‘Some things just take time’

MEA-MFT awarded for efforts on unemployment for ESPs

What’s wrong with this picture: In Montana, a school bus driver qualifies for unemployment compensation during the summer months if he or she works for a private company contracted by a public school district. But a school bus driver employed by the school district itself doesn’t qualify.

Make your head spin? It should. There is no logic to this inequity.
That’s why MEA-MFT has fought for years to pass legislation allowing Montana’s education support professionals (ESPs) to qualify for unemployment compensation during the summer.

We tried again in the 2007 Montana legislative session. Our bill, Senate Bill 355, did not pass, but we came close. SB 355 died in the Senate on a tie vote. That’s closer than any state that has tried to pass such legislation, according to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

For that reason, AFT presented MEA-MFT with an award for outstanding legislative program at the annual AFT PRSP (Paraprofessionals and School Related Personnel) conference in Las Vegas, NV, in May.

MEA-MFT member Karen Lewis of Helena accepted the award for MEA-MFT. Lewis was one of more than a thousand ESPs nationwide who attended the conference.

This year’s theme was “Count Me In!” The conference featured exciting and informative workshops that covered professional and union-related topics. MEA-MFT member Jill Holyszko of Livingston attended the conference’s session on Managing Student Behavior for Support Staff.

“This training was beyond my expectations!” Holyszko said. “I gained so much valuable information to share with my local, and really anyone else who has concerns with the effects of student behavior. I began this year disappointed and frustrated about the unemployment issues for support staff. I still am, but this conference reminded me of the affiliation and unity of our unions, and how the hope of strength is in our numbers and commitments.”

“We will never give up on unemployment for our ESP members,” said MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver. “Some things just take a long, long time and a different set of politicians.”