Sisters and Brothers, please take note of the following updates:
DISPLACEMENTS: If you received a displacement letter, please take notice of the following dates and times for displacements:
Food Services: Tuesday, June 16 beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Custodial, SSO’s: Wednesday, June 17 beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Clerical, Miscellaneous Titles: Tuesday, June 23 beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Displacements will take place by phone. You must be available the entire day and answer your phone when called or you will lose your place in line to select a new work location. If the number on file with the District is not current, please contact the union office at 458-8670 to update your number or to make sure the number on file is accurate.
BENTE UNION OFFICER ELECTIONS: The BENTE Election Committee will be meeting with candidates next Tuesday to explain the rules of the election. The offices that are contested and a list of the candidates are as follows:
PRESIDENT
Daniel DiClemente
Embola Ekille
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
Wilbert Navedo
Wayne Collom
Debra Bowen
Joseph Sansone
There will be an election for President and two (2) Sergeant-at-Arms positions. The election will take place on Tuesday, September 22nd at the BENTE Union Office from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All dues paying members will receive a notice of the election by mail at their home address.
The BENTE Election Committee consists of the following members: Ange Palmerini (Chairperson), Rickey Hepburn, Laura Kuhn, Jessica Rinebold, Vic Wilson.
SCHOOL YEAR: The school year will be ending for students on June 19, but the Union and the District have agreed that all BENTE 10-month employees will be paid until June 26th. All 10-month employees should be available to work if called upon until June 26th.
SALARY INCREASES: All BENTE Members will receive their negotiated annual wage increase or step increase on July 1, 2020 as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: For those members who worked last summer, but are not being offered an opportunity to work this summer due to a lack of summer school positions caused by COVID-19, we are encouraging you to file for unemployment. This does not mean that you will receive it, as that is a decision made by New York State. However, given the unique circumstances, it is possible if you can prove you have worked the past summer and are unable to do so because the opportunity is not available this year, you may qualify for unemployment.
If your application is initially rejected, you can re-apply under the “Pandemic Unemployment Assistance” application. Again, the Union is making no representation that you will receive unemployment, but you should apply.
You can begin the process now by applying and putting your end date as June 26th.
CURE HOLIDAY PARTY: The BENTE Chair Officers have decided to cancel this year’s annual CURE Holiday Party in lieu of the pandemic. Given that the children have immune systems that could make them vulnerable to the disease, we decided not to move forward this year with a large gathering that could place them at risk. We are contemplating other ideas (i.e. donation) and would appreciate your input.
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS: Negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement (CBA) should begin in early 2021 since the current CBA expires in June 2021. We will be putting out surveys for input in the early Fall, but please feel free to send us any requests or information at any time.
Thank you for everything you do to provide vital services to the school community through this difficult time.
If you have an issue or comment, please do not hesitate to e-mail me directly at dan@bentelocal2419.org.
Stay safe!
In Solidarity,
Daniel DiClemente, President
BENTE/AFSCME Local 2419
“The Support Staff that Supports Students”
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