Minutes of
General Membership/Executive Committee Meeting
September 12, 2007 at CSM
Present: Ron
Brown, Alma Cervantes, Chip
Guests: May Lee, Martin Partlan, Mike Stanford, Nathan Staples, Yolanda Valenzuela
Meeting began at 2:25
Facilitator: Dan Kaplan
- Welcome and Introductions
- Statements from AFT Members on
Non-Agenda Items
The AFT EC approved Karen Olesen and Elizabeth Terzakis’ request to serve as co-reps for Cañada.
- Minutes of the May 9 EC Meeting
Approved (with one abstention)
- Concurrent Enrollment
Ernie acknowledged that there has been some opposition to the MOU signed during the summer (Dan pointed out that the vote was one of the closest ever among the EC) and that some confusion about its meaning and its impact persists. He explained AFT’s rationale behind signing it. AFT’s attorney advised us that even if faculty opposed the Chancellor’s plan for expanding concurrent enrollment, the Chancellor could have gone ahead with it through contract education. But now our Academic Senate has primary responsibility for deciding if, and how, the Chancellor’s proposed concurrent enrollment plan will go forward. Having the MOU could put us in a stronger legal position in the future should faculty – through the Senate – decide that it is opposed to the Chancellor’s plans to expand concurrent enrollment.
A few members continued to express concern that any hiring of high school faculty to teach our courses constitutes a violation of P/T seniority rights, and that having signed off the MOU, while attempting to strengthen the P/T seniority rights in the next round of contract negotiations, sends a mixed message to faculty.
The EC agreed that it is important to get an accurate list of all the SMCCD courses being taught in high schools by high school faculty. Ernie will request that information from the District, but also suggested that people notify him of any courses they are aware of, so that AFT can begin to compile its own list.
- Negotiations Update
Discussion focused on the issue of compensation for large classes. AFT and the District had signed an MOU regarding compensation, which covered a trial period of two semesters (ending with the spring 2007 semester). During the summer (2007), Harry Joel requested that the policy be renewed. Joaquin recommended that AFT agree to extend for one year, after which we will carefully reevaluate the policy. He also suggested that even if we do agree to renew, we should ask the District to address instances of misuse of the policy. In response to questions about whether there have been any problems under the current policy, John Kirk said there had been two.
Concerns:
Ø More than one EC member raised concerns about the pedagogy of offering such large classes (75 students), and argued that pedagogical issues are AFT issues.
Ø Large classes also deny teaching opportunities to P/T faculty.
One member suggested that we work closely with the Senates to present a unified statement addressing both pedagogy and workload issues.
Joaquin will get data on the number of large classes being offered.
There was one “no” vote and the remainder “yes” to extend the current agreement on large classes for one more academic year.
- Distance Education Advisory Committee
Update
Citing his frustrations that the issue of compensation still has not been addressed by DEAC, though the planning for expanded distance education continues, Ron Brown suggested that AFT consider adding a second rep to the committee, or that perhaps it is time for someone to replace him. There is currently no explicit written statement regarding distance education even though it is clearly different from conventional instruction. Eric Brenner is willing to join the committee as a second AFT representative but doesn’t want to replace Ron.
The District has adopted eCollege as its platform and is already paying some faculty stipends for starting to use it. (Who is teaching these classes?)
Ernie reminded us that AFT has had a Demand to Negotiate on the table since March 2007, but the District hasn’t responded. We’ve also been waiting to hear from our attorney regarding how to proceed with this as one of our three non-economic re-openers for contract negotiations.
- Richard Holober Campaign/Board of
Trustees Races
Richard Holober will attend our October meeting to ask for our help with his election campaign; specifically he wants AFT to make another contribution to his campaign (we have already contributed $1,000 – he would like another $6,200), to help walk precincts, and to help him gain support from other unions (especially United Educators of San Francisco, AFT 2121, and the L.A. Faculty Guild).
Because there will be no race for the Board of Trustees (the only three candidates are incumbents), we could donate more to Richard’s campaign than we might otherwise. However, COPE money has traditionally been used to support Board candidates, and we may need the money for that in two years, when two Board members terms are up. Contributors to COPE will have to vote on whether to make such a contribution.
It was pointed out that Richard has been a strong advocate for AFT, and that he has come out strongly in favor of single-payer health care, which has cost him the support of the insurance industry.
- Grievances
Ø PERB has still not reached a decision on the unfair labor practice suit filed on behalf of the P/T librarians (it was filed more than a year ago).
Ø At Skyline full-time hours for a Learning Disability specialist were changed in 1999 from 25 hours per week to 37.5 hours per week. This change was made without AFT negotiations. Skyline has agreed to reduce the hours to 27, but AFT has also requested back pay. The District’s response is that the faculty knew the job was 37.5 hours when hired.
Ø There have been some issues and questions (no actual grievances) regarding P/T seniority and F/T overloads. One F/T faculty member was denied an overload despite having seniority.
Ø There has been an increase in the instances of interpersonal conflicts.
John Kirk also suggest that, with the hiring of a number of new Deans, individual faculty need to be vigilant about ensuring that past hiring and evaluation practices are being followed. It was suggested that AFT and the Administration could jointly host an orientation for the new Deans.
- 2008-2009 Academic Calendar
Thought the District wants our vote on the 2008-2009 Academic Calendar as soon as possible (AFT has been pushed to decide on the calendar earlier and earlier in recent years), we decided to poll faculty just as we did last year. In a straw poll, the EC was divided (8 – 5) between two possible calendars.
- Compressed Calendar Discussion
In May 2007 AFT polled faculty about whether they favor changing to a compressed calendar. The results:
Yes - 66
No - 30
Undecided - 13
Faculty at Cañada have formed a Senate-approved committee to explore the possibility of changing to a compressed calendar. AFT agreed that there is enough support for the change to move forward. The EC requested that Cañada faculty write a formal proposal to be presented at a future EC meeting and at Senate meetings.
Some of the Cañada faculty pointed out that more colleges statewide have switched to compressed calendars in recent years. At CSM there is strong opposition from Science faculty, as well as concern among those in Vocational Education programs about lengthening their students’ already very full days.
- AFT Local 1493 2007-08 Budget
This item was deferred to the October meeting. Dan asked that everybody bring the budget handout to that meeting.
- Policy on Ethical Behavior
The District has been pressuring the Academic Senates to sign off on its proposed policy on ethical behavior; Jing Luan has stated that we need to act on this quickly in order to satisfy accreditation requirements. One EC member raised doubts about whether we really do need to have such a policy in place right away.
The EC agreed that a policy governing faculty behavior should be drafted by faculty rather than administrators, and that faculty and administrators – due to our very different roles and responsibilities – should have different policies. AFT will recommend at the next District Shared Governance Council meeting (9/17) that faculty draft our own policy and that administrators draft theirs.
- AFT Website and Logo Redesign
We looked at five student designs for AFT logos. Because there was no clear favorite and because we are in no particular hurry, we decided to reopen the design competition.
- Resolution for Organizing a Response
to the Department of Homeland Security’s New Rules Regarding No-Match
Letters
Passed unanimously with minor revision.
Passes unanimously.
- Open Discussion/Meeting Critique
One of our guests posed some questions about her rights to take a medical leave. She has been told she cannot take a leave and must instead go on long-term disability. She was asked to sign a letter of resignation, but does not want to resign. AFT will look into her situation.
Meeting adjourned: 4:40