Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/726969
Site Reps Unsung heroes working to protect your rights By SHERRY POSNICK- GOODWIN Photos by SCOTT BUSCHMAN Are the extra duties you've been assigned in violation of your union contract? Is your district paying you according to the right step of the pay scale? If your principal requests a meeting that could result in disciplinary action, what should you do? T he answer to al l th ese qu estions: Tal k to y our site rep. For those new to the profession , your sit e re p i s y our union re presentative on cam- pus. In addition to working their own full-time j o bs , sit e re ps sp en d tim e — v o lunt ari ly — d efen din g y o u r r i g h t s , m o n i t o r i n g a n d e n f o r c i n g t h e c o n t ra c t , a dv o c a t i n g t o i m p r o v e y o u r w o rk i n g c o n dit i o n s , a n d conveying your concerns to chapter leadership. Site reps are the first line of defense when a bargaining unit member has a problem with an administrator. They try to resolve issues before they turn into grievances. But if that's not possible, they investigate and take their findings to the chapter's grievance committee for consideration. Site reps do not get involved in disputes among colleagues — and for the record, bargaining members can't file griev- ances against each other. It's the administrator's job to deal with staff conflicts. On a more pleasant note, site reps sign up new members, run elections, maintain the association's on-campus bulletin board, and answer questions about the union contract. ey may also organize phone and email trees and social media communica- tion, distribute union materials, and help involve future leaders in the association. Let's meet a few of these unsung heroes. A T Y O U R S E R V I C E 46 cta.org Howe Elementary site rep Steve Acosta, left, talks with school secretary Anissa McCullen. CTA & you