Home

 
Present: Chip Chandler, John Kirk, Katharine Harer,  George Goth, Rick Hough, Romy Thiele, Karen Olesen, Victoria Clinton, Eric Brenner, Annie Nichols, John Searle, Karen Olsen, Yaping Li, Teeka James, Jenny Saarloos, Dan Kaplan, Ernie Rodriguez, Kate Motoyama

The meeting began at 2:30 pm.

The minutes of Oct 23, 2002 and Nov 27, 2003 were accepted. Katharine Harer gave the Co-President's Report. She stated that a CFT meeting will be held on Feb 1 at the Oakland Hilton on how to deal with budget problems. The CFT Convention will be held in San Francisco on March 21 - 23.

Katharine Harer said that nothing much was happening in negotiations, which are to deal with part time equity. The Administration has canceled the last two meetings.

Much of the rest of the meeting was devoted to discussing the Governor's proposed cut of 10.5% in the community college budget. Without regard to who brought up what, here are the items that were mentioned:

 - In the 1990's it was found that enrollment dropped about 1% for every $1 increase in the cost per unit

 - that with the proposed mid year cuts, the overall cut would be more like 20%

 - this would be a good opportunity to politicize students

 - we have to be prepared to lobby Republican legislators

 - at City College they expect to lay off 30 full timers and 275 part timers; sabbaticals have been deferred and all employees have been asked to forgo previously negotiated salary increases

 - we have seen nothing like the above here. The Chancellor and the Board will meet this weekend for a retreat and he will give them his plan

 - most likely the EOPS and health care programs will be affected

 - that the community college system took the largest hit because it is the weakest politically

 - that Sacramento Bee recently published an article indicating that the community colleges will take a larger hit with the money going to the UC system

 - that demonstrations protesting the cuts should be arranged not only on the campuses but in Sacramento as well

 - that if these demonstrations are to be held, they should be held after the mid year cuts are announced

 - that the sections cut at the different campuses amount to 80 at Skyline, 53 at Canada and 68 at CSM

 - that Canada laid off all part time librarians and is probably in violation of state regulations regarding the staffing of the library

 - that we should keep our eyes and ears open and encourage the formation of alliances

 - that we may be holding a special meeting on Feb 5 at CSM from 3 - 5

 - that FACCC will be holding a lobbying day on Mar 17

The resolution of the Chancellor hiring issue was discussed. The State Chancellor Office was described as 'completely toothless.' Apparently the State Trustees were most upset by the violation of affirmative action.

Kate Motoyama discussed the Faculty Hiring Task Force. They are trying to move the process along by having the Senates ratify changes as they are proposed rather than waiting to do an entire package. The District's HR office is proposing changes of its own. Apparently they want fewer faculty on the hiring committees. At CSM all faculty members of the hiring committee can attend, but not participate in, the second level interviews. While they may not ask questions, they can take part in the discussion afterwards. The affected dean should not be on the hiring committee. The possibility of untenured faculty members serving on hiring committees is still unresolved. The task force wants to define confidentiality differently so that process, but not personal, can be discussed. They want to be able to send candidates on either ranked or unranked but eliminate 'strengths and weaknesses.' The committee thinks there may be too much emphasis on diversity (on the hiring committees, not the search).

Members of the Exec asked several questions. If policy is not followed, no hiring can proceed. Faculty members are appointed to the hiring committee by the Academic Senate. The hiring manager (?) has to communicate with the hiring committee.

John Kirk discussed grievances. In the case of the faculty member placed on 'administrative leave', we have filed an unfair labor practice with PERB and a grievance with the District. So far, the District has done nothing to proceed against the instructor.

In another case, a part time instructor was put on a lower salary step when rehired after a lapse of several years. The Chancellor has not responded to our initial letter.

John Kirk expects that the Canada library issue and seniority issues in the lay off of part time instructors will most likely result in grievances.

Annie Nichols said that all post retirement contracts at Canada have been denied and that that is probably grievable.

The discussion of the Local's budget was deferred.

The Executive Committee voted unanimously to endorse a statement provided us by US Labor Against The War. The Executive Committee also voted to give that organization $250.

The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Top of Page
AFT 1493 Home