American Federation of Teachers - 4322 American Fed of Teachers Local

Contract maintenance and member representation: contract maintenance and employee representation include the filing of grievances, answering a large assortment of contract questions, and giving advice to members via e-mail and telephone. Sc/ta staff represents members in hearings at the schools or work sites, and they also attend bid meetings for hourly employees. Unlike contract negotiations, this service is provided only to dues paying members.

Other program services: other programs services include, among other things, legal services for employment related disputes between sc/ta members and the school board, and training meetings for the sc/ta representatives working at the various schools throughout the county.

Collective bargaining: the sc/ta negotiates two contracts for 5,000 employees of the school board of Sarasota county, Florida; the instructional bargaining unit agreement for the instructional employees and the Classified bargaining unit agreement for non-instructional employees. Negotiating teams generally meet once a week from spring to fall in formal contract talks. Informal negotiations occur all year to discuss the issues that arise between contracts. The negotiated contracts cover all school board employees, whether thay are members of sc/ta or not. After formal contract negotiations are concluded, members vote to ratify or not ratify the contract.

Participation in charitable activities: the sc/ta participates in several education related activities that promote education in Sarasota county. The organization contributes to the education foundation of Sarasota county and various education based organizations in addition, to funding meals and refreshments at school board related teacher training sessions.