BTU The Broward Teachers Union

WELCOME The Broward Teachers Union proudly works for our county's dedicated education professionals teaching in the South Florida area. The union offers first class representation and many exclusive services to its more than 12,000 strong membership. The union’s leaders and staff want to make sure each member considers their joining the Broward Teachers Union is a wise and worthwhile investment. They look forward to “Working for you!� THE MISSION OF THE BROWARD TEACHERS UNION is to provide quality, cost effective, member-focused services with the sole intent of improving the professional and economic status of Broward County educators and technical support professionals NEGOTIATIONS The Broward Teachers Union has a long and established tradition of bargaining excellence. At the negotiations table, professional staff and teachers represent the interests of the membership. Our teams have consistently bargained among the best contracts including: * Record Salary Increases * Expanded Sick Leave * Improved Work Conditions * Shared Decision Making * Cafeteria Benefit Plan * Employee Rights By becoming a member, you directly benefit from the efforts of the union's negotiators, who work on behalf of all teachers. They need your support. JOB PROTECTION Every member receives exclusive representation. The union employs professionally trained field staff representatives and retains both local and statewide legal counsel. With well over a century of collective experience working for teachers, they routinely solve critical issues such as: * Letters of Reprimand * Special Investigations (SIU) * Grievance & Arbitration Hearings * Evaluation Disagreements * Certification Problems * Job Related Injuries * Student Assaults * Payroll Errors * Transfers LEGAL SERVICES Members receive the assurance of having highly trained and experienced legal counsel available to them through their union membership. While nonmembers can hire the same legal counsel with money out of their own pocket, such representation would easily cost several thousands of dollars. The union retains local and state attorneys who have years of experience dealing with district officials and state education laws. Few attorneys in the State of Florida have the same level of day-to-day experience representing the unique needs of professional educators. LIABILITY INSURANCE The union provides members with much more than just liability insurance. Members receive $1 million in liability insurance for on-the-job protection; $3 million aggregate. The organization provides local and same day legal help and many other services. While liability insurance is important, it is not enough. The state’s insurance programonly protects teachers in certain cases. Where does that leave professional educators if they have a contract dispute; or if disciplinary action is taken against them? The state insurance program will NOT help professional educators. The union will! POLITICAL AFFAIRS Every aspect of an education professional’s career is determined at one level or another by politics. The union employs a full time legislative and political affairs specialist who works in Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee. The union's COPE-TIGER Committee screens and recommends pro-public education candidates who run for legislative and school board offices. The committee provides members with many opportunities to become politically empowered. ECONOMIC BENEFITS The union's economic services program provides members with many savings. In fact, members have reported getting all or a portion of their membership dues back by utilizing many exclusive member only discounts. The union offers bountiful economic advantages to its members. The following are just a few: * Discount Theme Park Tickets * Cellular Phone Programs * Reduced Mortgage Rates * Book Sales * Special Prescription Coverage * Dedicated Finance Professionals * Corporate Car Rental Rates * Travel Discounts NATIONAL AFFILIATES Choosing to join Broward Teachers Union is like joining the largest family in the nation. The union maintains affiliations with the following national organizations: FEA, AFT, NEA, AFL-CIO JOIN NOW! The Broward Teachers Union recognizes you have a choice in joining our union. That's why our entire organization is totally focused on providing the most member focused cost effective services possible. We hope by doing so you will choose to join the thousands of Broward County professional educators who have already chosen to do so. Call (954)-486-6250 or e-mail us today! Please visit The Broward Teachers Union website at www.btuonline.com