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Hi everyone
It's time to call & email your congressperson , Congressman Barney Frank & Senator Kerry. They need to be reminded again of the unfairness of GPO/WEP & the disasterous effect it has on our retirees, especially women. Even though they themselves support the bill we need them to support it more enthusiasticaaly among the other congress people. Keep this issue on the front burner of their brains. We need another avalanche of calls & emails. JUST DO IT!!!!!
thanks
carole
To all professional staff unit members:
I am looking to gather some information regarding the problems we have had with H.R.'s audit of their records concerning sick leave and vacation time not being accurately reported to the state. We have scheduled an impact bargaining session between the college and the MCCC lawyer and some of the negotiating team for the week of May 19, 2008. If this situation has adversely affected you would you please e-mail me the details so that I can bring this information to the table when we meet with the college administration to see if we can resolve the problems. A narrative explanation will be fine detailing to the best of your recollection as to what happened, when and what you had done.
at this point I do not have any details as to what might happen, what the resolution, if any, might be or what further steps we may have to pursue.
I will keep in touch and let everyone know what is happening.
Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in this matter.
Rob.
MCCC Strategic Action Committee activist Brooks Smith (Cape Cod) just spoke with House Ways and Means Chairman Robert Deleo. The Chairman reports that the proposal to increase state employee health insurance contribution rates is dead. It will not be in the House's FY '09 budget.
This is a big win for us. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the campaign. Kudos to Donnie McGee and her SAC team, Arline Isaacson and MTA Governmental Services, MCCC lobbyist Charles Flaherty and everyone of you who called your state reps. again and again. Your efforts have indeed made a difference.
All the best,
Joe LeBlanc
MCCC
FYI to any and all who might be interested in attending the session on new leader for the MCCC/STCC/PA. Please see the attached and if you are willing to attend complete the form and submit it to me for signature.
Thanks,
Rob.
April 17, 2008
The House Ways and Means Committee has included the Governor's proposal to change the state employees health insurance contribution rates in its budget. This news was expected. We will now take this issue all the way to a budget amendment and roll call vote.
Please take the action (outlined in red below) immediately. Use your cellphones to call your state representative TODAY. Phone numbers can found at this link:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/legis.htm
Please watch your email for updates from MCCC VP Donnie McGee in coming days. Your participation in this grassroots lobbying empowers us all.
In solidarity,
Joe LeBlanc
Just a reminder that if you teach in SCE and have not yet completed the DCE survey please try to do so as soon as possible. The deadline has been extended to 4/18/08. the link to the survey
Rob.
Change in Rank - By April 15, 2008, the president of your college is required to announce the president's decision regarding who will receive a change in rank to assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. If you were eligible to be considered for a change in rank this year and do not receive a change in rank, I recommend that you request a copy of the dean's and the president's recommendations and the reasons why you were not promoted. Except for criterion C below (student evaluations), these decisions are professional judgment decisions and subject to the reasonable standard and the grievance procedure. Please note that eligible faculty who fall in the top 20% for two successive student evaluations automatically receive a change in rank.
If you are not satisfied with the reasons for denial of a change in rank, you have until May 15, 2008, to file a grievance.
In accordance with the Contract, one of the following criteria has to be met to receive a change in rank:
Contract Language
14.04 Additional Qualifications
Eligible unit members who also meet at least one of the following four criteria since the last change in rank or date of hire, whichever is later:
A. Evidence of significant relevant professional development;
B. Significant contribution to the College or community service;
C. Falling in the top 20% of the College faculty in that unit member’s most recent two successive student evaluations;
D. Highly effective instructional performance of a faculty member in the professional judgment of the President of the College;
shall be accorded a change in rank.
No Funding - Please note that the snapshot for these additional 20 points for changes in rank usually takes place on October 15, 2008, but there is no guarantee of funding for these points until a successor contract is executed and funded. The present contract which expires on June 30, 2009, has no provision to fund these points.
Next meeting will be held during the College Hour on Monday, March 10, 2008 in Building 13, Room 114
Dear members,
Dan Emerson, Interim Treasurer of the STCC PA has given written notice to the Executive Committee of his intention to resign his position due to the time commitment needed for his faculty courseload and doctoral studies.
Therefore there is an immediate opening for an Interim Treasurer through June 2008. Amy Stephenson has stepped forward as a candidate but we would welcome others interested in running for this position as well. If you would like to nominate either yourself or another member, please forward that person's name to Lynn McDonald at cmmcdonald@stcc.edu by 10:00am Monday, March 10, 2008. At the PA meeting on March 10, the Interim Treasurer position will come to a vote.
Thank you,
Lynn McDonald
Interim Secretary
STCC PA
Personnel File Check Form for professional staff
The college is required to consult the official personnel file when making decisions and recommendations. It is extremely important that every unit member review the personnel file at least once per year.
Application: All day faculty members.
At some colleges, we are approaching the end of the fifth week of classes and immediate supervisors are required to return all course materials to faculty along with the Checklist of Course Materials (Form XIII-E2). While these materials were in the possession of the immediate supervisor, the confidentiality of these materials should have been maintained and the employer should not have distributed these materials to anyone without your permission. It is a violation of the contract for the employer to place your course materials in the personnel file, to make additional copies for desk copies, or to distribute your course materials to FT and adjunct faculty.
If any of the 10 items listed on the checklist were missing or if the immediate supervisor had concerns, the faculty member should be notified and given an opportunity to submit materials or respond to the concerns within fourteen (14) calendar days. If the missing items and/or concerns are identified, I recommend that you respond in writing to the immediate supervisor with the updated or missing item(s) and provide your students with the updated information.
