News: Do'ers Profile
Mike Jette

Name and Profession: Mike Jette, high school science teacher.

NEA Local Affiliate: Merrimack Valley Federation of Teachers/NEA-New Hampshire

Position: Chief negotiator

Most Recent Accomplishment: The Merrimack Valley school district has long made the lowest employer contribution toward health care in New Hampshire, making it uncompetitive with districts paying a negotiated percentage of health benefits.

But late last year, Jette and his team finally pried off Merrimack Valley's health "dollar cap," negotiating a schedule of escalating employer percentage contributions over the next three years.

There's more work to be done to implement this agreement, but this local's negotiators have laid the groundwork by "humanizing" the need for improved health coverage. The bargaining team produced a photo-packed PowerPoint slide presentation that dramatized the effect of skyrocketing health costs on 10 individual teachers and their families.

To the soothing music of Yanni, Jette narrated this presentation before both district negotiators and the full school board. One powerful segment introduced them to a new alternative education teacher--a graduate of local schools--and his pregnant wife.

While eager to remain in the district, this educator had received a step increase from $24,000 to $25,080, while his family health premium would climb by $3,185. Under federal guidelines, his new child would qualify for reduced-price lunch and milk.

"We wanted school board members to walk away educated on how health benefits impact the retention of quality staff," notes Jette. "We definitely succeeded. There was silence in the room when the presentation was completed."

Words of Wisdon: "We felt strongly that we must make this bargaining presentation personal, and not leave it as a bunch of numbers on a spreadsheet. Pictures have a larger impact on adult learners than numbers, and PowerPoint gives you control over the presentation. But before you put across members' stories in this way, you need to make sure they're comfortable with being publicly profiled.

"It's important to note that the idea for this presentation came from a new member of the negotiating team, Peggy Halacy. She worked well with the rest of the negotiating team--Rich Krajcik, Ray Bailey, Mike LaClair, Trudy Wheeler, and Mary Estee.

"While we always need people with past bargaining experience, it's very good to also bring a fresh viewpoint to the table--and Peggy provided that."

(E-mail Mike Jette at Mjette@mv.k12.nh.us.)