G-A school support staff to vote on union May 12
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Alison McKissick, president of Greencastle-Antrim Education Association, offered encouragement from her group on the efforts of school support staff to form a union.

Members of the Greencastle- Antrim School District support staff wishing to have union representation cleared the first hurdle and are on to the next.

Marcia Bender, Pennsylvania State Education Association Regional Field Director, told approximately 25 interested personnel Saturday that because 65 percent of eligible employees submitted authorization cards, PSEA filed for an election. The next step was to get out the vote. If a majority of the votes cast favor PSEA as the bargaining agent, the aides, custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, cooks and other staff members will have an ally in deciding their future.

After final negotiations with the school district, the election date was set for Monday, May 12 at the high school auditorium. The polls will be open from 6 to 9 a.m and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Organizers expect the results to be known an hour later.

Amember of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board will be on hand that day, as well as someone from PSEA and an administrator from G-ASD. They will verify that each person voting is eligble to do so.

MARCIA BENDER

During the informational session at First United Methodist Church in Greencastle, Sharon Martin spoke on behalf of the eight-member support staff organizing committee.

The decision to seek a union was based on low wages, no set pay scale, the posting of jobs already filled, a need for affordable medical benefits, and a desire to work in an atmosphere of respect.

"It has been a battle," she said of the nearly year-long effort. "Many of our people never thought it could be done. Others felt imtimidated. Determination has helped us see each other as empowered to be able to have input in our working lives."

Lorenzo Canizares, PSEA Organizing Specialist, said a hearing was avoided last week when PSEA and district officials agreed on an approved list of 150 voters. If PSEA had chosen to contest some employees removed from the list, the election could have been delayed up to a year.

LORENZO CANIZARES

The success story of Chambersburg Area School District support staff unionization was shared by Cindy Stoner, an administration office secretary active in organizing the Education Support Professionals there in 1996. It took two and a half years to negotiate the first contract, but she said every year the contract got better.

"Getting a contract does not guarantee the biggest wages, but it does give equity among employees," she said.

Alison McKissick, Greencastle Education Association president, offered

overwhelming support' from GAEA. She wanted the employees to receive fair benefits as well as liability protection in the educational setting. She told the crowd she appreciated their many responsibilities with the students.

Bender said that while salary and benefits would be negotiated based on what local members want, should the election carry, another very important aspect was the legal representation PSEA offered when employment issues arose. Their status as 'at will' employees meant they were at the mercy of the employer.

What happens next?

Should the employees cast a majority of 'yes' votes, a local ESP association would form and begin collecting dues. It would first elect officers and form a negotiations committee. Bender recommended one person from each job classification.

Together she and the committee would put together a proposal, and keep the membership informed every step of the way. They would meet at the bargaining table with the school board's committee and begin the process of reaching an agreement.

State and national dues would begin when the first contract was ratified. A 12-month employee would pay $296 for a year, a school-year employee $197. Parttime employees would pay less.

Membership in the union could not be mandated, but all support staff employees would be covered by the contract. Often districts put a Fair Share clause in the contract, which meant non-union members had to pay a fee for the cost of bargaining, about 80 percent of the value of the dues.