The intent of this 14 day response period serves two (2) purposes:
1) To give the faculty member the opportunity to correct an oversight without a negative comment being placed in the summary evaluation.
2) To insure that students have all of the items on the checklist.
NB: Please note that faculty have full freedom in the selection of course materials and if the faculty member believes that a directive from the immediate supervisor to change the course materials infringes upon academic freedom, then the faculty member has the right to initiate the grievance process. Faculty have full freedom in the selection of course materials.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Dennis
Dennis Fitzgerald
mcccfitzy@comcast.net
119 Rocky Pond Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
tel: 508-746-2533
fax: 508-746-5258
Action Needed NOW - Health insurance contribution percentage: The Governor has included a steep increase for many of us in his FY 09 budget. The worst case example increase would mean the equivalent of a 3.8 percent pay cut for a member earning $60,000 with a GIC family plan. All members are urged to contact their reps. and senators TODAY (with follow-up contact for the rest of the semester) to lobby to oppose this measure. Follow this link for all the details:
http://mccc-union.org/TD/EmployeePremiumIssue.html
The STCC PA meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 4th during the college hour in Building 13 Room 114.
AGENDA:
Call to Order
Brief Review and Approval of reports
Secretary's Minutes
Other Reports
Business and Discussion Topics
New Business
Adjournment
Thank you,
Lynn McDonald
Interim Secretary
STCC PA
Summary Evaluations are due February 1 for:
FT faculty who are in their 1st six years of FT employment,
FT Professional Staff in their 1st year of employment, and
Tenured faculty in their evaluation year (every 3rd year).
The Summary Evaluation includes student evaluations (due January 23), a course material evaluation, a classroom observation evaluation, a student advisement evaluation, a college service evaluation, and a review the personnel file since the last summary evaluation.
Unit members are required to sign the Summary Evaluation acknowledging that the unit member has read and received a copy of the evaluation. Signing the Summary Evaluation does not mean that the unit member agrees to the evaluation. Unit members have seven working days to respond to the evaluation and have the right to file a grievance.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Dennis Fitzgerald
mcccfitzy@comcast.net
All new full-time unit members.
Initial Classification
In Accordance with the Classification Appeals Process, the college administration must forward to all new full-time unit members within 30 days of hire the following information:
1. A completed data form (M002/M004) that reflects the points allocated to the current position to determine the annual salary.
2. A letter from the Director of Human Relations explaining the review and appeals process if there is some error.
Initial Appeals Process
1. If there is an error in the point calculation, an appeal must be filed within 30 days of receipt of the point calculation.
2. The Human Resources office must issue a decision of its review no later than 14 days from receipt of the request for review.
3. The decision of the Human Resources Office can be appealed to the Classification Appeals Committee within 10 days.
NB. The complete timetable for appeals and the forms can be found on pages 128-132 of the Contract or at http://mccc-union.org/Appeals/index.html
Professional Staff Pre-Evaluation Process
All new full-time professional staff unit members are required to meet at the beginning of the unit member's appointment with the immediate supervisor to develop a position description which shall contain a list of duties and responsibilities and may include mutually agreeable work objectives.(E-7 Form) These E-7 Position Descriptions should reflect the classification specifications for the job title.
NB. To review professional staff Classification Specifications for each job title go to http://www.mass.edu/hr/ click Classification Specifications click Unit Professional Staff Classification Specifications (Massachusetts Community Colleges) click on specific classification job title
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you.
Dennis Fitzgerald
mcccfitzy@comcast.net
I hate you to be bringing you bad news so early in the new year, but we have quite a challenge ahead of us. We must work to kill the Governor's budget proposal to increase our health insurance contributions within the next few days or we will likely be spending much of the spring semester in a legislative battle to bury this ill-advised and unfair proposal (see details below).
The MTA outlines the situation at great length below, but it all comes down to this immediate request for each of you:
Call the Governor's Office at 617-725-4000 today. Ask the Governor to reconsider. Ask him to leave this proposal out of his FY 09 budget.
Your participation in this grassroots lobbying effort will make a difference.
In solidarity,
Joe LeBlanc
This link has the latest news from the MTA about his issue:
http://massteacher.org/news/headlines/headlines_2008-01-14.cfm
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As you know, the Governor announced this weekend that his proposed FY’09 state budget filing will include a proposal to increase the premiums state employees pay for their health insurance. (See description below from MTA’s website)
MTA is moving quickly to defend against this proposal.
1) Yesterday, MTA added to its website information about the Governor’s proposal and
recommended steps MTA members should take to oppose it.
2) MTA is planning to make robo-calls (an automatic pre-recorded message) from MTA
President Anne Wass to MTA members urging them to call the Governor’s office and ask
Patrick to not include this increase in his budget.
3) MTA will mail its members asking them to fill out a postcard to legislators asking legislators
to oppose the plan should the Governor include it in his budget.
On the lobbying front, MTA plans to meet this week with lobbyists from the Public Employee Labor Coalition to plan a coordinated legislative strategy.
=============================================================================
From MTA’s Website:
Governor Deval Patrick has announced that he is including in his proposed FY09 state budget a plan to shift more than $51 million in costs to state employees by increasing the premiums they pay for their health insurance coverage. He intends to create three tiers of state employees and charge them different premium levels based on income:
Employees earning less than $35,000 would continue to pay 15 percent.
