It has been quite a year, hasn't it? I can't believe we are nearing summer so quickly. I think we can all agree it's about time for the barbecues, hikes, beach days, and camp fires!

As we wrap up the school year, there is a lot on my mind. We have accomplished some great things this year-- in December the bargaining team came back together for negotiations with the district, to ensure that no classified employee was harmed by a pay freeze that was proposed to address the new pay equity laws. In March we held a Work Site Rep/Organizer training, where 19 WSR/O's received training from OSEA. We were thrilled to have 5 new WSR/O's join us in moving our work forward at work sites across the district! We also celebrated classified employees in March, with a fantastic afternoon for all at Super Play. In April, we again advocated for classified employees to keep their pay instead of being forced to take a furlough day on the May 8 Call to Action movement.

While we can all look back on the year and see the progress that has been made, I still worry. I worry about the numerous misconceptions floating around-- did you know that every one of your Executive Board members is a volunteer? Did you know that we can work to ensure the our bargaining agreement (contract) is upheld, and that the contract largely drives what we can and cannot fight? Or that when no one steps up to do the work, assuming somebody else will do it, "somebody else" can quickly and easily turn into "nobody?"

I worry that too many classified employees don't know the value of their contract, or the value of having a contract at all; that having a field representative from OSEA gives us support, direction, and power, as does our affiliation with a national organization (American Federation of Teachers, or AFT). I worry that there will come a day where classified employees of the Beaverton School District won't have the ability to sit down with the district and bargain their contract, or to meet with administrators to address concerns in the workplace. I worry that classified positions could be contracted out (as in, the district would use a staffing company to fill OUR positions) and that classified substitutes will be kept in that status well beyond 60 days, without step increases or benefits. I worry that we could all lose paid sick leave, PTO, and tuition reimbursement. I worry that there will be a point where classified employees aren't given the same medical and dental benefits as certified staff, or that our pay steps will disappear. I worry every time someone decides that being a member of OSEA isn't "worth" the cost. I worry that 60 years of work to have the contract that we do, will be erased. As the number of Beaverton OSEA members drops, all of this is at risk.

All of these things matter, whether all classified employees realize it or not. As I have worked with classified employees across the district, the message is clear: we do what we do every day because we care. I care. I have spent countless hours trying to support classified employees this year, in navigating our contract, pushing important issues to the district, and resolving situations that needed correction. It's been whirlwind at times leaving feelings of strength and accomplishment, as well as defeat.

I have so appreciated the support and positive energy so many of you have shared this past year. Together, we do good work. Together we are stronger. Together, we are Beaverton OSEA!

Kristen Croft

OSEA Chapter 48 President 2018-2019

We may not all be walking with a Rally on May 8th, but we can wear red while supporting each other!

Dianna Hess OSEA Zone 1 Director and Chapter 48 Vice President

Names presented at the March 12, 2019 meeting as Executive Board Nominations:

President: Martin Slater

Vice President : Dianna Hess

Treasurer: Diane Egan

Secretary: Dan Horn

Nutrition Services Rep: Kim Kennedy

Clerical/Technical Rep: Donna Romadka

Custodial/Maintenance Rep: Lynette Stone

Transportation Rep: Kirk Wilkins

Instructional Rep: Krysti Sackman

Thank you to all who handled the voting at their site and all who voted!

Beaverton Chapter 48 voted the following members as delegates to the annual Conference where, over the course of three days June 27th-June 29th, they will vote on resolutions, approve our annual budget, elect state officers and zone directors, as well as ensure the mission and goals of the union reflect the interests of our members.

Chapter 48 delegates are:

Martin Slater, Diane Egan, Dan Horn, Kirk Wilkins, Lynette Stone, Kristen Croft,

Kyrsti Sackman, Debbie Keller, Stephanie Marshal, and Amy Knutson.

Chapter 48 Alternate: Mike Ali

Thank you to all of the delegates for volunteering their time to represent Chapter 48 at the State Conference.

for being a member of OSEA 48 /AFT 6732.

Check them out below or click on the Benefit Button to view to all.

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MEMBER ASSISTANCE FUND

The Member Assistance Fund is a program within OSEA that provides emergency assistance to members in need due to death, serious illness, injury or disaster.

To apply, print the form, fill it out, have it signed by a chapter officer and scanned by them to the OSEA State Office.

MEMBER ASSISTANCE FUND

The Member Assistance Fund is a program within our OSEA Chapter that provides emergency assistance to our members in need due to death, serious illness, injury or disaster.

To apply, print the form, fill it out, have it signed by a chapter officer and scanned by them to Dianna Hess

We have been able to help 11 members so far this year.

Print, Complete and Send this by inter-department mail to Dianna Hess @ SPED office

Vice President - Dianna Hess

Treasurer - Kyrsti Sackman

Secretary - Dan Horn

Custodial/Maintenance Rep - Lynette Stone

Instructional Rep- Charlene Compton

Nutrition Services Rep - Kim Kennedy

Transportation Rep - Martin Slater

Website: http://48.osea.aft.org
Location: Beaverton
Phone: 503-356-3931
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OSEABeavertonChapter48/