Uniserv Director

YOUR NEW UNISERV DIRECTOR
MARIE GIESE

As many of you already know, at the end of April, Heidi Miller assumed responsibility for a UniServ Unit in the Logansport area and I added South Bend to the list of local associations I represent. Having served as the UniServ Director for Mishawaka, Penn-Harris-Madison, Elkhart and Baugo for the past 23 years I am very familiar with the NEA South Bend and have had the privilege of getting to know many of you during that time. Over the past few weeks I have met even more of our NEA South Bend leaders and members. I continue to be impressed by your strength and resilience. You are a strong group of people and given the sweeping changes enacted by the Indiana Legislature, that is a very good thing.

On July 1, 2011 the new bargaining law takes effect. Contracts bargained after that date may only contain provision for wages and wage related benefits such as insurance. No other contract language will be permitted. Your bargaining team and I are working diligently to get a contract agreed to and ratified before June 30th. We have already had two bargaining sessions and intend to meet as often as we can to get the job done. If we are successful, we may need to hold a ratification meeting on short notice. Please watch your emails for more information including how to provide us your summer contact information.
Now more than ever it is important that we stick together and remain strong. Together we can accomplish what none of us can do alone. We have a tough road ahead of us but I cannot imagine any group more up to the job. I am your on my team.

Marie Giese
ISTA UniServ Director
mgiese@ista-in.org