Contents of this Newsletter

President's Report by Bill Lefrancois Poem A View From Auburn Classification by Phyllis Barrett Grievances Is HCC Uncooperative? by Jan Nettler

Director's Report 3% Raises For Next Year? by Kathleen McDonough Full Time Faculty May Teach DCE in the Day! Would You Like To Send letters, ideas, articles?

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HCC/MCCC Executive Committee Bill Lefrancois President x2464 Kathleen McDonough MCCC Director x2598 David Baker Treasurer x2465 Adrianna Iacobucci Secretary Political Action Jan Nettler At-Large MACER x2413 Jan Nettler Grievance Officer (Day) x2413 Bob Stachowiak DCE Coordinator & Grievance Officer x2275 Phyllis Barrett Past President x2360 AREA REPS (open) SEM (open) Health (open) Professional Staff Carol Potter Humanities Bob Riedl Social Science Eileen Kapinos Business Election Committee Kathy Root Leona Lout

PRESIDENT'S REPORT 3% RAISES -- Do You Want It? CLASSIFICATION -- What's the Delay? POLITICAL ACTION -- Will You Help? Hello everyone, and welcome to end-of-semester crunch time! I hope that you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving day break and that you make it to the Winter break! A number of things need updating, and so I'll begin there. First of all, the classification study. The original contractor, Coopers & Lybrand, have removed themselves; they claim that they are not happy due an indemnity clause that they want to be put into the contract. This indemnity clause is not feasible, and therefore not a viable option. Another company, Griffiths & Associates (G&A) is very interested in the contract for the classification study. G&A was actually the union's first choice due to their familiarity with educational institutions. Therefore having them do the study may prove to be beneficial for us. Cooper's & Lybrand was actually the choice of the Board of Higher Education. It is expected that G&A will sign very, very soon (perhaps as early as December 8) and so any delays should be minimized and we should stay fairly close to being on course with the study. Another item of concern is the approaching expiration of our present contract. In a recent meeting of the statewide board, a vote was taken to recommend to the chapters for ratification the extension of the present contract for one more year. In addition to keeping the same language as is in the present contract for one more year, a pay raise of 3% across the boards would also be given. Tentatively, the Board of Higher Education has in principle agreed to it contingent upon the fact that we still discuss informally the language in the present contract so as to save time later. The rationale for this decision is simply to separate the classification study from the new contract. If the new numbers from the classification study are used in the next contract, then the salaries are positively impacted in negotiations; if the old numbers are used, then the salaries will be negatively impacted in negotiations and we will have to live with this result for the life of the next contract. Overall, it is felt that by extending things for one year we will be in a more favorable position at the bargaining table. Around the campus, a number of concerns have arisen and been discussed at MACER. One of the concerns dealt with is the new use of the computers by advisors during registration. The college has said that this policy is purely voluntary and will remain that way. As long as it is a voluntary policy, and as long as individuals are free to use

whatever form of registration they desire to, then the union is satisfied with the rights of the unit members' being protected and no action needs to be taken. If anyone encounters any problems with this new system, in violation of this agreement, then just let your nearest union person know and it will be remedied.

Another issue of concern for the chapter is that we are in need of individuals to serve on the political action committee that was recently established at an executive committee meeting for the chapter leadership. Prior to this change, one person served as the political action coordinator. The amount of work involved and the traveling are significant for just one person, but are very reasonable for a small group, even if the group is only made up of two people. The political action committee is crucially important in all of our negotiations. In any contract year, it is the political action committee that works to gain for the union the necessary votes to approve a contract. It is also the political action committee that helps in our public relations image to the community.

If you have seen James Carlin's recent attacks on the institution of teaching, then you know how badly good political action people are needed (this need is not just a local chapter need, the state leadership also could use some political action help in its public relations campaign!). If any individual or individuals are interested in this work, please contact any union leadership person and let us know; we'd love to have you!

In closing, by the time you read this we will have had our last Chapter meeting for this Fall semester. MCCC President Sue Dole and MCCC Counsel Dan Donahue are expected to be there.

Before I sign off, here's a little rhyme to help you focus on the winter break:


Snow and Life

The weather is growing colder and fuel is costing more; Very soon little flakes of white will start to fall; To many this marks a time of the year to deplore; Luckily, for us, this same sentiment is not shared by all. To many the snow is pure and free of taint; Some of us wish life could be the same; Enjoy the winter before a roaring fire that's quaint; Chock up life, and all of it's troubles, as part of the game. Remember that snow quickly comes and quickly goes; Remember that the coldest ice eventually thaws; Remember that in life your friends outnumber your foes; Remember to forgive yourself, as the snow, for having flaws!

