What's Up KEA?

Nominations Close TODAY! 

Nominations for WEA and NEA Representative Assemblies will close this Friday at 4:00.  This is a great way to get involved in our association. It is a short time commitment that makes a big impact on the priorities that our association chooses to address. Please send your nominations to Christie Padilla. You may nominate yourself.

WEA: Spokane (April 16-18th)  

NEA: Atlanta, Georgia (July 2-6th)

KEA Teachers Rock: Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey  Pub Night

Come watch the Seattle Thunderbirds take on the Regina Pats during Pub Night! 

Friday, January 17 @ 7:35 pm



Tickets are only $22 each and and includes a FREE hat and a FREE beer voucher. These are always very fun filled and make for a great night of fun excitement. 

We hope you can join us! 

Click here to purchase your KEA discounted tickets! 
Where Do You Turn When Administrators?

It has been reported that building administrators are being asked to attend monthly meetings that take both the principal and the assistants out at the same time. This is not a contract issue; however, when KEA members are left with no support and problems erupt, then contract issues could come into play. KEA members have the right to remove disruptive or aggressive students by an administrator. We brought this concern up at a Labor Relations meeting. After expressing our concerns, we were told that Ed Assistants, Behavior Interventionists, Counselors, and Office Staff are in charge when the building administrators are out of the building. KEA wants to remind members not to touch students unless trained with Right Response. If extreme situations occur, and no administrator is available, it's best to call Safety Services (school security) or even 911 if you need help or support. Safety Services# 253-373-7256.
 
Dear Contract Corner

Recently, my administrator told me that I could be disciplined for something that I wasn't aware was against a policy. Should I be concerned? 

Signed,
Am I In Trouble? 
 
Dear Am I in Trouble, 

First, do not apologize as this may imply wrongdoing. Next, talk to your building representative or union leadership immediately. Do not attend a meeting without representation. Sometimes administrators discourage you from bringing a rep by saying the meeting will not be disciplinary. However, you have federal Weingarten Rights which state: "If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my association representative be present at the meeting. Without representation, I choose not to answer questions." 

If your administrator uses the words discipline, termination, employment status or negative evaluation , you need to have representation with you. The Kent Education Association further states on their website that even if these words are not used, but you still feel you're going to be disciplined, you should ask for representation. More information is available on the KEA website.  

If your administrator does intend to discipline you, they must meet the Seven Tests of Just Cause listed below. A flat "no" answer to one or more questions indicate that the employer's action is arbitrary, capricious, and/or discriminatory in one or more respects. 
  1. Did management adequately warn the employee of the consequences of his/her conduct? 
  2. Was management's rule or order reasonably related to efficient and safe operations? 
  3. Did management investigate before administering discipline? 
  4. Was the investigation fair and objective? 
  5. Did the investigation produce substantial evidence or proof of guilt? 
  6. Were the rules, orders and policies applied evenhandedly and without discrimination to all employees? 
  7. Was the penalty reasonably related to the seriousness of the offense and the past record? 
After all of this information, you can see that if you did not know about the policy or rule, you were not "adequately warned of the consequences". Thus not all Seven Tests of Just Cause were followed. 

If you are called into a meeting about the issue anyway, always attend the meeting with representation. If you are denied representation, attend the meeting but inform your administrator you will be invoking your Weingarten Rights. Document the meeting, but do not share your notes with administration. Immediately after the meeting, inform KEA leadership that you were called into a meeting you feel did not follow the correct procedure. 

The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) , or contract, addresses these issues in Article IV, Section 2.E and F. "Prior to a meeting held to discuss allegations that may warrant disciplinary action, the employee shall be informed of the purpose, and that the employee has the right to have an Association representative present at the meeting. The non-availability of an employee's requested Association representative shall not prohibit the investigatory meeting from taking place with a different Association authorized representative. The Association representative shall not obstruct or interfere with the interview. The Association representative shall be able to take notes and ask clarifying questions."

Signed,
Your Contract Corner Team
Upcoming Events

KEA Office Closed
December 23- January 1

KEA BOD Meeting
January 9

Educators of Color Meeting
January 16

KEA Teachers Rock:
Seattle Thunderbirds Game
January 17
 
Be sure to check the KEA calendar for upcoming events
 
 
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