Frequently Asked Questions

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  • Any licensed educator in the WLWV school district can join the West Linn Wilsonville Education Association. Contact WWEA’s membership chair, Stacia Wilson (wilsons@wlwv.k12.or.us) to become a member!

    • Become a building rep

    • Come to the meetings that are open to all members

    • Join the WWEA executive council

    • Join bargaining, committees/work groups

    • Attend the OEA Reps Assembly

    • Vote in WWEA elections and on WWEA contracts, MoUs, etc.

    • Donate to OEA PAC

    • Attend lobbying days

    • If you are comfortable speaking with your build administration, let them know.  We recommend notifying them in person first, letting them know you’ll follow up with an email in writing, and then email.  

    • If you’d like, you can have your building rep with you while you have those conversations.

    • If nothing changes, or it isn’t something your administration can change/effect, notifying your building rep right away.  Your building rep will bring the violation to the union chair for level.

  • A grievance indicates the contract has been violated. If the contract has been violated, and there has been ample time, notifications, and written communication around an issue that has been ongoing, yet the situation has not changed, been rectified, or improved, the grievance chair may begin the process of filing a grievance.

  • Item Insurance pooling is using dollars from any overage from the insurance cap (if applicable) and any unused insurance caps from members that waive medical and/or dental. Those dollars are distributed amongst certified staff who are .5 or higher. (Part time certified staff get a prorated distribution). Pooling helps alleviate out of pocket costs; it also can be contributed to members on the HDHP with an HSA plan. Some years we have a lot to work with and some years we don’t.description

  • Item An HSA is a Health Savings Account that allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars for qualified medical expenses: deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Members can contribute to an HSA when accompanied with the High Deductible Health Plan from Pacific Source. Dollars from insurance caps after the premium is paid go directly into a member’s HSA. Any additional dollars from pooling are deposited into the HSA as well; up to the contribution tax limit for an individual. HSA dollars do not have to be used in a tax year and can be rolled over in the HSA for years. This money can be invested and grown tax free.

  • “OEA PAC is OEA’s political action committee (PAC) – the tool that Oregon educators can use to help financially support pro-public education candidates who earn the endorsement of OEA members. The OEA PAC only exists because OEA members like you have chosen to make voluntary contributions to help educators build power and improve public education in Oregon.” You can find more information, here.

    Un    ion Membership dues cannot be used to support political candidates, so donating to PAC is a great way to support candidates who support education.

    In addition to supporting candidates, joining PAC gives you the opportunity (but not obligation) to meet with local elected leaders and to help interview candidates who are seeking our endorsement. 

    • To join, contact WWEA Pac Chair Michael Sugar at sugarm@wlwv.k12.or.us or text / call 541-912-4981 outside of work hours.

    • Please wait to complete the online form to join OEA PAC until you’ve reached out to Michael, the PAC Chair.  There are particular boxes to check depending on your situation, and checking the wrong boxes can result in your enrollment in OEA PAC without being connected to your local branch of the PAC.  In other words, you could miss out on opportunities to meet with local legislators and candidates, and your PAC Chair would probably continue reaching out to you to ask if you would like to join PAC when you already have!  So, please reach out to Michael first to make the paperwork is done right.  Thanks!

  • If you have a building-related question or concern, start by contacting your building rep.

    If you have an issue related to a particular area (student services, specialists, dual language), contact your specific area rep (see contact information).

    After a union rep has been contacted, primary or secondary level vice presidents, and/or the union president may become involved as needed.