Thousands Protest in Troy Against Governors

Over a dozen BEA members from various schools joined thousands of protesters on Tuesday to rally against Governors Walker and Snyder. Birmingham was also represented by Rick Maldonado, Beverly Elementary teacher, who was interviewed by Channel 7 News. Thanks for all those who came out to stand up for their right to collectively bargain fair wages and benefits for the middle class. Click on this link to see more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4NtJyVPxgQ

This bill will dramatically cut pensions and heath care for all future, current, and past school employees

Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) introduced Senate Bill 1040, which makes massive changes to the Michigan School Employee Pension System (MPSERS) that greatly shifts costs for pensions and retirement health care benefits onto school employees and retirees. House and Senate Republicans have expressed their desire to have the bill get to the Governor’s desk by June.

Senate Bill 1040 essentially eliminates all retirement health care benefits for future school employees, and requires current employees to pay a much greater share of for their retirement health care. It will also require existing employees who opt to remain in a defined benefit pension plan to increase their contribution rate to either 5% or 8% depending on whether they were currently members of the Basic System or the MIP system. It will also greatly increase costs for those who are already retired by capping the state share of retirement health care premiums at 80%.

Sadly, this is only the latest in an ongoing string of legislative attacks on retirees that has resulted in fewer Michigan retirees being able to count on a secure retirement. Retirees in Michigan are having their pensions taxed for the first time as a result of legislation passed last year. State employee pensions were targeted earlier this session, and after legislation that passed recently, new state workers will find that they have no retirement health care benefits.

Now the Legislature has turned its eyes on school employees. Proponents of SB 1040 claim that the current costs of school employee pensions are “siphoning money from the classroom.”  This is wrong for several reasons.

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Dear Members,

It is time for the annual election of your BEA Executive Committee. This is an opportunity for membersto become actively involved in the leadership of the BEA and we encourage each member to seriouslyconsider the contribution each could make to the education of our students through strong memberadvocacy.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Nominations are open to all members in good standing. Please see the attached candidate form tobe completed and forwarded to Linda Wichers, Elections Chair, or presented at the Representative Assembly, Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
• Nominations from the floor of the Representative Assembly are also in order.
• Uncontested positions may be filled by acclimation through a motion from the floor of the Representative Assembly on April 25, 2012
• Contested positions will be elected by secret ballot in the buildings on Friday, May 11, 2012

The following terms have expired. If you wish to nominate a candidate please confirm that the candidatewishes to run for the office, complete and return the attached Candidate Information form:

Teacher of the Year 2012 Award

The BEA Teacher of the Year Award is our chance to recognize the excellence that surrounds us everyday, by honoring one of our colleagues. This is a prestigious award that is an acknowledgement from teachers who know the complexity, the difficulty, and the demands of the job. We know the “real story” of what the honored teacher does in the classroom and in the building.

Don’t wait until someone is retiring to offer encouragement and a “pat on the back” for a job well done. Please take the time to nominate a teacher in your midst who cares about students, who demonstrates subject area expertise, and who takes pride in promoting our profession.

NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING TEACHER TODAY!

DEADLINE: Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Return the attached nomination form to the BEA office,
attention: Sandy
FAX: 248/559-4758 or e-mail to mm04bps

Please contact BEA Vice President, Maureen Martin, Chair of the Selection Committee if you have any questions.

Save The Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2012

All nominees will receive acknowledgement of the high esteem in writing. The 2011 Teacher of the Year will be announced and honored at the BEA Awards Banquet held at the BEA Banquet.