’t you can certainly get in it. The BFT Leadership Team is made of members who are officers, committee members or others who have expresseed an interest in BFT causes and activities.
Any of our members can be on the leadership team. Just let me know by calling me, emailing me or tell the building rep on your campus. Then you will be on the distribution list and read about opportunities to participate and share in the leadership on your campus or in the district.  One of the most important duties is to stay abreast of what is happening at all levels and share that information with others on the campus. Another is to assist the building rep with recruiting and dissemination of information. 

We have several training sessions planned this fall for our leadership team. Check the calendar on the website for times and dates.  The training will give you confidence in your role and will benefit you and your colleagues.

Please join the movement for change.