Building a Local with MSTA’s Help
Ten years ago, education support professionals in Frederick County were floundering under untenable policies and procedures imposed by the local board of education. With no contract and no control over their work life, the employees were left with:
- No lunch breaks;
- No paid breaks;
- No safety standards (no OSHA and MOSHA rules); and
- One of the worst pay scales in the state.
Enter MSTA and UniServ Director John Gates in 1995. A native of Cumberland, a fierce union organizer and former AFL-CIO regional vice-president, Gates and former staffer, Marilyn Hunter, helped foster an atmosphere of professionalism and opportunity. Using MSTA training to nurture standout members to leadership positions, the Frederick Association of School Employees (FASSE) became an active and effective local.
It’s all about service at FASSE. Early on, MSTA and Gates upped the ante with the board of education by providing FASSE members with the resources and support to enter sophisticated contract negotiations with a confident and knowledgeable front. “Our members went from absolutely no rights whatsoever in 1995 to one of the best contracts in the state for support professionals,” Gates said. “Our members are very proud of the fact that we now have binding arbitration—our contract provides for a neutral outside arbitrator to make a fair judgement on any issues we are unable to come to agreement on with the board.”
That’s very powerful contract language and something simply impossible without a strong membership to back the Association’s position. “Our membership has grown from 200 members 10 years ago to nearly 1,000 today,” Gates said. “Our strong board of directors includes representatives from 15 different job categories—bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians and a host of others. News travels fast when you have that many vested members carrying your message.”
Service also translates to professional development for FASSE members. Hunter’s focus early on was to help create a viable professional development program for members. Their efforts paid off. Over 350 members and non-members attended this year’s Staff Development Day, a full-day program supported by FASSE and the local board. The schedule included more than 20 different workshops, ranging from time management to resume preparation and interviewing skills with high-profile presenters from federal, county agencies and the private sector.
And it came with a bonus for everyone: 45 new members signed up and that means more leverage at the bargaining table!