Employees earning from $35,000 to $50,000 would pay 20 percent.
Employees earning over $50,000 would pay 25 percent.
The MTA is urging members to contact the Governor’s office immediately and ask him NOT to include this plan in his budget proposal to the Legislature. Raising insurance premiums from 15 percent to 20 percent or 25 percent will mean cost increases of more than one-third for many employees. This level of increase unfairly burdens state employees when, instead, all taxpayers should pay their fair share to balance the state budget.
“The MTA will strongly oppose this proposal, which is very unfair to our higher education members,” said MTA President Anne Wass. “We are urging members to call or e-mail the governor as soon as possible to make their feelings known about this unjust cost-shifting plan.”
Call the governor’s office at 617-725-4000 or click here to send an e-mail.
Message to the Governor:
When you ran for Governor, you spoke of your strong support for state workers and the unions that represent them. Please do NOT increase the cost of health insurance premiums for state employees. We support your proposals for increased revenues to help solve the state’s fiscal crisis. Do not solve this problem at our expense.
Background
Currently, state employees pay for their health insurance premiums on a tiered system, based on their date of hire:
Employees hired prior to June 30, 2003, pay 15 percent of their premiums.
Employees hired after June 30, 2003, pay 20 percent.
The governor’s proposal stems from the gap the state faces for the FY09 state budget. Since state revenues are not keeping up with spending, the Commonwealth now faces a deficit of close to $1.5 billion.
When the Governor announced his plan to increase health insurance premiums, he told state employees he was doing so to save the state $51 million and to “move from a system based on the date you were hired to a more rational system based on salary levels and affordability.” (Please note: This proposal does not affect retirees or municipal employees, such as educators who work for local school districts.)
The Governor’s proposal inaccurately describes those facing an increase from 15 percent to 25 percent as dealing with a 10 percent increase.
A Difficult Budget Year
Budget writers in both the executive and legislative branches have predicted that the decrease in state revenues will make this a ‘very difficult budget year.” The Governor has attempted to mitigate the budget shortfall with proposals to close corporate tax loopholes, end property tax exemptions for telecommunications companies and permit localities to raise local meals or hotel taxes. Additionally, the Governor has proposed licensing casinos to generate more revenue for the state. All of these revenue generating proposals have unfortunately been rejected to date by the Legislature.
If the Legislature were to pass the Governor’s tax package, the need to increase state employees’ health insurance premiums would be eliminated.
Timeline
The Governor will release his budget on Jan. 23. Until that time, the governor should be urged not to include this proposal in his budget.
If the proposal is included, lobbying efforts will be focused on the Legislature as budget proposals are formulated in the House and Senate.
Please be informed that we are postponing the regularly scheduled STCC/PA meeting set for Wednesday 11/28/07 to the following Wednesday, 12/5/07 to start immediately after the employee meeting already scheduled for 12:20 in the Auditorium on that day.
The reason for the change in dates is that the STCC/PA has voted to recommend that a vacancy be declared in the position of Treasurer due to our current Treasurer, Ken Czuchra, having to step down for personal reasons.
Since we will need to fill this position as soon as possible the Executive Committee is recommending that subject to a vote by the membership the Daniel Emerson, the current Secretary, be moved from that position and elected to fill out the unexpired term of Treasurer. If this move is approved by the membership this will create a vacancy in the position of Secretary which will need to be filled at the meeting on 12/5/07.
I am therefore seeking nominations for candidates to run for the office of STCC/PA Secretary to fill the unexpired term for that office. I expect that if the above is approved by the membership that we would hold the election for Secretary at that meeting on the 5th. If you are willing to be considered as a candidate for this position please e-mail me or Nick Camerota as soon as possible so that we will be prepared to hold this election on Wednesday the 5th.
After the election issues are resolved, time permitting, there will be some information regarding classification, points, salaries and grievances, from both the local as well as the state levels.
Note to Professional Staff Unit Members: The meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 12:15 in Bldg. 13, first floor meeting room, for the election of a professional staff unit member as your representative to the UPPC will still be held. At this time no one has nominated themselves or any fellow unit member for this position. Please consider filling this important position since there is at least one professional staff member who is being considered for tenure this year and needs a representative on this committee.
Thank your for your support and understanding in this matter.
Rob.
Here is the latest news on the provisions of Social Security Law known as the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision (GPO/WEP). Also, my SAC column in the next issue of the MCCC News will focus on the November 6th Finance Committee Hearing and the related lobbying done by your MTA activists. In attendance from this state were Peggy Kane, Jo Ann Fitzgerald, Nancy Mickunas, and Donnie McGee.
GPO/WEP News – An excellent Senate hearing:
More than 60 NEA activists from more than 15 states converged on our nation’s capital to attend the Senate Finance Subcommittee Hearing on the impact of GP0/WEP policies on Social Security. Sen. John Kerry, who chaired this hearing, pledged to work for the repeal of these often punitive provisions. Excellent testimony was provided by MTA retired English teacher, Peggy Keene, a widow whose family was unable to collect a penny of her husband’s 30+ years of Social Security earnings when he died at age 53. Senator Susan Collins from Maine also testified eloquently to the injustice that these provisions create for people in retirement. Collins and Sen. Dianne Feinstein from California co-sponsored the Senate version of the Social Security Fairness Act of 2007.
