JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT MEETING ON ZOOM
Hey, UTLA SLPS,
The last couple of years have been a rough ride for lots of reasons - but the district’s springtime surprises are not helping! We know that our program is understaffed, SLPs are overwhelmed and burning out, and our students are not receiving timely assessments and their complete services. The district’s solutions? Assignment adjustments that max everyone out to 55 and cut many necessary special assignment supports. Focus on EDSR. And now a change of benchmark (during IEP season and the highest assessment loads many of us have ever seen!) These solutions are not making a meaningful difference to student services and they are draining and demoralizing SLPs.
Guess who has better ideas? We do!
Caseload cap of 50
Weighted caseload for PK and AAC
Private and confidential workspace
Paid initial Ax over five - for everyone
Big raises and bilingual stipends
And lots more - like paid parental leave, district provided AAC apps, better access to PN days
UTLA SLPs have proposed reasonable solutions that will recruit and retain providers and result in better, more stable services and assessments for our students. We worked hard to get them into the bargaining package and now is our time to win this contract.
Winning all our great proposals - step one:
Sign the petition! If you have signed, share with your friends and make sure they signed. We hope all members sign to let our union know that these proposals are important to us and let the district know that we will fight for them.
Winning all our great proposals - step two:
May 17th Statewide Rally! This LA Times article does a great job describing UTLA’s bargaining package and juxtaposing our vision with the Trump/Musk agenda. There are a lot of great marches and rallies happening. The big one for us is May 17th. We will show up to push back on the dismantling of the Department of Education and the Medicaid cuts - and to lift up our bargaining package vision including a fully funded LAS program with reasonable caseload/workload. Please mark your calendars and invite your friends and family - we hope everyone can make it. We will share more information as we get closer to the date. (And if you need a fresh UTLA t shirt to march in, check out our online store)
Payments for MOU Initial Ax - as we shared in Tuesday’s announcements, we may have to grieve the district AGAIN to be paid for the initial assessments per MOU. Many providers hit their sixth initial assessment that meets criteria back in the fall and should have been paid by now. We will check in with members later in April - if no one has been paid in an off-cycle check, then we will begin to collect information for a grievance like we did last year.
Last thing before we jet off for spring break - last weekend at CTA state council, the special education committee learned of an unfortunate CDE policy change that impacts many SLPs in CA who work for districts that pro-rate preschool students (similar to our proposal!) This policy change doesn’t directly impact our district but you might hear about it or want to share your thoughts. CTA is asking for feedback.
Ok, wishing everyone a wonderful and restful spring break - filled with good surprises!
In unity,
Kyoko, Leah, Sara and Sally
Hi, UTLA SLPs,
Sally and I attended a UTLA meeting last night and wanted to share a couple of quick updates. UTLA has been pushing hard to get support for members impacted by the fires. We will keep pushing but here are two commitments we've secured so far:
1. MSND can be used for fire/wind related absences from last week Wednesday, 1/08/25.
2. MSND time is being expanded to seven days for members who were required to evacuate and ten days for members who have lost their homes.
We will go over more info at our chapter meeting on Friday, 1/17/25 at 12:00pm.
Also, Monica Roper wanted to share this message with our community:
Dear SLPs,
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and kindness during this difficult time. Your assistance and encouragement have meant the world to me and my husband Trevor.
Thank you for being there when we needed it most.
Warmest regards,
Monica G. Roper
Ok, hang in there and see you on Friday. Reach out if you need support.
In unity,
Kyoko, Leah, Sara and Sally
GO DODGERS!!! World Series champs!!
And in other thrilling news - the bargaining platform is officially out!
Earlier this year we collected and submitted your priorities and concerns, together with hundreds of other UTLA chapters. The bargaining team (with SPED itinerant chapter chairs including a UTLA SLP!) developed a proposed platform (after many discussions and drafts!) based on these priorities.
Please take a few minutes to check out the full platform and a summary. There is a lot to get excited about!
The next step in the bargaining process is a full membership vote to endorse the platform. The in person voting will take place at school sites from November 19-21.
In preparation for the vote, we've moved up our November chapter meeting to next Monday, November 4th at 5:30pm via zoom. Please join us to discuss and ask questions about the platform. Zoom link will go out via email before the meeting.
In unity,
Kyoko, Sara, Sally and Leah
Happy weekend, UTLA SLPs!
Quick reminder of our next chapter meeting on Monday 9/16/24 at 5:30pm. Zoom info will go out before the meeting.
Discussion topics on the agenda are: developing our chapter priorities to submit for the bargaining platform and working with SLPAs. As always we will have lots of time to connect and support each other on issues at our school sites.
If you haven't had a chance to share your thoughts on priorities via the google form, here is a link: https://forms.gle/rzWoh53vSppV7YSC7
Also, much respect and gratitude to members who tried out the caseload relief template and shared the response they received! It sounds like SLPs who were over caseload maximum received caseload adjustments pretty smoothly and quickly.
