Political Action Center

Updated June 16, 2011

DSEA Legislative Program/Priorities for 2011-2012
How'd we do in the General Assembly in 2010?
Keep the Promise
DSEA's testimony to JFC regarding state budget for FY2012 (2/16/11)
Bill Summaries
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Tim Barchak's Legislative/Political Blog, One Fight More! - daily updates from General Assembly

Delaware's Constitution and Code e-Books - NEW!

June 16, 2011....

JFC votes steps for all education employees;
an extra "27th" pay next year (no details yet on how or when);
an additional 2% increase for all state employees effective 90 days after your school contract year begins, or Jan. 1, 2012 if you are not a school employee; and
a 2% increase for pensioners, also eff. 1-1-12

The state's current pensioners will see a 2% increase in their monthly pension amounts effective Jan. 1, 2012. This is in line with the 2% increase that the Joint Finance Committee funded for all active state workers which WAS to begin Jan. 1, 2012, but as of a decision made June 15, 2011, will begin 90 days after your contract year begins.

JFC also voted to add more money to the Paraprofessional salary schedules to achknowledge their desire to bring the beginning para salary up to the federal poverty level for a family of four.
They are revising the para schedules to reflect an increase of $875. This includes the 2% increase plus more to equal $875.

Step increases, by the way, will begin with your first paycheck of the 2011-2012 school year.

For DSEA members not eligible for steps, your first increased paycheck will be 90 work days into the new school year.

For our public health nurse members, your 2% will be effective Jan. 1, 2012.

For complete contact information of JFC members, click here.
For e-mail addresses, click on themfrom the list here:
  
Rep. Dennis P. Williams (chair) Dennis.Williams@state.de.us
Rep. Melanie L. George   Melanie.Marshall@state.de.us
Rep. James Johnson    JJ.Johnson@state.de.us
Rep. Ruth Briggs King   ruth.briggsking@state.de.us
Rep. Joseph E. Miro     repmiro@aol.com
Rep. John L. Mitchell, Jr.   john.l.mitchell@state.de.us
Sen. Harris B. McDowell (co-chair) harris.mcdowell@state.de.us
Sen. Brian J. Bushweller   brian.bushweller@state.de.us
Sen. Bruce Ennis    bruce.ennis@state.de.us
Sen. David B. McBride   david.mcbride@state.de.us
Sen.Catherine Cloutier   ccloutier@aol.com
Sen.Dorinda Connor   dorinda.connor@state.de.us

JFC votes to give steps to all education employees; plus a 2% salary increase for all state employees and 1% increase for retirees, beg. January 1, 2012; and, funding for 27th pay

May 16, 2011, DOVER, DE....The Joint Finance Committee opened Budget Mark Up today by addressing salary policy. The Chair,Rep. Dennis P. Williams, put forward a proposal for Step Increases for all education employees (not just teachers and paras); plus a 2% raise on base beginning January 1, 2012 for all state employees; and a 1% increase on pension for retired state employees.

This was all one proposal and passed by a unanimous vote of 11. There was actually quite a lot of debate that belies the overwhelming vote.

There had been talk of a $1,000 one-time bonus for state workers. Two percent, on the scale, is markedly better in the long run. And, the negotiations on pension and health care savings included a 2% incrrease beginning in July 2012, so this is much better.

Funding for the 27th pay also passed today, though it too was well-debated.

Our other three compensation priorities (the return of stipends for Nationally Board certified teachers; stipends for skills and knowledge clusters; and an increase for Phase II of paraprofessional compensation) have opportunities for consideration when the Joint Finance Comm. "marks up" the Education part of the state budget. All three of these issues were mentioned today in the course of discussions.

About the 27th pay.... Over time, you work a day or two more than the previous year. After ten years or so, those days add up, so that in ten years or so, they've added up to two weeks: that's the "27th pay" issue. You have worked for those days; you deserve them.

Five locals recommending school board candidates for election May 10, 3011

In partnership with these locals, DSEA is sending out three separate mailings to encourage all NEA members who live in these school districts to vote for these recommended candidates:

Appoquinimink: Kelly Wright

Caesar Rodney: Melody Heavner

Christina: Fred Polaski

Indian River: Harold Walters

Milford Education Association: Pat Emory (At Large) and Renate Wiley
(Area C)

Red Clay: Jack Buckley

January 20, 2011...
Gov. Markell honors the work and sacrifice of state employees who contribute so much to the health of our state: Delaware is stronger than the challenges it faces.

Gov. Jack Markell gave his State of the State address today and didn't sound like New Jersy, California or Illinois. For our part, along with our Coaltion of State Worker union partners, we look forward to working with legislators and the Markell administration to find ways to secure the important benefits for state and public education employees in a way that our state can afford.
Read the Governor's entire State of the Union address here.
Click here for his Budget Address and Overview documents.

