Bristol Federation of Teachers

On Saturday, May 18, the BFT was honored at a luncheon during the annual AFT CT Business Convention for reaching its 50th anniversary. Present at the award ceremony were delegates David Hayes (President), Sandy Adams (At-Large VP), Paul Pinette (Treasurer), Bob Merrick (Middle School VP), Ray LeCara (BEHS Steward), Boniface Jacobs (BEHS), and Gerard Plourde (BCHS Steward). Several long-serving former officers were also present as guests, including Art Costa, Toni Simpson, Linda Mascaro, Paula Forcier, and JoAnn Truszkowski.

Governor Dan Malloy and Senator Richard Blumenthal also made appearances during the convention, and the  ”Unionist of the Year” award was given to Newtown Federation of Teachers President Tom Kuroski, who was honored for his outstanding efforts to help Newtown teachers in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy.

The BFT has organized a bus trip to the Mohegan Sun Casino for Friday, June 14. The coach bus will leave the BEHS parking lot at 4:15 PM promptly and depart the casino at 11:15 PM. Travel time is expected to be 45-60 minutes, leaving six hours for fun at the casino.

The cost is $30 per person, and includes a $15 meal/retail voucher and additional $15 gaming voucher. Beverages, including beer, wine, soda, and water, will be provided on the bus!

Space is limited to 50 participants!

BFT Casino Bus Trip June 2013

For those teachers impacted by the SDE reading test requirement, SB 1097 came one step closer to passing today. The language in the bill was changed once again, with the reading test portion comprising only a small portion of SB 1097, a bill which intended to rectify problems brought about by the Education Reform Bill passed in May 2012.

The new language will change the test into an anonymous survey used to drive professional development. Details can be found here. Members are greatly encouraged to contact their legislators (use the link at the top of this page) and ask for their support in passing SB 1097.

On Tuesday, April 16, retired and current teachers across Connecticut will gather at the state capital in an effort to lobby for teacher retirement issues. This is in response to recent plans to eliminate state funding to HIPA (the Health Insurance Pension Account –  all current teachers contribute 1.25% from each paycheck, but the state should contribute also), which is in danger of insolvency from years of funding neglect on the part of the state.

The Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut is leading the charge. They are encouraging all teachers, current and retired, to contact state and federal legislators and ask that they keep their promises to teachers.

Specifically:

1) Fully fund HIPA

2) Repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision

3) Eliminate the Government Pension Offset

For more information on these issues visit www.ssfairness.com

The ARTCT rally is will start with teachers leaving the Mix Street commuter lot at 9:30 PM on April 16, meeting with ARTCT reps to discuss talking points in the Legislative Office Building, and then meeting with state legislators in their offices from 11:15 AM until noon before having lunch in the Old Judiciary Room of the Capitol Building. At 2:00 PM participants depart and return to the commuter lot at 2:30 PM.

For more information, contact retired teacher Tedd Johnson at 860 677-0367.

SB 1097, the bill that would eliminate the reading test requirement for SPED and K-3 teachers and delay implementation of the new teacher evaluation program, has exited the Education Committee as it continues through the legislative process. Changes to the language of the bill can be expected before being put to a vote before the General Assembly. Members can track progress on the bill by clicking here.

Members are encouraged to contact their local representatives and ask for their support in passing the bill. Use the link at the top of the page.

The governor’s proposed budget completely eliminates the state’s contribution to the retired teachers’ health insurance fund for the next two years.

The law requires the state to pay one-third of the medical costs for retirees. The governor’s budget proposal overrides this law and eliminates the state’s contribution to the health fund for two years, shortchanging the fund by over $70 million. This puts teachers’ retired health insurance fund in serious jeopardy. Contact your legislators and Governor Malloy and tell them to protect the solvency of the fund.

The reduction in the state’s contribution to the health fund will negatively affect its long-term solvency. Active and retired teachers have been paying into the health fund with the understanding that it will be there for them when they retire.  Active teachers make the largest contribution to the retired teachers’ health insurance fund — contributing 1.25% of salary annually. In 2012-13, contributions from active teachers of over $45 million will be deposited into the health fund.

The state should honor its obligation – active and retired teachers have always dutifully made their required health insurance contribution.

For more information on the topic read here.

Click the link at the top of the page to contact your local legislators.