The Center's primary focus is on collective bargaining and member rights. Because these services are delivered primarily through the UniServ program at the local level, they are among the most recognizable of all OEA Services.
Services range from counsel on simple employment matters to complex, on-going legal issues.
This Center also produces special publications and training to advise members about their legal rights and responsibilities. The Center for Advocacy and Affiliate Services is creating a task force to collect information and explore new strategies to help local Association bargaining teams deal with the issue of rising insurance costs. Currently, there are 81 local associations with contracts expiring in June 2001 that are in the process of surveying their members for issues, drafting contract language to address member concerns, and preparing to bargain the proposed language with school boards for inclusion in a new contract. To assist in this effort, the Center for Advocacy has produced a statewide salary comparison and distributed it to locals. An insurance and retirement incentive comparison has also been released and distributed.