TOTEM Negotiations

TOTEM Survey Results

TOTEM sent out a Wage Survey and a Negotiations Survey to all TOTEM Members. Below are the links to the results we received from each survey.

TOTEM Wage Results

TOTEM Negotiations Results

TOTEM Survey #3 Results

TOTEM Negotiations Updates:

January 22nd, 2024

Your TOTEM Negotiations Team had a frustrating bargaining session with the district yesterday. The district's negotiations team still seems unwilling to make any significant counter proposals. They did offer an additional .25 cents year one and increased the % in year two & three from ½ % to 2% in Article 502 – Wage Schedule.

We expressed to them our disappointment and let them know that we feel that we are not being heard on important issues, such as wages, safety, and remote learning language. We ended the meeting having not come to an agreement on any articles.

Currently, we have not scheduled any further meetings with the district. We are hopeful that after reflection the district will come back to the table ready and willing to negotiate more collaboratively.

Diane Johnson

TOTEM Negotiations Team

West High, Activities Administrative Assistant

January 11th, 2024

A productive time was spent on Thursday, January 11th between TOTEM and ASD. Articles that were discussed:

Article 104.2: Bargaining Unit Orientation – this section was TA’d.
Article 104.4: Information Requests – this section was TA’d.
Article 302: Holidays – TOTEM offered a counter proposal adding Juneteenth; removing Indigenous People’s Day and removing Summer School language, as it belongs in Article 602.4
Article 409.1: Short Term Unpaid Leave - added Cultural/Religious events into this section. This was TA’d.
Article 502: Wage Schedule – ASD offered a counter proposal to their frozen scale of $1.00 per hour across the board year 1; a ½ percent year 2 & 3. There would be step movement each year.

TOTEM offered a counter for $7.00 year 1; 3% both year 2 & 3, with step movement year 1. Also, a 1.5% add ’l all (3) years for Step P, not just year 2 & 3.

Article 610: Emergency Closure: TOTEM offered a counter proposal seeking to add language specific to remote learning days. Since this is a new area, we feel it needs to be addressed.
Article 612: Safe Workplace – TOTEM offered a counter proposal.
Article 614: Evaluations – this section was TA’d. Clarifies that evaluations need to be released to the employee by May 15 for school-based, and June 15 for twelve (12)

month employees. This gives the employee time to reflect on the evaluation prior to conference to have a more meaningful conversation with their Principal/Supervisor.

Our next negotiation session will be on January 22nd.

Amanda Marley,

TOTEM Negotiations Team

December 21st, 2023

Today, December 21st, the ASD and TOTEM negotiators met. We have attached the District’s response to our proposals for you to review. Essentially, there are no proposals.

TOTEM chose not to respond and instead decided to draw the meeting to a close 30 minutes after we met. We are very disappointed to see that the District does not respect and value the members of TOTEM and their work by being unwilling to show any movement towards compromise.

As seen in section 502, the District proposed no increase in wages and they would like to take away the 2% increase the TOTEM Highly Qualified employees are currently receiving.

Our team continues to hope for better results and plans to continue to work for better wages and more respect for our members. We will send out a survey shortly to gather more information to continue the fight. We are asking you all take a few moments to provide feedback.

In Solidarity,

Richara Binion,

TOTEM Negotiations Team

December 14th, 2023

The Anchorage School District (ASD) and the TOTEM Association Negotiation Teams met on Thursday, December 14th, at the TOTEM office for the second round of negotiations.

We had to review TOTEM proposals again because some ASD team members were not at the last meeting, which took over an hour. ASD countered with non-money changes to the proposed contract (409.1; 610; 614). TOTEM offered a counterproposal on the First Aid/CPR language (107.2), added language for payment when taking classes outside their scheduled workday.

The TOTEM team was disappointed with the counterproposals. The following two proposals stand out:

The first was Emergency Closure (610), where ASD counter-proposed removing language to let employees work remotely on snow and remote learning days. Employees would have to report to their building, take leave, or leave without pay. This would be taking us back to where there were no choices.

Also, the ASD team didn't again propose any wage increases, which was disappointing since TOTEM proposed pay increases on Tuesday, December 5th.

