When leaders of the Parkland EA hold a luncheon with potential new members before the start of every school year, they do two things.
They talk about the advantages of union membership, and the rights and representation they attain. Then, they show the EA’s contract with the Parkland School District, Lehigh County, and compare it to one from North Carolina, a non-union friendly state. Parkland’s contract covers 92 pages. The one from North Carolina is a single page.
“Most sign right there,’’ said Sandi Gackenbach, Parkland EA president for the past 10 years.
But the EA’s engagement with its 640 members doesn’t end there. It is an ongoing process.
As part of an emphasis on personal engagement, there is a building representative for every 15 members. The building reps make contact with new teachers right away, and they are continually in touch with all members.
“This puts a face to a name, and members know they have someone they can contact directly if they have questions or concerns,’’ Gackenbach said. “Having a person they can talk to directly is very important.’’
Gackenbach herself also makes it a point to make one-on-one contact with members, and when there is a major issue she makes a video that is digitally distributed to all members.
The local has only six non-members, but she admits the pending Janus ruling has her on edge.
A major point she and other leaders in the local are making is that their union dues are really no different than what members pay for insurance in their personal lives.
“You pay homeowners insurance, you pay car insurance. Well, this is your job insurance,’’ Gackenbach said.
And when it comes to insurance, Parkland EA leaders are emphasizing the liability insurance PSEA members get.
Gackenbach said the local shares statistics on Parkland teachers, including three in the past year, who have had what proved to be unfounded claims against them for alleged mishandling of students.
“One children and youth claim will cost $2,500 just to talk to a lawyer,’’ she said. “Even if the charges are unfounded, they still have to be defended.’’
Local leaders also note PSEA is not just a union but a professional organization that lobbies on professional issues and provides benefits such as Act 48 credits.
“We emphasize that the union is them,’’ Gackenbach said. “It’s not just their leadership.’’