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A VIEW FROM AUBURN

Classification

Phyllis Barrett, MCCC Secretary

It is hard to find words to describe the frustration of the MCCC leadership that the Classification Study has been stalled in its tracks by the failure of Coopers & Lybrand to sign a contract to conduct it. While Coopers gave as its reason concern about various clauses in the contract involving their potential liability, they have, in fact, entered into other contracts with the state of Massachusetts which include the same boilerplate language. Some of us speculate that Coopers recent merger with Price Waterhouse may have led to layoffs or restructuring which undermined the company's ability to follow through.

Whatever the case, the contract for the study is now being offered to Griffith and Associates, a firm headquartered in Florida but with an office in Massachusetts. Griffith was the first choice of the MCCC members of the Classification Study Committee, so the union leadership is enthusiastic at the thought they may be doing the study. Representatives from Griffith are meeting with representatives from the Board of Higher Education this week and a signed contract is anticipated by December 12. It would probably be unrealistic to suppose that the new firm would start their study before the holidays and semester break, but they are promising that, once they begin, they will complete the study in the 26-week timeframe which Coopers and the BHE had agreed upon. So there is some hope that their findings will be available by the summer and that funding for the reclassified jobs will shortly follow.

Do keep in mind that a political action campaign may be required once the study comes in, because the MCCC predicts that the 2.4 million dollars already designated will not be enough to solve the salary inequities within the system and the salary disparity between our system and those in other states. Even Jim Carlin, Chair of the BHE, recently jokingly asked Susan Dole, MCCC president, if 4 million would be more like it. Susan, never one to miss an opportunity, returned, "It might be more like 15 million, Jim." It will require more than a few phone calls to lobby for this, so get ready!

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GRIEVANCES

Is HCC Uncooperative?

Jan Nettler-Grievance Coordinator

During the last couple of years, we have seen significant cooperation between the HCC administration and the MCCC. Many issues have been resolved informally and at MACER.

We have also seen at least one significant agreement on a grievance that will now allow full time faculty to teach DCE during the day. See page 4.

However, lately we have had significant areas of uncooperation. For example, on one grievance dealing with personal days, we thought we had worked out the basis of a compromise in discussions with Wayne Emerson, the HCC consultant on union affairs. But apparently Wayne never talked to the Academic Vice President who now says he would never agree to such a compromise. HCC constantly tells us to work things out with Wayne, but this is not the first time we've had this kind of run around.

This is only one example of where we could reach an agreement, but the college seems to lack the will to compromise.

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DIRECTOR'S REPORT

3% RAISES for NEXT YEAR?

Kathleen McDonough

At the November 21 meeting, the MCCC Board of Directors voted 'yes' on a motion that will have a direct impact on each member of this union. The Board of Higher Education has offered to extend our current contract for an additional year, July 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999, with a 3% across the board salary increase subject to the establishment of a joint study committee to examine a number of issues. The MCCC Board of Directors gave the go ahead to the day negotiating team to reach agreement with the Board of Higher Education on their offer. The membership would then need to ratify the agreement. This proposal would mean that we would continue to work under our current contract with a 3% raise while a joint study committee prepares a non-binding study on tenure, workload, productivity, evaluation, advantages & disadvantages of employing full and part-time faculty, and advising & counseling responsibilities. The joint study committee would be composed of both union and management people who would, in good faith, conduct a pre-bargaining dialogue on these issues.

There are some compelling reasons for supporting this arrangement. The Classification Study can be conducted in an atmosphere which is not charged with the tensions of negotiations. Anticipated battles around tenure and workload will be set back a year. When negotiations are undertaken in 1999, the Classification Study will be completed.

Both the Classification Study and contract negotiations require our full and undivided concentration and neither issue should be allowed to complicate the other. In the meantime, our union avoids another "zero year" of pay increase. Over the coming year, the state college union will be engaged with James Carlin over many of the same contract issues that will face us. We might learn from their battle experience.

Campus and state-wide leadership will keep you informed as details of this agreement are finalized.

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FULL TIME FACULTY

MAY TEACH DCE

IN THE DAY!

In a major victory, the college has agreed to allow full time faculty to teach DCE classes during the day. HCC has allowed some full time professional staff and classified employees to teach day DCE classes, but didn't let full time faculty teach these courses.

Other community colleges have allowed this, so the chapter filed a grievance on this issue. Just one day before the issue was to be heard by an arbitrator, an agreement was reached. Now HCC's policy is that full time faculty "will not be precluded" from teaching DCE classes.

Of course all DCE course assignments are regulated by the DCE contract, so no one is assured of a class. A DCE faculty member (who may also be a full time faculty) with the most DCE seniority is the first to be offered a course. If you have question as to how assignments are made, contact Bob Stachowiak, the MCCC DCE Coordinator.

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Send letters, ideas, articles to Jan Nettler, editor. (413) 552 2413 e-mail

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