ASD needs to be more creative to help solve the TOTEM hiring backlog and make TOTEM members' lives a little easier. We are hopeful that we will make some progress in our next meeting. ASD and TOTEM's meeting is on Thursday, December 21st, at the Education Center. After the meeting, the teams will take a break until January.

Richard Geiger,

TOTEM Negotiations Team

MEET YOUR NEGOTIATIONS TEAM

Sandy Thompson Wallace

President TOTEM, Spokesperson

My name is Sandy Thompson Wallace, and I am proud to be serving the membership of TOTEM Association as your President. I am in my 27th year with ASD. I have worked as a noon duty; para substitute; Special Programs Para and as an Administrative Assistant/Registrar before being elected to the TOTEM Presidency. I know how hard our TOTEM bargaining unit works, and how much they care about the students, families, and staff they serve. Recognition of the value that we bring to the district is paramount to recruiting and retaining the necessary staff that is needed. That value needs to be reflected in wages paid, healthcare and other benefits received and a safe, well-staffed work environment

Alicia Woods

Vice-President, TOTEM and Admin Asst, Denali

Hi, I am Alicia Woods. I have been with ASD and TOTEM for 23 years. I have worked as a Parent Worker/Noon Duty, substitute para pro, and an elementary school sectary in a TITLE 1 school. Now, I am the Administrative Assistant at Denali Montessori and the Vice-President of TOTEM. This year will be the 2nd time I have been on the negotiation team, and I am excited to show the district that changes are needed to make ASD a great workplace.

Amanda Marley

TOTEM Member-at-Large Instructional – PreK Para Title 1 @ Williwaw Elementary

Hi. I am Amanda Marley. I have worked for the district for 14 years. My current position is a paraprofessional educator for Preschool at Williwaw Elementary. I have lived in Anchorage for almost 30 years. I am serving my second year serving on the Board as a member-at-large instructional. This will be my second time as a negotiator for your TOTEM contract. When not volunteering my time with TOTEM, you’ll find me out on the trails or traveling.

Richara Binion

Para SpEd Behavior Support @ Kasuun Elementary

Hello! My name is Richara Binion and I’m a product of the Anchorage School District. I've worked for the district for the past 18 years and currently work as a paraprofessional in the SBBS Program at Kasuun Elementary. This is my first time as a member of the negotiation team for TOTEM. When not working or volunteering at school, you can find me attending Special Olympic events, spending time with family and friends or reading a good book.

Diane Johnson

Administrative Activities Asst @ West High School

My name is Diane Johnson. I have been a member of the TOTEM union since 1999. I began working as a noon duty for the Anchorage School District in 1997. Over the past 25 years I have been at 4 different schools. I’ve worked as a noon duty, special needs paraprofessional, an elementary administrative assistant and I am currently the Activities AA at West High School. I am proud to be part of the TOTEM Contract Negotiations Team. I feel having worked at both elementary and high school, in various positions that I will bring a broad perspective to the bargaining table, and I am looking forward to the challenge.

Richard Geiger

Para SpEd Resource, Secondary @ Mears Middle School

My name is Richard Geiger, and I am a Resource paraprofessional at Mears Middle School, primarily supporting 7th and 8th graders in science classes, and a part-time Mears IEP clerk. I started working at ASD as a substitute teacher in January 2019. I became a para in February 2020, working as a para in the life-skills program at Denali Montessori. I have experience with schools all over the ASD, mainly at the elementary and middle school levels. In addition to being on the negotiation team, I represent TOTEM on the APEA/AFT EPIC Board of Directors. I am looking forward to helping the negotiation team get a fair contract for its members and help ASD reduce the number of open TOTEM positions.

Leah Parks

ELL Tutor @ Eagle River Elementary

Hello, my name is Leah Parks. I have been an ELL Tutor with the Anchorage School District for the past 8 years. Prior to that I have been a Special Education Para, Kindergarten Para and have subbed in the office as well as been a Crossing Guard and Noon Duty. I have 18 collective years with the District and look forward to many more. I am excited to be a part of the wonderful negotiating team working hard for our TOTEM Contract.

Barbara Strong

APEA/AFT Staff (Advisory)

Negotiations Q&A Zoom

An informational Zoom about the Negotiations Process for members of TOTEM and ACE was held Oct. 12th. This Zoom held information about the process only and was not to discuss details about TOTEM Negotiations.

If you were unable to attend, please click here to watch.