How'd we do last year? Very well!

DOVER, DE, July 1, 2010... The 145th Delaware General Assembly has adjourned. The budget, grant-in-aid, and bond bills all passed without amendment or surprises last night. Here’s a quick list of highlights: 

Restoration of five furlough days and pay cut
 Bailout of Health Fund Deficit (puts much less pressure on premium increases)
Short Term Disability elimination period lowered from 60 days to 30 days
$21 million of $24 million cut (from Gov's proposed budget) to public school transportation restored
Step increases for eligible educators funded
National Board certifications and clusters will continue to be paid for those who have them…moratorium on new certs and cluster completions continues another year
Restoration of overtime pay to hours paid vs hours worked for state merit employees
90 new teaching units funded
$102 million funded for school construction
School Resource Officer program (using state troopers) saved
State’s obligation to new full-day Kindergarten programs (Christina) honored
                               
Thwarted effort to tier health and pension benefits - though the pressure is still on
Help kill bill to eliminate Double State Share for new hires
Helped kill bill to require parental permission for all human sexuality, violence, alcohol and drug content in instruction

Good news! JFC votes to keep State Troopers/Resource Officers as they are in high schools. Read more....

June 15, 2010.... Governor takes two-tier benefit plans off the table for now; agrees with us to sit down between summer and next January to examine cutting benefits costs

A week following distribution of a letter to all members of the General Assembly from the Coalition of State Workers United for a Better Delaware, the Governor told legislators that he will not push legislation this session creating a two-tiered health and benefits system for new state workers.

Instead, he agreed with the Coalition to use the time between the summer and next January to sit down with legislators and the Coalition to see if we can come to an agreement. Our goal? save as much cost as possible, first; understand what the gap is that you are trying to fill, before looking at solutions. For the Coalition, the problem is only with health care and managing its increasing costs, a national problem.

Delaware's Pension Plan, however, is not in such a situation. It is extremely well-funded and one of the best run in the nation, according to the Pew Center on the States.

There is no economic reason to change the state's pension system, as the Markell Administration is trying to do for new state employees. It is well-funded and does extremely well in its investments. The state has no reason to "fix it" because it is not broken. For us, and the members of State Workers United for a Better Delaware, there is no economic reason to require new state employees to contribute more and work longer to be eligible for a state pension.

The real test of the health of the state's finances, including it's pension fund, is to look at the state's bond rating. An unfunded pension system would seriously affect that rating, which saves the state millions of dollars each year if it is good, and it is AAA, Triple A. Check out how the Delaware business community praises this rating.

Cost shifting or cost containment? which do we want?

As for health care benefits, yes, there is a problem. Health care costs are rising, nationwide. That's no secret. Unfortunately, the state won't answer a basic question about costs for their plan: how are insurance rates set, so we can relate that information to claims experience and then the determination of premiums.

Only with this information, can the State (the State Employee Benefits Committee) really determine where costs can be saved, or be contained. The Governor is just proposing to shift these undetermined costs to new state employees, instead of working on health care cost containment.

Our Coalition of State Workers United for a Better Delaware has united again, around this issue. We urged egislators to support real dialogue and problem-solving around health care containment, not cost shifting to new employees.

The Markell Administration's proposals address three issues: rising health care costs; pension (which is both well-funded and well-managed according to the Pew Center); and the state's future OPEB (Other Personnel and Employee Benefits) liability which every state in the nation is required to deal with. Delaware's General Assembly has already deposted $100 million into its future OPEB liability account, against a $5 billion FUTURE liability.

The Coalition continues its willingness to discuss health care cost containment, and work towards solutions. Years ago, when rising Workers Compensation rates created concerns from employers, we all worked together in a thoughtful and deliberate way. The result was legislation without opposition that reformed the system. This is the type of process we recommend to deal with health care, pension and OPEB concerns.

For health care, the Administration is proposing that an employee pay $3,864/year for the First State Family Basic plan. For a state employee earning $20,000/year, that would be 19.32% of his/her salary. For current state employees, this option is free.

For pension, the Administration would like new employees to pay 4.5% of their salary into the pension sysstem. Currently, you pay 3%, after your first $6,000 of earnings. The administration would also like to reduce pension eligibility to age 62 with five years of service or age 55 with 30 years of service. There would be no early retirement provisions at reduced amounts. No longer would employees be able to retired at any age with 30 years of service.

To see a comparison of what currently is available to state workers and what the Governor was proposing, click here. This was done by staff at AFSCME International, headed up by Chris Fox. Fox is a member of our Coaltion.