Petitions and MCCC Testimony:
More than 200,000 names on petitions from many of the 15 non-social security states affected by these policies were delivered to the press conference and hearing room. The MTA has collected more than 50,000 names. Half of these petitions have been reserved for presentation at a hearing to be held by the House Ways & Means Committee early next spring. I presented to Massachusetts Congressional leaders a booklet of personal GPO/WEP impact statements from MCCC faculty and professional staff. I have revised this compilation of stories this weekend to include all who emailed me after I left for DC. This final version will be submitted as formal testimony to Chair John Kerry and the Finance Subcommittee on Social Security later this week.
What can you do? Contact Senators.
* Anyone affected should be involved with this lobbying, regardless of the state where you reside.
* Please contact your United States Senators. If you are from Massachusetts, you would be calling and emailing Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy.
* The message for Senator Kerry is, first and foremost, a tremendous thank you for holding the hearing and bringing attention to this important legislation. Second, let him/his staff know that you would like a “mark up” of the Social Security Fairness Act of 2007 (Senate Bill 206). This means that you want the Senate Finance Committee to release the bill favorably, so that it can be moved forward as quickly as possible and get to the full Senate floor for a vote.
* With other Senators, like those from Maine and Rhode Island and with Senator Kennedy, thank them for their past support. Then ask them to contact Senator Kerry, Chair of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Social Security, to request a “mark up” of the bill. Maine residents need to thank Senator Susan Collins for sponsoring the bill and for her impressive testimony at the hearing on Nov. 6th. Also, ask about marking up the bill and moving it along in the legislative process.
* In your discussions/messages to Senators or their staff, if you have an important statement of how the bill would impact you, share it.
* Be concise, rational, and respectful.
What’s next?
* House Hearing: House Ways and Means Chair, Congressman Charles Rangel, has indicated a hearing will be held on the Social Security Fairness Act by the Subcommittee on Social Security. An early spring date is expected for this hearing, though it has not yet been scheduled.
* Petition Initiative: Names are still being collected on petitions to support the forthcoming hearing by the House Ways and Means Subcommittee, so please continue to fill petitions with signatures. Any MA resident who is a registered voter is eligible to sign on to support this important legislation to repeal these unfair offsets. If you will be affected by GPO/WEP and have not completed any petitions, please download one from the MTA website and get at least 10 signatures from your friends, neighbors, relatives, and/or co-workers. Go to the MTA website to download a petition, and return it/them to Paul Toner as indicated: http://www.massteacher.org/news/headlines/sspetition.pdf
* NEA Electronic Petition: If you live outside the state, please sign on to the NEA electronic petition to support the Social Security Fairness Act. You can also send a message to your Senator or Congressional Representative through this website: http://capwiz.com/nea/issues/alert/?alertid=10186961
* NEA Northeast Regional Conference: This conference will be held in Brooklyn, NY and representatives from the New England states and several others will attend. I will be among those in attendance, for the key purpose of uniting attendees to support GPO/WEP and get support for the House Ways and Means Subcommittee Hearing on the related bill. The Chair of this Subcommittee is Rep. McNulty from New York. New York is a “Social Security state”, so its teachers and others are not directly affected by GPO/WEP provisions. I hope to get our NEA colleagues in NY to push their Congressmen and Senators, including Hilary Clinton, to support the repeal of GPO/WEP.
Note: It was truly exciting to be part of this NEA activism and represent the MTA and the MCCC drive for fairness in retirement for all of us. Thanks to everyone who shared a GPO/WEP impact statement or story. Each one communicated powerful and important points. I will provide a copy of my written testimony (a compilation of these statements) on behalf of MCCC to each chapter at our next Board of Directors Meeting on November 30. I was so inspired by the Senate leadership at this testimony and thrilled to see the profile raised on the unfairness of GPO/WEP. Please stay involved and do what you can to keep this legislation moving forward.
If you have further questions about this legislation and/or want to subscribe to the GPO/WEP email news, please go to the MTA website: http://www.massteacher.org/career/retired/gpopoints.cfm
As always, thank you for your support.
In solidarity,
Donnie McGee
Dear colleagues,
The Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, chaired by Senator Kerry (D-MA), announced today that they will hold a hearing on the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision next TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6. Activists from every state in which educators do not pay into Social Security are traveling to Washington, DC to attend the hearing and a concurrent lobby day on the GPO/WEP issues. From Massachusetts, MTA leaders, Jo Ann Fitzgerald, Peggy Kane, Nancy Mickunas and I will attend this event and present the GPO/WEP petitions that so many of you have completed to push for repeal of these unfair offsets. Peggy Kane will be testifying before the committee directly. We all will be visiting Senators and Congressman to advocate for the repeal of these laws. Half of these petitions will be retained to be presented at the Congressional hearing by the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, expected to be held in early spring of 2008.
I know many of you will be penalized by the current GPO/WEP legislation if these laws are not repealed. To better represent the MCCC, I am seeking your input as to how the GPO/WEP will affect you, especially if your story captures a significant effect and you can identify the financial impact with some specificity. If you can put together a short paragraph on how the GPO/WEP will hurt you, please forward you story to me by noon on Sunday (11/5), so I can share some of these responses with those on Capital Hill. Your comments will also be appropriate for me to communicate in the months ahead as we continue this fight to repeal these offsets. If you cannot get this information into me by that time, send your response to me just the same, so I can keep a record of your stories in a separate GPO/WEP file. Note some suggested guidelines as you craft your thoughts:
* Identify your name, title and college.
* Be brief : 4 or 5 sentences - a short paragraph.
* Note the years/time spent contributing to SS in other positions.
