How do I become a member?
Even though you filled out a lot of paperwork when hired and when you took your New Hire Orientation, you are not an official "member" until you have signed a WEA/NEA/SEA Membership Enrollment form. We now have all-electronic Membership sign-up! Click HERE to access the electronic form, and type in SEATTLE in the single box that appears, then click on the "SEATTLE E A" that appears below the box and you can then proceed to fill out the Membership Application and submit it by clicking on the "Submit" button at the bottom of that screen.
What is the benefit of being a member?
As a member, your WEA/NEA insurance provides up to $25,000 in attorney fees if you are charged with a crime related to your job. (Remember, you don't have to be guilty to be charged.) You'd lose again if you are sued in civil court (if, for example, a student is injured while under your supervision) because, as a non-member, you would not be eligible for up to $1 million in insurance coverage to pay attorney fees and damages in employment-related lawsuits. You vote in all elections pertaining to SEA leadership and representation of the organization at various conventions. You are eligible to run for SEA office including be a Building Representative. You also have access to the Attorney Referral program. Click here for more information.
Where can I find a copy of the 2023-2024 school calendar ?
An electronic version of the 2023-2024 school year calendar is available on "Calendar" page on the SEA website. It's also accessible by going to the main page of the website and clicking on the "CONTRACTS & BARGAINING" tab.
If I'm having a problem at my job, what do I do?
If you are comfortable approaching your SEA Building Representative, talk to him/her first. They may be able to help you resolve the problem. If the nature of the problem is confidential or beyond the skills of the Building Rep, please call the SEA office. The phone number is 206.283.8443. The staff is assigned according to school and program, so please be prepared to tell the receptionist where you work. A staff member will discuss the issue you with you and work on a mutually agreeable strategy to rectify the problem.
What are the rules around staff votes?
1.For school budgets, CSIPs, professional development plans, use of TRI days, or contract waivers:
All SEA-represented staff, whether they are actually a member or not, who work at least two days per week in the building may vote. This includes paraprofessionals, SAEOPs (office), and certificated staff. Two thirds of the staff must actually vote yes in order to approve a budget, CSIP, or professional development plan. For example, if there are 30 SEA-represented staff in a building, 20 of them must vote yes. A vote that is 19 yes and 1 no is a failed vote. If only 20 people vote, but all of them vote yes, then the vote passes.
2.For extending the PCP time period on some days and shortening on others (for example, when adopting alternating block scheduling)(see Article IX.C in cert contract):
All SEA-represented staff, whether they are actually a member or not, who work at least two days per week in the building may vote. This includes paraprofessionals, SAEOPs (office), and certificated staff. In this case, two-thirds of eligible voters must vote yes, no, or register an abstention (i.e. so it is made clear they had an opportunity to vote and affirmatively chose not to register an opinion). Then just the yes and no votes will be counted, and the yes votes must be at least 66% of that total.
3.For use of substitute unavailability funds:
All SEA-represented staff, whether they are actually a member or not, who work at least two days per week in the building may vote. This includes paraprofessionals, SAEOPs (office), and certificated staff. However, each of the three groups (parapros, SAEOPs and certs) votes separately on how to distribute their share of the substitute unavailability funds. It is recommended that the same voting threshold as described above for school budgets be used.
4.Voting for SEA Association Representatives (ARs) in buildings and programs:
A majority vote of just the actual SEA members who choose to vote. The higher the turnout the better to ensure that the elected representatives have the full support of the building or program. While Parapros and SAEOPs also choose district-wide Association Reps, they may also be elected to be a building or program rep. Technically only certificated staff vote for building and program ARs (because SAEOPs and paras have another process to select ARs). In practice, however, as of spring 2016, it appears that most buildings and programs open voting to all members, whether they are certificated, parapro, or SAEOPs.