A The Association of Certificated Educators (ACE) is the collective bargaining agent for all certificated staff, excluding supervisors and managers, in the West Valley District. Our organization includes full and part-time faculty as well as counselors and librarians. ACE was voted in as the CB agent in May 1984 and is the first certificated CB agent in the district's history.

A Most important, a collective bargaining agent represents you in your dealings with the administration and the koard through legally recognized procedures. Through negotiations, you will have a say in determining your salary and working conditions, which include such items as leaves, loads, and evaluation. Furthermore, should conflicts arise, you will be represented in any grievances.

A ACE belongs to an informal network of independent bargaining agents along with our neighboring districts, Foothill-De Anza and Contra Costa. Furthermore, a free exchange of information related to salaries and working conditions is available through the Bay Area Faculty Council. Our attorney, Robert Bezemek, an expert in labor law, is available for legal advice, contract language consultation, and legal representation. By keeping our dues low, ACE encourages your membership in state and national professional organizations.

A ACE counts on the support of both the full-time and part-time faculty. We did not negotiate agency shop, expecting that we could count on that support. We need both your dues and your support. Because of ACE, we contracted for a record pay increase, stabilized our benefits, provided for improvements on both the full and parttime salary schedules, and established well-defined procedures for grievances, transfers, and other personnel actions. As a member, you have the opportunity to vote for representation on the ACE Executive Council, or run yourself, and to serve on various negotiating committees. Now that we have a contract, AGE needs your financial support to pay for grievance officers, legal representation, released time for ACE officers, and printing and mailing costs for better communication.

A Fill out a membership card and send in an initiation fee. Membership cards are available from Jack Pease, WVC, Math Dept., and Executive Council Members listed below. A $15 initiation fee for full-time faculty and a $3 fee for part-time faculty is a onetime only fee. The check should be made out to ACE and sent to Jack Pease, WVC, Math Dept.. Annual dues are $100 for full-time faculty, usually paid in $10/month deductions. Part-time dues are $10/semester, payable by the sixth week of the semester. Authorization forms for payroll deductions are available from Virginia Poe in Payroll or Jack Pease, ACE Executive Secretary.

A Look for the monthly ACE newsletter to keep you up to date on what has been happening. You can also find the Executive Council minutes posted by your mailboxes. Plan to attend an Executive Council meeting. These meetings are open to all ACE members.