FAQs

How do I know that I am an SEA member?

You can check your paycheck to ensure you are an SEA member. If you are a full time teacher, dues will appear as “CAT-1 FULLTIME” with the amount next to it. Dues are not taken from our paychecks in July or August, so the amount for those months should be zero.

What do I do if I’m not getting SEA emails?

If you are not receiving SEA emails, please check your spam folder or promotions tab. If you still do not see the SEA emails, contact either your lead site representative or your Board Member. They will send your email to the SCTU offices to get you added to the email list.

NEA, CTA, SCTU, SEA??? What union am I in?

It can be a bit confusing to parse all the unions and associations we are members of. SEA is Sweetwater Education Association, which is our local chapter and consists of all of the teachers, nurses, librarians, and speech language pathologists in Sweetwater Union High School District. SCTU is South County Teachers United, which is an association of many different teachers associations, including SEA and CVE, the union of Chula Vista Elementary School District educators. Then we have CTA, the California Teachers’ Association, which consists of all the teachers’ unions in California. NEA is the National Education Association, which consists of all of the educators’ unions in the United States. So the answer to the question is that you’re in all four. Strength in numbers!

What happens if I get COVID? Do I get paid time off?

Unfortunately the extended PTO provisions for COVID have expired. If you get COVID, you will use your sick time as you would for any other illness.

I’m having an issue with administrators at my site. Who do I talk to?

First off, tell a union rep at your site and see if they can help solve your issue at the lowest level possible. Remember, while you technically can bring anyone into a meeting with administration, only elected representatives have the training to help you deal with administration. They are also covered by the contract if something goes wrong. After the meeting, you or your rep may need to contact your board member to help with the situation.

I’m having an issue with another teacher at my site. Who do I talk to?

Unions do not mediate conflicts between members. If you are having issues with someone at your site, you should speak to your department head or an administrator.

My principal (or AP) called me into a meeting but didn’t tell me what it was about. Should I get a rep?

If you believe that any meeting with an administrator might result in disciplinary action, you have the right to union representation. If administration has not told you the topic of a meeting, ask them. If they refuse to tell you, bring a rep.

What does the contract say about ____________________?

You can navigate the contract by clicking on the articles in the table of contents. You can also use Ctrl + F to search for the word or phrase you want to look up. If you can’t find it, ask a rep at your site.

I want a raise! When do we bargain?

Our contracts have a duration of three years. That means that every three years, we can bargain anything on the contract. You can see when our current contract expires on the contract page. In the years between, we negotiate “reopeners”, which are articles of the contract that the district or SEA have identified and agreed to bargain (usually 3-6 articles or so). Each year, SEA listens to the membership and reopens articles based on what the members want. The list of reopeners are sent to each member's personal email in the spring.

I want a raise! When do we strike?

We love your enthusiasm! However, there is a process that we must adhere to during bargaining, and there are many steps before a strike. Actions escalate as we journey through the process, and there are smaller actions which develop momentum and are important to unifying ourselves. Ask a rep what you can do to help get that big raise!

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