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How and Why EAGLS Exists
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| How and Why EAGLS Exists |
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| A Spotlight on Our History and Our Vision |
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 What is EAGLS? Employees' Association of Georgia Legal Services(EAGLS) is a union made up of attorneys, paralegals, secretaries, ombudsmen and ombudsmen coordinators, private bar coordinators, and other non-management employees who work for Georgia Legal Services. It has been recognized as the bargaining agent for all non-management employees of Georgia Legal Services. How did EAGLS get started? Employees of Georgia Legal Services began to organize the union in 1983. The process of traveling around the state, while also carrying on jobs which were more than full-time, made the organizing effort long and arduous. Nevertheless, EAGLS won its election overwhelmingly in 1986. It took over a year to bargain the first union contract. What has EAGLS accomplished? EAGLS has significantly increased salaries for all employees. When EAGLS organized, GLSP had some of the lowest Legal Services salaries in the country; we now have some of the highest, with no salary cap. EAGLS also implemented a grievance procedure with arbitration for persons fired or suspended, implemented a parental leave provision, increased holidays, implemented the sick leave transfer provision, and raised travel allowances. In recent years, the union has negotiated significant salary increases, obtained insurance coverage for same-sex domestic partners, made changes in the process by which a secretary can become an advanced secretary, increased mileage reimbursement, won an employer contribution to our retirement annuities, won a pay differential for bilingual staff, won a parking reimbursement for staff who pay for parking while at work, and agreed on a per diem increase. We also won employer contributions to use toward purchasing additional insurance benefits and a pre-tax "flex plan" employees can use to pay for expenses such as child care and health care costs. Why should I join EAGLS when Georgia is a right-to-work state? With union membership, you have a voice in the decisions made by the union. Only union members may vote on ratification of or changes to the union contract, elect officers, and plan union strategy. As an EAGLS member, you are also a member of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW) and you are able to join UAW and NOLSW in the fight to preserve and expand legal services. In the 1990s, Alex Forger, former president of the Legal Services Corporation, attributed the survival of LSC to the work of the Union. As an EAGLS member, you are also a member of the UAW and have access to additional benefits through UAW. But most importantly, you make EAGLS strong and therefore enable us to make even greater gains on behalf of all bargaining unit employees. We only get strength from membership and that strength, in numbers and in dedication, allows us leverage at the bargaining table. What does EAGLS do for the bargaining unit? In addition to negotiating to preserve and improve benefits, the union assists bargaining unit employees with grievances or disciplinary warnings as well as representing persons who have been suspended or terminated. The union can answer any questions you may have about your benefits. How much are union dues? Dues are currently 1 percent of monthly gross wages, capped at $19.60 per month, and are deducted from your first paycheck each month. For example, if your monthly gross pay is $1450, your dues are $14.50; if you earn $2600, your dues are the maximum of $19.60 How do I join? Sign a union card and dues check-off form. It is as simple as that to become an active EAGLS member, united in the struggle for improved benefits and working conditions. |
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