P3A
Janus and Fair Share Fees
Over the last decade, a number of cases attacking the rights of public-sector union members have been quietly working their way through the courts and, finally, up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The most recent of these challenges is Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, which the U.S. Supreme Court will hear on February 26. If the court rules for Janus, it will likely have the most significant impact on workers’ freedom to organize and bargain collectively in 70 years.
Janus is the third case to come before the Supreme Court in five years involving public-sector unions’ ability to collect “fair share” (or “agency”) fees. As this report will show, Janus, and the two fair share cases that preceded it, did not grow from an organic, grassroots challenge to union representation. Rather, the fair share cases are being financed by a small group of foundations with ties to the largest and most powerful corporate lobbies. These organizations and the policymakers they support have succeeded in advancing a policy agenda that weakens the bargaining power of workers. In Janus, these interests have focused their attack on public-sector workers—the workforce with the highest union density.
Janus is the third case to come before the Supreme Court in five years involving public-sector unions’ ability to collect “fair share” (or “agency”) fees. As this report will show, Janus, and the two fair share cases that preceded it, did not grow from an organic, grassroots challenge to union representation. Rather, the fair share cases are being financed by a small group of foundations with ties to the largest and most powerful corporate lobbies. These organizations and the policymakers they support have succeeded in advancing a policy agenda that weakens the bargaining power of workers. In Janus, these interests have focused their attack on public-sector workers—the workforce with the highest union density.
We examine the core group of organizations financing this litigation. By tracing the origins of these legal challenges, and explaining how the challenges target unions, we show that challenging fair share fees in the courts appears to be part of a broader billionaire-financed agenda to weaken unions and shift power away from ordinary workers.
P3A 40 Hour Work Week Survey
Please click the link below to complete the P3A 40 hour work week survey.
Pursuant to the new P3A contract language in Article 18, Section 3, each agency with P3A members shall maintain a volunteer list of P3A employees seeking additional hours as part of their regular assignment. This survey will collect the data necessary to create the lists for the respective agencies. Placement on the volunteer list will not guarantee a 40 hour work week assignment.
Even if you do not wish to move to a 40 hour work week, please complete this survey so we know your preference.
Employees may add or remove themselves from the agency list semi-annually. The removal dates have not yet been determined.
Click Here To Complete The P3A 40 Hour Work Week Survey
P-3A Council Survey Results
Summary
During the Question and Answer portion of the January 2014 P-3A Member Meetings, the majority of P-3A members in attendance raised concerns on a number of issues, including workplace climate. An informal survey was developed by CSEA and P-3A Council/Chapter 260 to help provide P-3A members the resources and leadership needed to improve public education and to help to resolve current issues. Click here to view complete survey results.
The CSEA P-3A survey was sent to 173 personal e-mail addresses of P-3A members. Two reminder e-mails were sent on May 7 and 12. As a result of CSEA and P-3A promotion of this survey, 81 P-3A members completed some or all of the survey questions. This report includes data and comments for all questions answered, regardless of whether the individual completed all 41 questions.
Overall, approximately half of the P-3A membership at the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) completed the survey. P-3A members at the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) and the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) also completed the survey. Click here to view complete survey results.
CSDE has offices in Hartford and Middletown. The number of responses from CSDE in Hartford and Middletown reflected the percentage of members in both locations. Both the survey response rate, and the survey response rate by CSDE location, show that member responses fairly represent the P-3A membership at CSDE as a whole.
The Survey Items were drawn from the issues raised at the January 2014 P-3A meetings. Survey Items were grouped into 8 Issue Areas:
- Professional Staff Planning and Evaluation System (PSPES) Process
- CSDE Hiring Process
- External Contracts – Fiscal Concerns
- External Contracts – Productivity Concerns
- Management – Productivity Concerns
- Workplace Climate
- Workplace Schedule and Productivity
- Labor-Management.
The Survey Item results of P-3A member responses in the 8 Issue Areas begins on page 5 of this report. P-3A response categories were: “Agree,” “Disagree,” “Don’t Know,” and “Not Applicable.” Union members had an option to include comments. An analysis of member comments will be available in a subsequent report. All results are in aggregate form and do not personally identify survey respondents. Click here to view complete survey results.
Next Steps
Overall, the results of this informal survey show that the issues raised by individual P-3A members at the January 2014 meetings were not just anecdotal. In 7 of the 8 Issue Areas, P-3A members showed agreement with the majority of the Survey items.
Given the P-3A Election on June 30, 2014, the P-3A Executive Committee and CSEA Leadership recommend that the next P-3A Executive Committee identify issues for action and resolution. For questions, please contact Andrew Midgen, CSEA Staff Representative at amidgen@csea760.com. Click here to view complete survey results.
P-3A Nominations and Elections
CSEA-SEIU 2001 COUNCIL/CHAPTER 260
EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS (P-3A)
REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
ANNUAL MEETING & ELECTIONS
The P-3A Nominating Committee respectfully submits the following report. A call for nominations was issued on May 20, 2014. All members in good standing were invited to forward nominations, including self-nominations.
The P-3A elections and annual meeting will be held on Monday, June 30, 2014 at 5:00 p.m.
at CSEA headquarters, 760 Capitol Avenue, Hartford. Please note the new time of 5:00 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m.
In accordance, with P-3A bylaws, the nominees for two-year terms are as follows (names alphabetically listed):
President:
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Vice President
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Treasurer:
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Secretary:
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Chief Steward :
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| Stewards Department of Education
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Stewards Bureau of Educational Services for the Blind
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| Stewards Bureau of Rehabilitative Services
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CSEA -SEIU 2001 Council Alternate
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CSEA Convention Delegates
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Convention Delegate Alternates
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The membership may provide additional nominations to the P-3A Nominating Committee at the biennial election.
May Edition of the P-3A Bulletin
The May edition of the P-3A Bulletin is now available.
This month’s edition includes the P-3A President Update, Annual Meeting Notice and Call for Nominations. Information on the P-3A picnic, Teacher Retirement Board contributions for Retiree Health Insurance, and information on CIGNA as new our new carrier for state employee and retiree dental plans is also included.