MHFT Newsletter -- September 12, 2014

Click here to download a pdf version. 

Check Your Pay & Deductions

Now that you have received your August pay, please be sure to check that the numbers are correct!! If you use direct deposit, pleased go to ess.sccoe.org to check your rate of pay and deductions.
Divide your gross annual salary by 11 - this should be the monthly gross on your pay stub.  If you receive an additional Master's Degree Stipend ($1,000) or Doctoral Degree Stipend ($1,500), that should be added onto your annual salary. Then look at the rest of your pay stub to make sure there is nothing that looks wrong.

Especially check your deductions for summer pay (if you requested them), and your health care deductions and MHFT deductions.  (You do not want these deductions to be wrong, because it can have quite an impact if you have to correct an underpayment later.)

If you find any errors, contact Danielle Nunez right away at x51603.  If you are unable to resolve a problem with your pay, contact the Federation for assistance.
Have you misplaced your copy of the Salary Schedule?  It can be found online at the MHFT website: http://www.mhft.org

Live Pay Warrants

The district has reduced the number of employees that receive an actual paycheck to fewer than 10% of our members. They are currently in the process of negotiating a new system for paycheck distribution. The district’s goal is to have all employees on the direct deposit pay system whenever it is possible.

If you are among the 10%, you will receive an email and hard copy that will encourage you to sign up for direct deposit. If your application is received by Friday, September 19, you will be set for the trial run in September and direct deposit thereafter.

If you do not sign up for direct deposit, there will be a new system that might include mailing your checks home, making them available for you to pick up at the district office, or converting you to a pre-paid debit card that is electronically credited with your pay.

Please look for the form to register for direct deposit and consider signing up by next Friday. After next week’s deadline, the MHFT staff will be individually contacting any MHFT members who have not signed up, to determine the next steps as the district moves to its new system.

Catastrophic Leave Bank

A number of years ago, the Federation successfully negotiated a catastrophic leave clause in our contract.  Under the terms of this clause, members are invited to donate one day of sick leave to the catastrophic leave bank.  Only donors to the bank are eligible to withdraw days from the bank, should they find themselves in the unfortunate position of having a catastrophic illness.  
Those who are hit with a catastrophic illness may apply for leave from the bank, once they have exhausted their personal leave.  The decision to award days is made by a joint labor/management Catastrophic Leave Committee.

Members are only allowed to opt in to the catastrophic leave program during the open enrollment window (Sept. 16 - Oct. 11), or when the total number of days falls below 400 (in which case every member is notified, and must donate a day to join or stay in).

Please watch your staff mailbox for the catastrophic leave enrollment form.  If you do not receive one, it should mean that you are already enrolled.  (If you believe you are not enrolled, and would like to opt in, please contact Carolyn Bower at x51022.)

Health and Welfare Sign-ups 9/16 - 10/11

Jim Kwon is visiting sites right now to enroll you in your health and welfare benefits.  Please be sure to sign your new form during the open enrollment window.  Once that window closes, you can only make changes if you have a “life-changing event.”  

Precinct Walk This Saturdayfor Claudia Rossifor County Board of Education

WHERE: South Bay Labor Council, 2102 Almaden Road, San Jose 95125
WHEN: Saturday, September 13, 9 am - 2 pm
WHY!!!!!!!: Claudia Rossi has consistently voted with us to defend public education for all, improve the graduation rate, decrease class size, and increase teacher salaries in order to attract and retain high quality educators. We need to walk for her now, so that all voters in Santa Clara County’s Board of Education, District 7 know why she is the best candidate in this race. Last year we did the impossible by working together to beat the charter schools.  We have to work hard now to beat Julia Hover-Smoot and make sure we have a County Board Trustee that supports a comprehensive, quality public education for all of our students in our neighborhood schools, and respects the professionalism of our educators and the work we are doing every day in our classrooms.

Please join us in this positive effort to help Claudia get elected!

Back to School Nights & MHFT-Endorsed Candidates

MHFT will announce our four endorsed MHUSD board candidates upon the final endorsement from South Bay Labor Council on September 16. We will then be moving quickly to promote our endorsed candidates. We all saw last year how important it is to have a board that is supportive of our schools.

Please consider joining our candidates at the following back-to-school events to assist with the distribution of candidate information. Email Gemma Abels at gamhft@garlic.com if you can provide assistance in this important race.

Tuesday, Sept. 16
PV (5:30-6:30ish)      
El Toro (4:30 - 5:45ish)

Wednesday, Sept 17 
Britton ( 4:30- 5:30)    
Murphy   (5-6pm)

Thursday, Sept 18 
Walsh  ((5:30-6:30ish) 
San Martin  (5:30-6:30ish)

Taste of Morgan Hill

MHFT will have a booth at the Taste of Morgan Hill on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 from 9:30-6:30 each day. We will be promoting our schools and supporting our endorsed candidates. Please see your building rep to sign up for your site.

This is a great opportunity to enjoy some time with your colleagues, connect with the community, and support all of our schools!

From South Bay Labor Council

California's landmark legislation addressing clean energy jobs and climate change is under attack.   I am writing to ask for your support of this critical piece of legislation for our state.            
A small group of legislators and people who bankrolled past efforts to delay California’s progress seek to stop the work being done to clean up our air and create family-sustaining jobs.  We need to prevent this.  Delaying the implementation of AB 32 - California's Global Warming Solutions Act - will hurt working families and the environment.

Tell California’s lawmakers that we need to move forward to cleaner air and good jobs and that we must halt attacks on the law that will get us there <https://sblc.ourpowerbase.net/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=83537&qid=1036336> .

Every day, working families and disadvantaged communities bear the brunt of pollution and climate change. AB 32 will save $8.3 billion in pollution-related health costs from avoided hospital visits and sick days.  AB 32 will also deliver cleaner fuels and more fuel-efficient vehicles - that means more miles to the gallon, less money spent at the pump, and less pollution.  

At the same time, it will create family-sustaining jobs while helping working families by funding better transit, building more affordable housing, and constructing projects for high-speed rail, water and energy efficiency projects, and increased recycling.

Tell your legislator to join us in fighting for a better economic and environmental future for all of us <https://sblc.ourpowerbase.net/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=83537&qid=1036336> .

California doesn’t have to choose between clean air and good jobs. With AB 32 we can and will have both.

Teachers at the Mic

Thank you to San Martin-Gwinn for presenting to the Board this week! Next up will be:

Congratulations to Darcy Foster, who won a ream of colored paper last time. To enter the new contest, email wallacej@mhusd.org with an answer to this question: Where is the Federation hoping you will be on the evening of September 23?