In unity,
Kyoko, Leah, Sara and Sally
JOIN US FOR OUR Regular chapter meeting: 5/06/24 Monday 5:30-6:30pm
We've heard from many members this week who received very unexpected increases to their caseloads or had their special assignment days converted to caseload. Following the truly bananas kinder transition policy change and with only seven weeks left in the school year, members are reporting that these changes are ill timed and unwelcome, to say the least.
Please join us at our upcoming chapter meetings. Let's talk through what is happening, why it's happening and what we can do to protect reasonable workload and push back on these district decisions.
Also, please mark your calendars for the UTLA rally on 5/07/24 at Beaudry. We are hoping to coordinate with school psychs and other SPED itinerant chapters to rally together and then go out to eat nearby.
In solidarity,
Kyoko, Sally, Sara and Leah
4/26/24 Friday lunchtime meeting:
Please join us next Friday from 12:30 to 1:00pm! Let's talk some more about transition assessments and reasonable workload.
Chapter chair self-nomination:
From the recent UTLA email, "Self-nominations are now open to become Chapter Chair for the 2024-2025 school year. Chapter Chairs are the critical contract enforcer, communicator, and lead organizer for your worksite. All union victories — including 2023 wins to lower class sizes, increase staffing, save healthcare, and increase salaries by 21% — are built from having strong Chapter Chairs who drive organizing at their sites.
Any UTLA member in good standing who has spent a majority of their work time within the chapter for at least two calendar months before submitting the self-nomination form is eligible to become Chapter Chair.
The deadline to self-nominate is April 26. Elections will be held only at chapters where more than one member has self-nominated. If only one member from a chapter self-nominates, they will become the Chapter Chair upon completion of the Notice of Chapter Chair Election form, which will be emailed after April 26."
Here is the link to the self-nomination form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctoT5TmJFZ7udUGTe4yJJjt8rd4xCS5931ORS5IZy1gW3QlA/viewform
May 7th UTLA Rally at Van Nuys Civic Center:
Please mark your calendar and check out this week's UTLA email for details and RSVP for the rally: https://mailchi.mp/utla/all-member-4-19-24?e=8cb326c507
04.04.2024.
Hi, UTLA SLPs,
Our next chapter meeting is next Monday, 4/08/24 at 5:30pm. The topic will be the new guidance on Kindergarten transition assessments.
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on the new guidance! Many members have concerns about workload. Based on responses to our google form:
7.5% report that their workload will be reasonable
17% report that they are unsure
75.5% report that their workload will be unreasonable
Other concerns mentioned include: inconsistent responses from APs, impact on treatment minutes and 70% benchmark letters and comp time and performance evaluations, impact on previously scheduled initial assessments, rescinding PALs assessment plans that were sent out per earlier guidance and general overwhelm.
UTLA members have contract protection for reasonable workload - even when the district makes sweeping changes with unreasonable timelines and inadequate staffing and resources. The district can not continue to expect us to work for no additional pay outside our contract hours. Please join us at Monday's meeting to talk through concrete ideas and solidarity to maintain a reasonable workload.
Zoom link will go out before the meeting via GroupMe and email.
One last thing from this week's UTLA email:
Self-nominations are now open to be Chapter Chair for the 2024-2025 school year.
Chapter Chairs are the critical contract enforcer, communicator, and lead organizer for your worksite. All union victories — including 2023 wins to lower class, increase staffing, save healthcare, and increase salary by 21% — are built from having strong Chapter Chairs who drive organizing at their sites.
Any UTLA member in good standing who has spent a majority of their work time within the chapter for at least two calendar months before submitting the self-nomination form is eligible to become Chapter Chair.
The deadline to self-nominate is April 26. Elections will be held at chapters where more than one member has self-nominated. If only one member from a chapter self-nominates, they will become the Chapter Chair upon completion of the Notice of Chapter Chair Election form, which will be emailed to them after April 26.
In solidarity,
Kyoko, Sally, Leah and Sara
Hi, UTLA SLPs,
We are having a quick lunch time chapter meeting today to discuss the updated PK assessment guidance, contract protections for reasonable workload, and options and supports.
Thank you to all who have filled out the google form for feedback about this guidance. If you haven't had a chance, here is the link: https://forms.gle/uzupNcMdsyvozqBo9
Today's meeting will be from 12:15-12:45pm.
CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR THE LINK!
Hi, UTLA SLPs!
We are excited to talk about assignments! So we are re-scheduling our March meeting chapter meetings a little earlier.
Please join us next week:
Thursday, March 7th 5:30-6:30
Friday, March 8th 12:00-12:30
As usual, zoom information will go out before the meeting via email and GroupMe.
