With the ever growing use of unions in the workplace, it is no surprise to see union growth at Plainfield East (PEHS). And with that growth, it is also no shock that the addition of another building representative is necessary to better advocate for this expansion.
PEHS’ current representatives are Ryan Ferrin and Laura Woods. The responsibility of these representatives is to protect the interests of the unionized staff of Plainfield East.
“The job of the building rep is to communicate union information to building members via monthly meetings, emails, and our corkboard in the printer room. We also act as liaisons between the building administration and the staff members regarding any issues or new directives,” said Ferrin.
Via these meetings, the two current representatives are able to relay information based on important issues, and advocate on behalf of the staff at East.
“We enjoy being able to help our co-workers resolve any issues they may have and being available to answer any questions about district operations that may be confusing,” said Ferrin. “We also just enjoy how this position gives us a broader perspective on how a school district operates. Working with the other high school reps gives us a good sounding board to see if issues are building specific or district wide and that collaboration level can depend on each scenario.”
However, as mentioned above, the growing amount of unionized staff is beginning to demand more attention, as having two representatives simply isn’t enough. Along with having knowledge surrounding the dealings of the upcoming 2025-2028 contract, humanities teacher William Murphy is believed to be the perfect fit for a third building representative.
“As someone who feels very confident about their understanding of the contract, I want to help our building out,” said Murphy.
Murphy’s addition to the representatives is yet to be voted on, but the existing representatives believe that he would be a great addition to the board.
“Having Mr. Murphy as a rep would be beneficial simply due to the fact that he is on the current contract negotiation team and his insight into crafting the new contract would be valuable to our staff when it comes to solving any issues that may pop in the next few years,” said Ferrin.
The decision for Murphy’s inclusion to the representatives is slated to take place in May 2025.
“Having a staff that is taken care of and happy will ultimately trickle down to the student body by providing better classroom environments and more engaging lessons,” said Ferrin.