Ballotpedia: Third Circuit rejects appeal of class action suit over union fees

 Earlier this month, a three judge panel of the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's ruling that dismissed the case Bethany LaSpina v. SEIU Pennsylvania State Council et al. ruling that LaSpina did not have standing to bring the class action case seeking a refund of union dues, Ballotpedia has reported.

CBS: Keystone Oaks teachers prepare to strike

 The Keystone Oaks Education Association has alerted the Keystone Oaks School Board that they intend to strike if a new contract is not agreed to by February 1st, local CBS affilate KDKA reports.

Fact-finder report acceptable to union, but not management

Pennsylvania State Education Association members in the Deer Lake School District in western Pennsylvania voted to accept the terms of a fact-finding report issued in response to failed contract negotiations.  The school board, however, rejects the terms.


News report:

http://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/12834112-74/deer-lakes-teachers-accept-fact-finder-report-fault-school-board-for-inaction

PDF of fact-finder report:

http://triblive.com/csp/mediapool/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=CzqkmBn3G2WIAoGIEunC65M5tm0Zxrvol3sywaAHBAnRF255$4eyZFXMofVipbazYFvYJtLALTVU4xRnIdl0TQd75FFq0wwMGY0lFLj3Tq2CntTQg573rVzOhfe3dIuoe$SE7JovEZhFAnhYfMRaAg--&CONTENTTYPE=application/pdf&CONTENTDISPOSITION=vnd-DeerLakesreport-101417.pdf

Temple University -- Adjuncts Get First Contract

The Temple Association of University Professionals negotiated the first contract for adjunct faculty.  The union plans that future contracts for both full-time and part-time faculty will be negotiated together.  TAUP is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers.

https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2017/09/05/temple-adjuncts-reach-first-contract-agreement

An Adjunct Couple Speaks for Contract Ratification:
http://taup.org/an-adjunct-couple-speaks-for-contract-ratification/

Tentative contract:
http://taup.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Clean-TA-20170830-1.pdf

Labor Relations Board Rules Complaint Received Too Late

The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board has dismissed a complaint filed by the teachers union of West Side Career and Technical Center in Kingston, Pennsylvania, over the elimination of a librarian position, stating that the union filed their complaint too late. In their complaint, the union had asserted that the duties of the librarian had been taken over by a non-union member after the full-time librarian position was eliminated. At the time of the elimination of the librarian position, the school's administration had stated that the library would be closed going forward. However, the library remained open and the school's secretary took over the related duties.

New Contract for Erie County Library Workers

Library workers in Erie County, members of AFSCME Local 2666, have a new four year contract. The new contract includes increased wages and increased health plan deductibles.

Teachers Union Files Grievance Over Elimination of Librarian

A teachers union in Pennsylvania has filed a grievance against the Wyoming Valley West school board over the elimination of the middle school librarian position. According to the union, the decision to eliminate the position was not communicated properly. At a recent board meeting, the board was presented with a petition with over 800 signatures asking for the librarian position to be reinstated.

New Contract for Warminster Library Staff

Library staff and township supervisors in Warminster Township have come to an agreement on a new contract. The staff are represented by AFSCME 2289.