* Clarify the financial impact expected (dollars denied - a "guesstimate") if the GPO/WEP is not repealed. This could/should also concern the pain felt by decreased spousal/survivor benefits.
I know this announcement provides very short notice for your response, but this hearing date was not made public until late Wednesday, October 30. Also, no statewide action has been requested (YET) on this hearing, but your MTA activists and others from across the country are meeting next week to strategize on the next step. Please stay tuned. Your support will be crucial to the successful repeal of the GPO/WEP legislation. I will keep you informed.
In solidarity,
Donnie McGee
Diana (Donnie) McGee
MCCC Vice President & SAC Chair
Cell: 508.415.1513
Email: vice-president@mccc-union.org
The STCC/PA general meeting scheduled for tomorrow will not be held. While an interim meeting may be called should the need arise, our next meeting is scheduled for 11/28.
Dear Adjunct, Part-Time and/or Visiting Faculty of Massachusetts:
How many of you know what it is like to travel hundreds of miles each week in order to teach courses at multiple colleges throughout the Bay State? How many of you know what its like to earn barely enough in salary to "get by"? How many of you know what its like to have to depend on a significant other in order to receive health benefits? Even worse, how many of you have no health care benefits at all?
Meanwhile, how many of you continue to teach because you are passionate educators, and there is a part of you that have a genuine calling to teach young adults? It is time that the state of Massachusetts demonstrate that they value the dedication of your commitment. It is time that the state show tangible and significant evidence that they care for the livelihood of adjunct, part-time or visiting faculty in some realized form of another. We are not talking about free lunch.
This e-mail is intended to inform you that legislation is currently under review for part-time, adjunct and visiting professors to be eligible for health care benefits. The two bills are as follows:
1)Adjunct Health Insurance Bill: SB 1587
This bill would provide part-time faculty who teach the equivalent of four 3-credit courses per calendar year in the state higher education system to be eligible for a state employee insurance plan that is comparable in both cost and coverage to insurance policies held by their public higher education full-time faculty colleagues . After a successful hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Service on July 12, 2007, Senate Bill 1587 was reported out favorably and referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee for their review. If reviewed favorably by this committee, the bill would then be sent to the full Senate for further review and a possible vote.
2)Adjunct Pension Bill: HB 2821
This bill allows part-time faculty who teach the equivalent of four 3-credit courses per calendar year in the state higher education system to earn a year of creditable service for each year of such teaching experience. House Bill 2821 has been reported out favorably by the Public Service Committee and has been referred to the House Ways & Means Committee for their review. If reported on favorably, the bill would then be sent to the entire House for further review and a possible vote.
WHAT CAN YOU REASONABLY AND TANGIBLY DO TO INFLUENCE THE PASSING OF THESE BILLS?
If there is anytime in your lives or careers to get involved in something political, this is the time! The issue of health care is not a subject matter for apathy or fear of consequence. Health care IS a right, not a privilege, but it will only be a right if we behave with the entitlement that it is a right.
THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS YOU CAN DO PRIVATELY AND/OR PUBLICLY.
1) Contact your (or any) state representative and ask them to support a comprehensive and affordable health insurance plan that for adjunct, part-time and/or visiting faculty. Contacting them WILL have an impact. The following link contains all contact information for every state representative in MA: http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm <http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm ; .
2) Contact your (or any) state senator and ask them to support a comprehensive and affordable health insurance plan that for adjunct, part-time and/or visiting faculty. Contacting them WILL have an impact. The following link contains all contact information for every state representative in MA: http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm <http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm ;
* If you are not sure who your state senator or representative is, take a look at the following link to find out:
http://wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php <http://wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php ;
3) Fax and/or write a letter to your state representative or senator urging support a comprehensive and affordable health insurance plan for our state's adjunct, part-time and/or visiting faculty. Writing a letter WILL have an impact. If you don't have time to type/write one, this e-mail contains a persuasive template which you can sign and send. If you are afraid of signing the letter alone because of "political consequences", print the letter and ask several of your fellow colleagues to sign it as a block.
4) Contact the "Ways and Means Committee" via phone, fax or letter. Currently, the fate of the bills rests in their hands. Here is their web site: http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/h34.htm <http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/h34.htm ; . The following is their contact information:
Room 237
State House
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: (617) 722-2380
5) Forward this e-mail to adjunct, part-time and visiting professors that you know. The spread of this important information WILL have an impact. It is important to get the word out that there is important legislation under review that can provide us health care benefits.
Again, it is so important that we have access to reasonable health care benefits for the work we do. It is also important that we do not withdraw or disassociate from taking action due to fear, intimidation or apathy.
In closing this e-mail is meant to inform you of two bills under review that would provide adjunct, part-time and/or visiting professors with health care benefits. It is also intended to give you advice on influencing the politicians who represent you to support the bills.
Just find one thing you can do, and you will make an impact.
Thank you for your time,
HealthCare4AdjunctsMA07
STCC/PA general membership meeting this Wednesday 9/19 during the college hour in bldg. 13 room 114.
We will be talking about the new contract, including taking peoples concerns about non-instructional workload and some statewide issues, pay, and problems at other colleges. We will also need volunteers for two PA committees, By-Laws and Nominations and elections. Lastly, copies of the new day contract will be available at the meeting for those who did not pick them up at the employee meeting the first week of school.
