Professional Staff Workshop Educates
and Empowers Members

If you sometimes find the complex web of institutional policies, job descriptions, collective bargaining contracts and pension and healthcare law under which you work confusing or overwhelming, you’re not alone. There are often lengthily worded procedures, scattered calendar dates to bear in mind, obscure terms and references to laws that may require some time consuming investigation.

Council Locals and Council Staff have made it their ongoing mission to educate members and to make their institutional and contractual knowledge available and accessible. One way this often takes place is through the Council’s program of engagement and discussion based professional staff workshop sessions. Thanks to TCNJ Local 2364’s Professional Staff Representative. Todd McCrary & Local Office Manager Helen Tilli, the local’s recently hosted professional staff workshop was jam-packed and a successful example of membership education.

Members Become Empowered

The well attended workshop took place on March 20, 2015, and offered the local’s professional staff an opportunity to engage in a free and open dialogue with Council staff. Council Staff Representative Debra Davis fielded questions covering a wide range of topics that included job descriptions, promotions, reclassifications, negotiations, evaluations, personnel files, “job creep” and more.

Attendees also left the workshop armed with concrete examples and handouts showing the difference between good, bad and vague job descriptions, proper reappointment notices and State of New Jersey job titles.

“One of the most important and rewarding tasks that Council staff take on is going out, meeting our members, getting to learn more about the issues facing them day in and day out, and giving them the knowledge and skills they need to handle issues on the job,” Debra said. “The workshops are always well received and people leave feeling empowered and knowledgeable.”

All Welcome – Each One, Teach One

Adding to the success of the event was how the local encouraged its members to bring along a non-member colleague.

“Union events are usually full members only, but the opportunity to speak with and, more importantly, learn from our agency fee members is vital,” noted Bruce Howard, Council Staff Representative who was also in attendance. “We often find out that our agency fee members think that they already are full members. Most are eager to join after they find out that they are not.”

The local invited their recruiter, Don Cunning, to attend to discuss the difference between a agency fee and full membership. Upon employment, Don explained that professional staff employees in AFT positions become “agency fee” members of the union, meaning they pay their fair-share (or 85%) of the democratically established local union dues for the union services and benefits they receive under the contract. For just 15% more of the full dues rate, an agency fee member becomes a full member with all the rights, benefits and privileges afforded to them.
“Every new union member, one-by-one, adds to the union’s ability to tackle the day-to-day issues that come up in the workplace and ultimately to our strength and position at the bargaining table,” Davis added.

Interested in attending one of the Council’s workshops? Contact your Local or the Council for more information about upcoming member education events.

Not a member yet? Ready to join? Simply return a signed membership card to your Local or the Council.