March 12, 2009

Last night I took part in a conference call with the other NSO affiliate presidents.  The topic was the HQ pension plan. As I'm sure everyone knows the stock market has tanked.  That has affected the amount of money that is in the pension. 

In  Jan. 2008 the pension had  573 million dollars which meant it was funded at 98.1% — it was well on its' way to getting to the 100% point.  On Dec 31, 2008 the pension was at 389 million dollars — 77.5%.  This puts the fund at critical status which means the plan must go into a rehabilitation phase. The plan must increase contributions, reduce benefits, or both during this phase.  At this point, NEASO employees do not contribute to the plan — and I don't want us to, nor do I want a reduction in benefits.  You will each be getting a letter from the plan explaining the issues around the plan.

I bring this up because the issue of employee contribution will most likely be raised by NEA.  We have no concrete knowledge that NEA will bring it up, but every bone in my body tells me they most likely will.

I urge you to become involved as we move into negotiations.  The only way to keep what we have is if NEA management knows that the staff will stick together and support each other as we move forward.

The Bargaining Team will start with a pre-meeting on March 20.  This will not be a negotiation session per say, but we will get out issues that each side expects to take on during negotiations.

The dates for negotiations are April 9-10, 20, 21, 23, 23 and  May 11, 12,13, 15, 26-29.

Next week your stewards will start doing stand-ups in your departments to get more information from each of you, and also a survey will go out next week as well.  You must participate, I say that with urgency. Complacency will not be good for us in this market. 

Now is the time to talk with each other — those of you who have gone through this before, talk to your colleagues who haven't.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.  We have an amazing team, with a lot of background and experience.  I have every confidence that we will be successful-but we need everyone's help.  I know that our MB and HIN colleagues will be there for HQ staff, just as
I know HQ staff will be there for them.

In Solidarity,

Andrea Prejean
NEASO President