See you there,
Dan Emerson
STCC/PA Secretary
FACULTY REQUIREMENT ONLY: download form
The 2006-2009 Contract has a new college service requirement that will be implemented this semester. Faculty are required to submit a list of college service activities to be performed during the semester. This list is completed in section 1 of the attached form (Form XIII-E5) and submitted to the immediate supervisor no later than October 15 for the fall semester and February 15 for the spring semester. Section 2 and section 3 will be completed at the end of the semester and submitted on the last day of classes.
College service activities may include:
1. Serving as advisor to student activities;
2. Serving on governance, ad hoc, college standing committees, system-wide task forces or committees, or labor-management committees;
3. Preparing grant proposals;
4. Participating in college, division, department or other related college meetings and/or activities;
5. Participation in the improvement and development of academic programs and resources, including recruitment.
6. Serving as a department chair/coordinator pursuant to Article XX and college-wide coordinators.
If faculty receive reassigned time to perform non-instructional activities such as curriculum development, professional development activities, or administrative (non-managerial) duties, then these activities should be listed on the College Service Activities.
NB: When the 2000-2003 Contract was negotiated with an increase in instructional workloads, the MCCC Negotiating Team stated that there was an understanding at the bargaining table that attending department meetings, division meetings, and all-college meetings; and serving on one (1) committee would fulfill the contractual obligation of being available for college service activities for an average of four (4) hours per week. This requirement has not changed in the 2003-2006 Contract or in the 2006-2009 Contract. In addition, the MCCC negotiators have made it clear that the purpose of the submission of this new list of college service activities to be performed is to provide the immediate supervisor with knowledge of your planned activities for the upcoming semester. The intent was not to increase college service workload, not to begin counting hours, minutes, or seconds, and not to obtain prior approval. Finally, at the end of the semester, the immediate supervisor will probably hold you accountable for the completion of all activities that you list.
OFFICE HOURS
1) All faculty are required to submit their preferred office hour schedule at the beginning of the academic year and post their office hour schedule by the end of the first week of classes.
2) Office hours are required on campus unless a faculty member is approved to hold office hours at an off campus instructional site.
3) Faculty are required to maintain four office hours per week over four days unless a faculty member has a reduced instructional workload.
4) For faculty with reduced instructional workloads, one (1) office hour is reduced for each three (3) credit hour course reduction. This means that the number of days required for office hours is reduced by one (1) day for each office hour reduced.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Dennis Fitzgerald
mcccfitzy@comcast.net
Grievance-Day@mccc-union.org
tel 508-746-2533
fax 508-746-5258
Welcome to the start of another academic year. I hope this email finds you well and refreshed as our college doors open once again to our new and returning students. Given the start of another semester, I am providing everyone with a Strategic Action Committee (SAC) update on legislative and related MCCC news. To keep this memo as brief and uncluttered as possible, I have greatly summarized previous SAC alerts and used website addresses rather than include attachments.
GPO/WEP Petition Drive:
Last week I sent out an action alert urging everyone to sign the MTA petitions to repeal the Government Pension Offset/Windfall Elimination Provision (GPO/WEP). These laws seriously reduce the retirement income of state employees who have accumulated Social Security earnings. These penalties can also greatly reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits to state employees from a deceased spouse. The House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Social Security is planning a hearing in early October. Tens of thousands of petitions from state employees nationwide will be delivered to this hearing to make our concerns known. Other actions will be necessary to move this important piece of legislation. Stay tuned for an early fall update on this initiative.
* Note the deadline has been moved from Sept. 1 to Sept. 15 if you are mailing petitions to Paul Toner at the MTA. Visit the MTA website to download a petition and for more information: http://massteacher.org/news/headlines/headlines_2007-07-31.cfm
* If you want Congress to end the Social Security penalties to state employees, get invovled with this petition drive and please subsciribe to the GPO/WEP email news at the MTA website: http://massteacher.org/career/retired/retired_2003_gponews.cfm
* Out of state residents can sign an electronic petition at the NEA website. These signatures will be compiled and sent to the Congressional hearing and a copy forwarded to your members in Congress. Visit this site for details: http://www.nea.org/lac/socsec/latestnews.html
Adjunct Health Insurance (S1587) and Adjunct Pension (H2821) Bills:
A SAC request for action to support these bills was emailed two weeks ago. The Adjunct Health Insurance bill would provide adjuncts teaching the equivalent of 12 credits per year the opportunity to buy a health insurance plan comparable to the GIC plans that full-time faculty are offered. The Adjunct Pension bill would offer these same adjuncts the opportunity to join the state pension plan. Each of these bills has been reviewed favorably by the Public Service Committee. The Health Insurance bill (S1587) awaits action in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The Adjunct Pension B ill (H 2821) awaits the review of the House Ways & Means Committee. It is important that these bills be given our attention and support, so that adjuncts get the protections that they deserve. Please contact Senators and the Senate Ways & Means Committee to support the Health Insurance Bill (S1587). Contact Representatives and the House Ways & Means Committee to support the Adjunct Pension bill (H2821). Review the "SAC News" on the MCCC website for contact information and more specifics: http://mccc-union.org/
Amendment to change the contract funding process (H2697):
This bill would streamline contract funding for our day unit members and bring credence to th the contract bargaining process, so that negotiated agreements would not be reneged by those sitting in the Governor's seat. Currently, this bill sits in the Public Service Committee awaiting input from the Administration and Finance Branch of the Governor's Office. Higher Education unions are expected to push this legislation with both the Executive and Legislative Branches in their lobbying efforts this fall. Stay tuned for updates on this initiative.
Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) Survey and Oversight Hearing:
The ORP Ad Hoc Committee has been meeting for almost a year to address the enrollment concerns and misinformation that was communicated to some of the unions 444 enrolled members in this plan. An on-line survey should be up and running in mid-September, so that all ORP members can provide input to MCCC leadership as to the extent of the concerns as well as the satisfaction with this plan overall. SAC leadership has requested an oversight hearing by the Joint Committee on Public Service to publicize the concerns that have plagued ORP Ad Hoc Committee members and other faculty in our 15 chapters. Thanks to Katie D'Urso and Jack Flannagan from the Masachusetts Teacher Association (MTA) for their consistent support on these initiatives.
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Retirees Bill (S2234):
The MTA has lobbied hard to get an increase in the base retirement allowance on which COLAs are calculated. This bill has been redrafted so the base allowance would increase from $12,000 to $16,000 on 7/1/07 and gradually increase the amount to the base allowable for Social Security recipients. For more information and to sign up for MTA elerts, go to: http://massteacher.org/career/retired/retired_cola.cfm
Creditable Service for Peace Corps, VISTA, Teacher Corps, and Americorps (S1619):
This bill would extend creditable service to state employees with service in any of the above areas of public service. Up to 3 years could be purchased toward retirement credit. A hearing on this bill is scheduled before the Joint Committee on Public Service on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 10:30 am. I plan to testify in support of this bill with other MCCC faculty who have previous Peace Corps service. Please contact me if you would be affected by this bill, so we can be sure to contact the appropriate legislators. Let me know as well, if you are willing to join me at this State House hearing. A separate action elert will also be forwarded to all who have shown an interest in this bill to date.
Thank you all for your support. I wish each of you a productive and satisfying semester. And I look forward to working with you in the months ahead on these important issues. Please contact me with any suggestions or questions you may have. The summer issue of the MCCC News will elaborate on budget news and the Public Service Committee hearings discussed above. As always, please visit the "SAC News" section on the MCCC website to stay informed and for more details on some of these initiatives: http://mccc-union.org/
In solidarity,
Donnie McGee
Diana (Donnie) McGee
MCCC Vice President & SAC Chair
Cell: 508.415.1513
Email: vice-president@mccc-union.org
August 1, 2007
100,000 Signatures Needed for Petitions to Repeal Social Security Offsets
Please join MTA members and others in gathering 100,000 signatures to repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision.
The House version of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would completely repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, has now garnered the support of 333 bipartisan cosponsors. The Senate bill (S. 206) has 34 cosponsors.
See the complete list of House and Senate cosponsors on the NEA website.
Ongoing Action Needed:
• Go to www.massteacher.org for printable petitions.
• Gather signatures (Signatures can be from any registered voter.)
Return petitions to:
Paul F. Toner, Vice President, Massachusetts Teachers Association, 20 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108.
Stay Up-To-Date! The latest GPO/WEP news is posted on NEA’s
Legislative Action Center at http://www.nea.org/lac/socsec/index.html.
July 17, 2007
To all full time unit members:
There seems to be some questions regarding this year's salary increases. I have attached an e-mail update from Joe as to how the increase is to be calculated for July. It appears to me that they are once again double counting the seniority and experience points to bring most people up to approximately the 3% average for raises. If you also earned an additional degree, were promoted or had a post tenure evaluation in the fall of 2005 these points would be in addition to those for seniority and experience. Note that license/certification points will not be paid until October 2007, but will be retroactive to July 2007. Also note that post tenure evaluation points for fall 2006 will not be paid until July 2008.
Here is a chart to help you calculate your new pay rate. Also I believe that HR is supposed to be sending out memos with the calculations as well.
I hope that this note correctly answers everyone's questions.
Rob.
Contract Funding and Chapter 150 E history:
* As many of you know, the Massachusetts State Law, Chapter 150 - Section E, governs the contract funding process for Higher Education and other unions in this state.This law requires that negotiated agreements go through a series of steps before a contract can be funded and allows the Executive Office - the Governor - three opportunities to affect this process. When a governor does not support a negotiated agreement or takes his/her time in doing so, funding can be delayed or actually prevented. A new agreement may then have to be re-negotiated. As a result, it is difficult for unions and negotiating teams to have faith in the bargaining process.
* The MCCC has had its negotiated agreements either delayed or negated several times in the past 25 years. Most recently, Governor Swift's failure to sign and forward our 2002 agreement to the legislature created a contract funding fiasco. When Governor Romney took office, he too, refused to sign this agreement, finally saying after two years that he would not support the funding of retroactive pay. Ironically, the contract did not include any retroactivity; the inaction by both Governors simply had created an impasse in the contract funding process that forced unit members to go without any increase in pay for more than three years.
* MTA has re-filed a bill - House Bill 2697 - to amend this process, so that negotiated agreements will go directly to the Legislature.
* A hearing is scheduled before the Committee on Public Service, on Thursday, June 7, 2007, at the State House. We need legislators and union members from across the state to call in support of this bill. We need legislators to testify on our behalf as well. We need your support.
What can you do to support HB 2697?
* It is important that all MCCC members contact Representatives and Senators to seek their support on this bill.
* Ask Representatives if they will support this legislation and if they will then call Rep. Jay Kaufman, the House Chair of the Committee on Public Service, to advise him of their support. Also ask if your representative will testify at the hearing on June 7th in support of this bill. This too they should indicate to the Committee Chair.
