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UNITY SLATE
Experience, Leadership, Activism
Unity Slate : About Us
Stand Strong with the UNITY SLATE
A United Voice
Unity Slate : Welcome
Unity Slate : Members
Verna Bernard-Jones
Vice President Non-Teaching Personnel
Michael Casinghino
Secretary
Eliasin Robles
Treasurer
Lisa Montelli
Vice President of Special Projects
Unity Slate : Members
Jacqueline Ryan
BHS Area Coordinator
Susan Frazer
HPHS Area Coordinator
Latoya Martindale
WHS Area Coordinator
Unity Slate
Experience, Leadership, Activism
Unity Slate : Members
WHERE WE STAND...
Protect Seniority
Negotiate Fair Contracts
Ensure that all schools have an active Building Rep, Union School Committee, and Discipline Committee
Provide Union sponsored professional development by HFT Members for HFT Members
Engage our Members through continuous communication
Advocate for our Members
Increase awareness of contract and union rights
Operate the Union in a fiscally responsible way
Engage the Community
Support all HFT members who face unique challenges
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Protect Seniority
2011: Prevailed in arbitration to maintain and protect seniority
First Vice President Joshua Hall was a key witness in the proceedings
Experience matters
Senior teachers play a role in helping and mentoring the younger generation of teachers.
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Negotiate Fair Contracts
Maintained health insurance plan with Blue Cross/Blue Shield which allowed our members to remain with their same doctor.
Protected Prep Time
Protected salary lanes of Masters +30 and Masters +60
Maintained the sick bank to assist members battling long term illnesses. Over 100 members have accessed this benefit.
Prevented massive layoffs in 2008 and 2011 in which there were severe budget cuts.
Maintained sick time of 20 days per year.
Continuously fight for fair contracts in these tough financial times.
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Ensure that all schools have an active Building Rep, Union School Committee and Discipline Committee
Work with Building Reps, Union School Committees and Discipline Committees to provide guidance.
Annual Building Rep Forum
Monthly Building Rep Meeting
Sit in on Union School and Discipline Committee Meetings
Bring Issues raised by Union School Committees and Discipline Committees to the Superintendent Monthly Meetings
Ensure that all schools have an effective Union School Committee
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Provide Union Sponsored Professional Development for Members by Members
HFT members attended training sessions in Washington, D.C.
HFT members conduct workshops: Writing SLOs, Reading Comprehension: Vocabulary, Instructional Strategies, Beginning Reading Instruction, Managing Behavior in School Communities, and Reciprocal Teaching
New Teacher Induction
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Engage Members through Continuous Communication
Union officers hold monthly Building Rep meetings. At meetings information is shared and the Reps. take that info back to their schools to share with their colleagues to keep the members in the loop of what is going on.
Frequent email correspondence to membership
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Advocate for our Members
Experienced in advocating for members
Represented over 200 HFT members at Pre-Disciplinary hearings related to D.C.F cases.
Guided members through the evaluation process.
Advocated for members to ensure they received a fair evaluation
Represented members at grievance hearings and arbitration cases.
Supported schools and provided guidance with a “Vote of No Confidence” against their administrator
Experienced Union officers’ step in after issues are not resolved at the school level.
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Increase Awareness of Contract and Union Rights
An annual Building Rep Forum is held over the summer to discuss contract and union rights. The Building Reps take this information and share it with their colleagues at their respective schools.
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Operate the Union in a Fiscally Responsible way
For the last 12 years, our Certified Public Accountants have presented at our General Membership meeting.
Their presentations showed that the union is being fiscally responsible with the money from the union dues.
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Engage the Community
Hands on Hartford: A social service nonprofit organization that serves Hartford’s neediest residents in the areas of food, housing, and health. Participated in the Nutritional Backpack Program
Family Life Education: Nonprofit organization dedicated to the equity, education and empowerment of disenfranchised women, children and families in the greater Hartford area. Supported fundraiser to benefit luncheon, “The Power of Women: Overcoming and Creating World Change”
Sponsored Little League teams in Hartford
Donate money to the Science Center on a monthly basis which ensures free bus transportation for field trips for Hartford Public Schools.
Donate money to Hartford YMCA which allows free swim lessons for Hartford students
Urban League of Greater Hartford: Supported the Annual Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway and Community Day
Book distribution for new teacher
Advocating for community concerns at Board of Education
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Support ALL HFT Members for face unique challenges
Representing members at the school and district level.
Providing the proper legal representation when necessary.
Always available to listen, advice, and support members
WE STAND WITH YOU
Unity Slate : Campaigns
Contact UNITY SLATE
Unity Slate : Contact
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