ANSWERS
The Officers of Local 8599 believe
that an effective Union begins with
effective communication to the
membership.
This page contains answers to many
common and uncommon questions.
Do you have a question?
Click the link below.....
LOCAL 8599
Representing FUSD employees for over 30 years
3/25/11
Opting out of medical insurance
I keep hearing some teachers talking about the medical cap. Some say they will just get on their spouses Medical plan and
were told they wouldn't be able to do that because there's no opting out. Is this true? If so does this apply to classified
too? Does the cap also include the cost of dental? Is the $250 per person or family? When will we find out the rates for
International?

The USW negotiating team is currently in talks with the District on these very issues. We are also looking at the legality of the
"no opting out" clause. Nothing of this nature has been agreed to yet. Dental and Vision coverage will remain the same. We
expect there to be no cost to families if both spouses work for the District. Please check the NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE page
for details........
**UPDATE**
While the Union agreed to a soft cap, in which the District will pay premiums equal to that of the lowest cost plan, a switch to
Aetna from Blue Shield resulted in a net zero cost to employees choosing that option also. There was no change to the
co-pays, and since Aetna routinely offers chiropractic coverage, Kaiser also began coverage for chiropractic for the first time.
9/22/11
Furlough days
I am hearing that we might possibly not have to take furlough days and have our pay returned to us. Is there any truth to
this ?

At the September 7th Board of Education meeting Vice President Jim Williams told the Board that there seemed to be enough
money in the budget to rescind the furlough days. At the September 21st Board of Education meeting President Richard
Bruce formally requested that cancellation of the furlough days be placed on the next agenda. With another 5.5 million dollars
in "extra" savings just announced by CBO Alejandro Alvarez, and in light of the recent announcement that the REEP will
rebate over $750,000 to FUSD this year (the six furlough days are valued at less than $700,000), the Union feels it is not
reasonable for the District to demand further devastating pay cuts to its employees. Stay tuned.....
9/27/11
Pay ranges and steps
If you are hired into a job that has a higher range of pay do you lose your steps from your
positions range of pay , or do they still apply to new position?  I am at the top of my current pay scale,
so if i am required to go back to a step 1 at the new range that would be a cut in pay.

The short answer is that any promotion MUST result in a pay raise. So, you would be assured of at least 4-1/2%. A more
detailed answer would be that the District would align your steps to make sure you got a raise. For example, if you are now at
Step VII, but Step I at your new job would be less, then you will be placed at the right step that is needed to ensure that you
receive your raise. Good luck!
10/20/11
I dont understand why the union has flip flopped so many times in regards to furlough days. Make a decision and stick with it! If things
need to change put in on the table for next year. This indecision is simply ridiculous and there are many members seriously considering
pulling dues

We don't consider it a flip flop to react to changing budget situations. We also don't think most members want the Union to "stick with"
the furloughs, which amounted to about a 4% pay cut. When the furloughs were needed to help restore members jobs, the Union made
the difficult choice to agree. Now that the budget situation has clearly improved, the furloughs are not needed, and unfairly burden the
Classified employees. Accordingly, your Union has asked that they be rescinded, and at the October 19th Board of Education meeting, 3
days were indeed rescinded. Pulling dues weakens the Union, and leaves the member with no voice and no vote. We would suggest a
better plan is to be more active in your Union, attend meetings and make your opinions known.
1/20/12
Board member Garcia talked about changing Board Policies and that the board members are to write them not District administration at
the last board meeting.   The board attorney did not object to her comment.  I really don't feel comfortable for a wife of a convicted
killer, who met and married her husband in jail, to create board policies. I also read in The Sun, that she went on some TV show and a
psychologist said she might suffer from a Bonnie and Clyde disorder????  Do these people have the education experience and knowledge
of state mandates as the District admin.? Can they legally do this?

There certainly seems to be some kind of issue about the relationship between the Board and the District Administration that comes up
from time to time at Board meetings. The Union is not privy to the exact details. Some of this came to light when the Board decided to
change Attorneys. We understand your position on Mrs. Garcia's personal life decisions, but we are not aware of any laws that prohibit her
serving as a Board member. As to the education and experience, please go to FUSD.net and click on the Board of Education tab, and then
click on the Meet the Board members tab to see a brief biography of each member.