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Changes of statue: 2011 Ed bill summary for negotiators Click Here From the President
Let’s talk. . . .Seniority list
‘The
seniority list’ is a phrase that gets thrown around, and often makes
its way into editorials, but isn’t very well understood, along with it’s
sibling, ‘tenure’. Think it’s simple? Uncomplicated?
Tenure
is part of state statute. A teacher who has taught continually for 3
consecutive years in a Minnesota district is granted tenure in that
district: that teacher is now governed by all the rights and
responsibilities in the master contract. As long as there is a job, it
is yours. If you are a full time teacher, you will be placed on the
seniority list, and have the rights to a job before the people who come
after you, if there are job cuts.
Our
master agreement has a ‘seniority’ agreement (section 9.3(e) in our
master agreement) that very specifically states how a teacher is placed.
This list gives you the right to a job you are licensed to do, it
tells the district who gets laid-off first, and who gets called back
first; it guides us if a teacher is going to ‘bump’ another teacher
(claim a position).
How
the seniority list is used follows a hierarchy.
Let’s say teachers
have been laid off. There is a third grade teaching position open.
First, only those with the appropriate licensure will be considered.
Then, we look at the seniority date. Your place on the seniority list
starts when you achieve tenure, but dates back to the date of the
school board meeting when your hiring was approved. Yes, it is possible
that many people with the same type of license are approved at the same
school board meeting. But the teacher with the highest level of
education will be listed as having the more seniority.
But
let’s say everything about them is the same: same seniority date, same
level of education, and the only position open is a third grade
position. if two teachers are laid off, one a third grade teacher, and
one a fourth grade teacher, then the third grade teacher will get
consideration.
As
I mentioned earlier, all of this is true for full time teachers only.
Part time teachers (less than 80%, who have never taught in the
district full time), and long term subs are not granted seniority.
Ever. Our negotiations team and I have had long conversations about
this. And are developing an opinion: should (or not) a part time
teacher have rights to (at least) a part time job?
Anyway,
a part time teacher who is then hired for full time will be granted
seniority dating back to the original date of hiring.
Still
with me? Here’s another interesting point: If you taught full time in
the district, requested and were granted to go to part time, you still
have your full time seniority placement.
When
the seniority list comes out in a few weeks, take the time to check it.
Look for correct spelling of your name (if your name has changed, make
sure the change made it to the seniority list). Make sure your
licensures are correct, and that the dates are, too.
Mary Bischoff
OEA President
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Executive Board of OEACycle of Five
Saturday November 5, 2011
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