* Ask Senators as well if they will support this legislation. If so, ask if they will call Senator Ben Downing, the Senate Chair of the Committee on Public Service, to advise him of their support. Ask if they would be willing to testify in support of HB 2697 at the June 7th hearing.
* You can find representatives' phone numbers and email addresses at http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm
* Senators' contact information can be found at http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm.
* If you don't know who your legislators are, go to www.wheredoivotema.com and enter your address.
* If you live out of state, contact the area legislators for the college where you are employed, identify your position and your college, and make a plea to change this law.
Unless we change Chapter 150 E, the funding of our contracts will remain in the hands and at the whim of every governor sitting in the corner office in this state. Though we may have the assurances by the current governor that he will support any negotiated agreements by our unions, we have no assurance that he will be sitting in this seat when we need such support. Your calls today can raise the profile on this legislation and help us to get a favorable review by the Committee on Public Service.
Please contact legislators this week. Get back to me about their commitments to support this bill. And let me know of any concerns. MCCC and SAC leadership looks forward to working with you to change this problematic law. Thank you for your support.
In solidarity,
Donnie McGee
Diana (Donnie) McGee
MCCC Vice President & SAC Chair
Cell: 508.415.1513
Vice_President@mccc-union.org
The MCCC has recently created two new committees to help represent you. The first will deal with the issue of Graduation-Retention Rates. This group will meet on May 18, 2007 from 9:30 AM until 3:00PM to discuss and examine this problem and the several reports recently issued dealing with the concerns surrounding it. The goal of the committee is to then issue a report on this subject from the faculty/professional staff perspective. See #1 in the attachment for more information.
We are looking for volunteers from each campus to participate. Since I have been appointed co-chair of the committee I am looking for one other person to join me on this committee. Please let me know if you are willing to serve.
The second committee is the newly created Adjuncts Ad Hoc Committee to deal with the growing concerns of adjunct and part time faculty and professional staff. Eric Brown the adjunct representative to our Executive Committee has agreed to continue serving on this committee so I am looking for one more volunteer to serve. Please see #3 in the attachment for more information on this committees charge and duties. If you are interested please contract me and/or Eric.
Please Distribute to all FT Unit Members:
We are approaching the last day of classes and college service and advising forms are due.
FACULTY
College Service – FT Faculty – On the last day of classes, it is required that all full-time faculty submit College Service Activities (Form XIII-E5). In the upper part of this form under #1, list all college service activities. In the middle of the form under #2, again list the activities with specific date(s) of participation (if applicable). The “if applicable” language applies to activities that are on-going during a semester and no specific date can be determined. In the lower part of the form under #3, a few immediate supervisors have requested documentation that evidences participation in the college service activities. If this request was made, it should have been done at the beginning of the semester in order to give faculty time to compile documentation as the activity is performed. College service activities may include:
1. Serving as advisor to student activities;
2. Serving on governance, ad hoc, college standing committees, system-wide task forces or committees, or labor-management committees;
3. Preparing grant proposals;
4. Participating in college, division, department or other related college meetings and/or activities;
5. Participation in the improvement and development of academic programs and resources, including recruitment.
6. Serving as a department chair/coordinator pursuant to Article XX and college-wide coordinators.
If faculty received reassigned time to perform non-instructional activities such as curriculum development, professional development activities, or administrative (non-managerial) duties, then these activities should be listed on the College Service Activities (Form XIII-E5). If there is a report associated with the above-referenced activity, then the report should be attached to the College Service Activities (Form XIII-E5).
NB: When the 2000-2003 Contract was negotiated with an increase in instructional workloads, the MCCC Negotiating Team stated that there was an understanding at the bargaining table that attending department meetings, division meetings, and all-college meetings; and serving on one (1) committee would fulfill the contractual obligation of being available for college service activities for an average of four (4) hours per week. This requirement has not changed in the 2003-2006 Contract or the 2006-2009 Contract.
Instructional Work -If faculty received reassigned time to perform individualized instruction and/or tutoring services, then these activities should be incorporated in the workload calculations on the Workload Form under the section for Instructional hours for individualized instruction. Individualized instruction and/or tutoring can be performed in faculty offices or in learning centers.
(http://mccc-union.org/CONTRACTS/index.html#Workload_Computation_Form)
Student Advising – FT Faculty – On the last day of classes, full-time faculty are required to submit a Student Advisement Log – Form XIII-E4 including student’s name, program, date of conference, and recommendation/purpose.
If faculty received reassigned time to perform additional academic advising, then these additional meetings with advisors should also be recorded on the Student Advisement Log – Form XIII-E4 as stated above whether the faculty member provided advice in the faculty member’s office or in an Advising Center.
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
College Service – FT Professional Staff – The professional staff College Service Activities - Form XIII-E5 is due by December 30 and May 30. These college service activities should have been incorporated in the E-7 form that is completed on July 1 of each year. The contractual list of college service activities is:
1. Service as advisor for college-approved student activities;
2. Service on governance, ad hoc, college standing committees, system-wide task forces or committees; or labor-management committees;
3. Preparing grant proposals;
4. Participating in college, division, department or other related college meetings and/or activities as the President of the College or the President’s designee may deem appropriate;
5. Participation in the improvement and development of academic programs and resources, including recruitment.
Student Advising – FT Professional Staff – Student advising could be part of a professional staff workload and E-7 if appropriate by inclusion in the list of responsibilities in the classification specifications for the professional staff title. The Student Advisement Log – Form XIII-E4 if appropriately assigned, is due on December 30 and May 30 each year.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
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