Here is the new contract language on itinerant assignments:
Article IX-A Section 12.0
Uniform Staffing Procedure for Itinerant Assignments: Dependent on the administrative structure of the itinerant department, the District shall provide itinerant employees with a tentative list of available positions or programs/regions/Local Districts/administrative/supervisory areas prior to the distribution of the preference form, however the parties acknowledge that the tentative list is based on projections and therefore subject to change. Supervisors shall assign itinerant employees by an assignment method determined by each itinerant program in consultation with the UTLA Chapter Chair, in order of seniority considering other factors such as District/Program need, continuity of services, geography and the unique/area expertise of the service provider. The only exception shall occur when the supervisor reasonably determines with documentation that any specific assignment is not in the best interest of the education program. If the exception determination is disputed, the employee may appeal the initial assignment to the Department Head or designee for final resolution of the matter.* The District shall make every effort to notify the employees of assignment changes no less than one (1) week before the end of the school year with the understanding that such assignments are subject to change.
Leah sent an email earlier about the Friday Contract 101 meeting, but in case you missed it:
We are very excited to schedule our second Contract Language 101 Meeting on March 8, 2024 at 12:00pm. We will be discussing the new contract language regarding assignments including assignment preference forms, list of available school sites, and seniority rankings. Even though this is an extensive topic, we do have to keep the meeting to our contracted lunch. But as always, if you have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out to us.
Ok, talk soon!
In solidarity,
Kyoko, Sara, Leah and Sally
Hi, UTLA SLPs,
I hope everyone is staying warm and dry!
Just a reminder that we will have a meeting for PK Intake providers tomorrow. All current PK Intake providers are welcome!
PK Intake providers meeting
Wednesday February 21st at 5:30pm
Zoom info will go out before the meeting via email and GroupMe
Hope to see a lot of you there!
In unity,
Kyoko
We wanted to give an update on our Lunchtime Contract Language 101 Meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to review and interpret contract language, discuss "hot topic" items that are relevant to all or most providers (e.g., MOU for additional initial assessments), and talk more about benefits that we as union members have access to. These meetings are intended to be brief, as our contracted lunch is only 30 minutes. Our intention is to quickly share out information and pass along resources in hopes of increasing member involvement. That being said, if there is a topic you'd like to discuss, please please e-mail us!
Our first first will be Friday, February 16, 2024 at 12:00pm. Zoom link to follow. Luke Fox who is an Area Representative for the National Teachers Associates (NTA) Life Insurance Company will be talking a little bit about supplemental insurance. If you are unable to attend, we will pass along his contact information. He is happy to meet with you, and even a family member, to discuss in more detail.
--
Sent in unity from:
Sara McDonald, Kyoko Bristow, Sally Machado and Leah Mashian
UTLA LAS Chapter Chairs
CONTRACT LANGUAGE 101 MEETINGS
Topic: Contract Language 101 Meetings
Time: Feb 16, 2024 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Fri, until Jun 7, 2024, 17 occurrence(s)
Feb 16, 2024 12:00 PM
Feb 23, 2024 12:00 PM
Mar 1, 2024 12:00 PM
Mar 8, 2024 12:00 PM
Mar 15, 2024 12:00 PM
Mar 22, 2024 12:00 PM
Mar 29, 2024 12:00 PM
Apr 5, 2024 12:00 PM
Apr 12, 2024 12:00 PM
Apr 19, 2024 12:00 PM
Apr 26, 2024 12:00 PM
May 3, 2024 12:00 PM
May 10, 2024 12:00 PM
May 17, 2024 12:00 PM
May 24, 2024 12:00 PM
May 31, 2024 12:00 PM
Jun 7, 2024 12:00 PM
SEE YOUR EMAIL FOR THE ZOOM LINK!
If you haven't received the email or don't seem to be on our list REACH OUT TO US AT utlalaschapter@gmail.com
Hi, UTLA SLPs,
Please join us at our next chapter meeting on:
Monday 2/12/24 at 5:00pm via Zoom
email us for the link on utlalaschapter@gmail.com
We are jumping in to the new and very exciting contract language on assignments! Please bring your ideas and concerns about assignments.
Article IX-A Section 12.0
Uniform Staffing Procedure for Itinerant Assignments: Dependent on the administrative structure of the itinerant department, the District shall provide itinerant employees with a tentative list of available positions or programs/regions/Local Districts/administrative/supervisory areas prior to the distribution of the preference form, however the parties acknowledge that the tentative list is based on projections and therefore subject to change. Supervisors shall assign itinerant employees by an assignment method determined by each itinerant program in consultation with the UTLA Chapter Chair, in order of seniority considering other factors such as District/Program need, continuity of services, geography and the unique/area expertise of the service provider. The only exception shall occur when the supervisor reasonably determines with documentation that any specific assignment is not in the best interest of the education program. If the exception determination is disputed, the employee may appeal the initial assignment to the Department Head or designee for final resolution of the matter.* The District shall make every effort to notify the employees of assignment changes no less than one (1) week before the end of the school year with the understanding that such assignments are subject to change.
Zoom info will go out before the meeting via email and GroupMe.
See you soon!
In solidarity,
Kyoko