As stated above the Pew Center on the States recently rated Delaware's pension system as one of the best funded and best managed. Because of the legislature's commitment to consistently making the necessary contributions to the plan, taxpayers in Delaware have saved hundreds of millions of dollars by letting investments do the "heavy lifting" for the plan: about two-thirds of the plan's revenues come in the form of investment returns.

The State's Triple A bond rating has been maintained due in part to Delaware's well-funded, well-managed pension plan. Again, it is not in trouble.

Here are three good reasons why we believe current union members should oppose these proposals.

New employees will be angry and feel unfairly treated when they realize that they are working side by side with people paying much less for the same benefits and pension. Workplace morale will suffer; and collegiality and collaboration required in today's schools and work places will suffer.

In a few years, the number of current employees dwindles through retirement and resignation, and the number of employees hired after Jan. 1, 2011 grows. The newer people will demand that we fight for equal benefits for them. Historically, this is what happens: the legislature will bring up the benefits of the newer employees, and decrease the benefits of the more senior employees so that everyone once again is receving the same benefits.

Current state worker health care premiums will go up because of a phenonenon in the health care industry known as anti-selection. When premiums for new employees are very high, as they will be under this proposal, those who are not very sick will opt out, and not take the insurance. Employees who suffer from chronic conditions will bite the bullet and pay the higher premiums. The cost for health care will increase as the claims amounts increase, raising the cost of everyone's premiums.

Delaware State Education Association 2011-2012 Legislative Program for 146th General Assembly

· Improved, Sustained Funding for Public Schools
The adequate and equitable funding of Delaware’s public schools is required to ensure that our children --- regardless of where they live or the personal circumstance of their individual lives --- have educational opportunities that allow each child to reach her or his full potential.

· Improved Pay for Public Education Employees
Compensation must be improved in order to attract and retain high quality public education staff for our schools and state agencies. DSEA’s priorities include a starting salary for professionally certified school staff of $40,000. Additionally, the salaries for instructional and service aides are shamefully low and should begin at least with the federal poverty level for a family of four.

· Strengthened Fringe Benefit Programs
Public education employees have a progressive, historically well-funded package of fringe benefits that help to attract and retain a high quality work force that must be protected, particularly in times of economic stress.

· Charter School Accountability
The growth of charter schools since passage of the original law in 1995 continues without taking into consideration the effects of new charter authorizations on existing local public school districts. With public resources scarce it is more important than ever to regulate the charter market by making the state Department of Education the single authorizing authority with guidelines that avoid duplication of services and mitigate the impact on community schools.

· Protect and Nurture Children
Every educator knows the heartbreak and frustration of children who are too hungry, sick, or traumatized to learn well. The opportunity to learn cannot be divorced from socio-economic realities, and those realities are becoming more challenging. In 2010, more than 26% of all US children will live in poverty. DSEA will be supportive of legislation, policy, and initiatives which promote the welfare of children and the economic stability of their families.

Joint Finance Committee hears comment on Governor's proposed budget before submitting their own

Click here to read daily updates from DSEA's Legislative Blog, "One Fight More"

Get daily musings and informational updates about what's happening in the General Assembly. Written by DSEA's Dir. of Legislation and Political Organizing Tim Barchak, One Fight More is not only interesting to read, but gives a progressive perspective on education and public policy issues that you don't often hear these days. We encourage you to click on "Subscribe to" at the bottom of the page so that you receive postings as they are created.

Lt. Gov. Matt Denn also has a blog worth reading.

Related links
Delaware's 145th General Assembly web page
Be a DSEA/NEA Cyberlobbyist!
Legislators by School District and Legislative District
Joint Finance, Education and Labor Committee Members for 2010
DSEA Legislative Priorities
Fact sheets on other legislative issues
Lobbying Tips
Request a DSEA grant for local school board elections
Congressional legislative links
Race to the Top updates and information

Our "No 8% Salary Cut" campaign last year was just awarded BEST Gov. Relations/Political Action Campaign from the NEA PR Council among the "small states"

The struggle to maintain wages and benefits was aided in large part by participation of DSEA in State Workers United for a Better Delaware, a coalition of 14 unions representing state workers. 

Again, thank you, for your relentless lobbying efforts that made a very bad situation much better.

Be a Cyberlobbyist!

Not much time? Really don't enjoy lobbying but would like to do something to help promote our legislative issues?
Thanks to technology, you can promote our issues through your computer.
Just send an e-mail to our Cyber Lobbying Page and sign up. You can link to all sorts of state and federal officials to send them e-mail messages. You will also receive, every so often, an email message from DSEA to send to specific legislators. Perhaps one of our priority bills is due to hit the floor for a vote. Perhaps certain legislators have an incorrect notion about the impact of one of our bills. Whatever it is, all you have to do is point and click! Sign up today!
Home email addresses only!

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NEA's Quality Public Schools Legislative Action Center
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How our laws are enacted
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