1. VESA is a labor union or professional association that covers all employees working for Volusia County Schools who are either office specialists or paraprofessionals. VESA has an agreement with VTO locally for service and professional staff and both VESA and VTO are affiliates of FEA, Central Florida AFL-CIO, NEA, AFT and AFL-CIO.
2. VESA is moving in new directions - VISION, EMPOWER-MENT, SOLIDARITY and ACTION are our guiding words. We are becoming stronger, envisioning the future, and empowering our members. We are creating more solidarity and upholding our contract by working and acting together.
3. VESA defends our members in contractual issues. If it is an issue that is not in the contract, we can work through it to resolve it, file an Unfair Labor Practice, or if it is an issue that many of our members bring to our attention and is not addressed anywhere else, we will make it a public issue, fighting for it by speaking publicly at Board Meetings, Press Conferences, Editorials, and through legal, if necessary.
4. Political activity is very important and we do this in several ways. Lobbying our elected officials every year during the session, working with the state organization, as well as the labor council, AFL-CIO, and many different groups during election seasons, letters to our elected officials here, in Tallahassee, and in Washington, and many other public forums. No dues are used for any political activity ? this is federally mandated. In other words ? it is not allowed. We do other fund raising efforts for political action.
5. VESA meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of every other month ? September, November, January, March and May. The September meeting is open to all employees who are office specialists or paraprofessionals. Building Rep meetings are the 2nd Thursday of October, December, February, and April. The VESA Board meets the first Monday of every month.
6. The legislative agenda changes every time it is an election cycle or a new legislative session. The focus is always on rights of educators, students and employees in the system. The CLC focuses on rights of workers to earn a decent wage and be protected for the future. Additionally, we focus on the rights of working families to a livable wage, medical benefits and retirement benefits. This changes in focus depending on what the legislative issues are for each session.
7. To join VESA, complete a membership application and send it to the VESA office. You can elect to have dues automatically deducted or you can send in a check for annual membership dues. It begins approx. 30 days from when you submit the form ? although we will take into account the date you signed the membership form and your benefits begin as of that date. In addition to the benefits of protection of your rights and representation, should you need it, we have many other member-only perks, savings on all types of insurance, legal services, attractions, movies, personal services, auto services, restaurants, etc.
