Author: ieaesp

Yesterday we had over 70 fabulous ESPs attend our ESP Council Zoom meeting. We had great topics and discussions! Members shared how the events have effected them after the inexcusable death of Mr. Floyd and how we can support each other during this time. Rob Lyons, IEA Associate General Counsel and Kathi Griffin, President of IEA attended as special guests and resources to help answer important questions effecting ESPs today such as: ESPs and reduction in force (RIF), our concerns regarding summer and fall around, safety best practices, and working conditions.

Save the date for our next IEA ESP Council Roundtable!
July 18th, 10am-noon

The topics of discussion will be health/safety concerns-returning to in person education and a follow up on unemployment for ESPs. These topics may evolve as new information comes down from the state and federal levels. More info to come.

Thank you to all attended yesterdays meeting! I look forward to our next discussions!!

I hope this finds you safe and well. This is a very scary time in our world. During this time your council is here for you! Please reach out at anytime with any questions and concerns you may have. As we finish virtual learning this spring and transitioning in to planning for what learning will look like in the fall, ESPs need to be at the table. It is essential that ESPs are represented at every level of discussions concerning the safety and planning of what in school or virtual learning will look like.

Several members from your ESP council are bringing ESP voices to the table by participating in education planning committees at both the local, and state level. Two of these committees are, IEA CO-Ocreated Covid Conversation committee and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) RLR 2.0 committee. We are honored to be apart of these committees and feel the scope of the importance that our voices bring.

I encourage you to reach out to your district administration and request that ESPs be included in the planning of your districts remote/return to school plan team. When all voices are represented at the table, students win. Thank you for all that you do. Your council is working harder than ever….fighting harder than ever for our students, districts, communities, and members!

#StrongerUnited #rESPect

Join us on Saturday, June 13 at 5:00 for a virtual rally where we’ll listen to speakers and educators as they voice how we can carry the core principles of the Black Lives Matter movement in to our public schools.

Join us for a morning of organizing around racial and social justice issues.
Ethnic Minority and Early Career members are strongly encouraged to attend!
Special Keynote Presenter:
Paul Gorski, EdChange – http://www.edchange.org
SATURDAY | JUNE 20
8:30 A.M. – 12 NOON

As current IEA ESP Coucnil secretary and incoming ESP Council Chair, I’m excited and honored to participate in the first Remote Learning Recommendations 2.0 committee meeting today through ISBE. If you want to be heard you must use your voice. Representing ESPs throughout all of Illinois!

Juan Ramos has been a school custodian and union member for nearly 30 years. His father was a custodian before him, and Ramos spent summers helping his dad starting out when he was just fourteen-year-old. With that much experience under his utility belt, Ramos definitely has the know-how to protect students and educators from coronavirus, but only if he and his colleagues have the equipment and staff-power necessary to fight the deadly virus.

A Custodial Checklist

Tammy LaPlante, a high school custodian in Ashtabula, Ohio, offers a checklist of safety and cleanliness precautions as schools reopen.

• Training for custodians regarding the proper procedures for cleaning and disinfecting, especially if they will be using a disinfecting machine.
• Adequate supply of PPE as it requires changing your gloves and other PPE when moving from one task to another.
• Sanitizing stations at all the entrances being used so upon entering the buildings hands can be sanitized.
• Timetable for cleaning and disinfecting at regular intervals throughout the day and for the night custodians.
• All touchable areas need wiped down and disinfected to include restrooms, hallways, handrails, elevators, light switches, door handles and push bars, as well as nightly mopping of all floors.
• Doors should be left open for minimal risk of contamination.
• Discontinue use of drinking fountains if possible, but if they are used then more regular disinfecting needs to take place.
• Check CDC guidance on reopening.

NEA is currently working with partners and affiliates to develop guidance on schools reopening.

June 08, 2020

On June 5, Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law the AFSCME-backed bill HB 2455, which gives expands access to unemployment benefits and workers’ compensation coverage.

AFSCME members made hundreds of calls to legislators to urge passage of this bill in the General Assembly, and the union’s legislative team played a critical role in crafting and passing the legislation.

Unemployment Insurance

The new law removes the prohibition against non-instructional education employees receiving unemployment benefits when they are laid off during the 2020 summer months. As a result, thousands of AFSCME members who work for school districts and universities will be able to qualify for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits this summer so they can make ends meet for their families. And, through the end of July, UI benefits will be increased by $600/week because of a recent change in federal law.

In addition, the law provides over $2 billion in additional federal funding; an additional seven benefit weeks in the state extended benefit plan; and non-charging for employers’ COVID-19 related unemployment insurance experiences to help the economic recovery efforts.

Workers’ Compensation

The new law also amends the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act to expand access to benefits for first responders and frontline workers stricken with COVID-19. It presumes that essential workers who contract COVID-19 did so because of their employment and makes this standard retroactive to the start of the pandemic.

“These critical changes to our state laws protecting workers would not have been possible without the grassroots advocacy of AFSCME members and the leadership of our legislative staff team,” said Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch. “As AFSCME has for decades, our union will continue to fight for the rights of all workers during this unprecedented time.”

ESPs, I hope this finds you safe and healthy during this tumultuous time. Your ESP Council continues to work for you, to bring your concerns to the forefront so change and support can happen. On June 13th ESPs throughout Illinois are invited to the next ESP Council Zoom meeting from 10am-12pm. Please join us as we gather information on issues that ESPs are facing today. We need your input and leadership to guide us moving forward.

Please RSVP to Arlene Criglar at Arlene.Criglar@ieanea.org to receive the Zoom link.

If you are unable to attend you can still share your thoughts using to link below. We look forward to hearing from you. Your Voice, Your Union! #rESPect

https://ieaespcouncil.com/meet-yo…/contact-your-esp-council/