Several members of the Negotiating Team have been asked for a Negotiations update, and we believe it’s important for you to know that we have been plugging along at the table on a regular basis.  All the members of the Negotiating Team are committed to delivering a fair agreement for your consideration.  As such, we’ve developed proposals to address fair working conditions such as those related to seniority, work hours, salary and others.  We have endured changes that were imposed by the school over the last few years.  We hope to address these and any future changes through the collective bargaining process.

We are continuing to meet regularly, about twice a month, and some sessions are more productive than others, but we are making progress.  Please continue to be patient as we will endeavor to get the best contract possible for you.  As soon as we have reached a tentative agreement, we will be able to discuss details with you.  Until then, we must observe the rules of confidentiality.

Also, you should know that we are pursuing the arbitration regarding recent layoffs. Both sides are scheduled to meet with the arbitrator on March 15th.  We will keep you posted on this matter as soon as anything new develops.  We are currently trying to address this matter in the future by negotiating revised contract language that may prevent the need for such arbitration cases.

Please click on the Title above to download the Membership Form.

Click on the link above for details on the upcoming campaign meeting in Springfield.

Ours is the only union that has worked to organize and empower University of Alaska employees since 1973. Click here to find out how University of Alaska Staff United is the right choice for a brighter future.

The Lodi Unified School District voted to issue 410 pink slips to address its $30 million budget gap.  Here is the link:lodinews.com/articles/2010/02/17/news/1_lusd_100217.txt

As the only University of Alaska employees who are not currently represented by our union, Classified and APT staff are the last piece of the APEA/AFT puzzle. Click here for full details.

In these tough economic times when public employees and university faculty and staff are being hit with givebacks and take-backs, all University of Alaska employees deserve a seat at the table! Click here for full details.

Chapter Chair - Margaret Rosen

Treasurer - Al Opacity

Secretary - Michael Kownacky

Grievance Chair - John Forconi

Notes on Meeting with Patricia P. – Accounting Consultant

If you have received money you were not due, do not cash the check. See the board office immediately to request the check be voided, and a new check be issued to the appropriate person, or if it was for you for the correct amount. DO NOT PAY another employee with a personal check. Your taxes will be incorrect at the end of the year!

Summer school teachers are paid on a 1099 form, and do not receive a W-2 for summer school work. This means it is not being paid out of the regular salary accounts, but you are being paid as a “consultant”, which is fine. If a summer school teacher needs a sub, they should pay the sub the full amount, then take it off as a deduction. The sub should then claim it as income on their own taxes. The difference here is that you can file a Schedule C (Self-Employment Income) form on your tax return, and claim the following deductions, which we normally cannot claim with our regular pay (Use your SS number as your employer ID#):

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a percentage of what your internet costs are if you are using it at home to prepare your lessons

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a percentage of the cost of your computer, printing expenses, paper

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books & any other materials used for your class

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tolls you incur to/from work

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mileage @55 cents per mile (will check on this exact figure, or check with your accountant)

Also, the current employee share of taxes is 7.65%, and our employer pays the same, totaling 15.3%. On the 1099 for summer school pay, none is taken, so you are responsible for the full share, 15.3%.

Pensionable wages – under 50 - $16,500

                                      over 50 -     $21,500

Paycheck deductions:

In general…

Federal taxes – depends on you file – single, married, # of dependents, etc

Social Security – 6.2% - maxes out at $105,000 for 2010

Medicare – 1.45% - never maxes out

Unemployment - .00425% - maxes out at $114.28

Many tax prep chains will charge you based on how many W-2’s you are submitting. Because many of us receive multiple W-2’s, we may contribute more taxes than necessary, as they are taken out on each W-2. Form NJ-2450 can be filed to get overpayments back.

If you have any other questions, please submit them to any GFT officer, and we will forward all questions on to Patricia.