STCC PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES

DECEMBER 4, 2003  

Location:  13/114

Call to Order:  12:45

Reports and Announcements

Secretary's Report, Minutes of October 23, 2003, Lynn Kleindienst
Motion to accept, A. Bonemery, K. Thomes. Passed.

Treasurer's Report Category Summary and Net Worth, Ken Czuchra
Motion to accept, R. Rodgers, D. Buckley. Passed.

President, C. Mathison

• C. Mathison announced that she would not be retiring afterall. This was met with great relief and joy.
• C. Mathison explained why MCCC contract extension points were not funded by the legislature in the recent bill to fund other HE contracts. S. Cutler stated she was quite optimistic about getting a funding bill approved in the spring
• Despite the legislature approval for HE contract funding and despite the Governor's signing of the bill, his recent statements about not including such funding in the budget for next year raises serious questions.

Open Forum
The balance of the meeting was opened to questions and comments from the membership.

• B. Scannapieco wanted to know how affiliation with MTA served MCCC. He also commented that he thought it might be time to decertify MTA. Both C. Mathison and S. Cutler spoke to his concerns -legal, lobbying, bill preparation - pointing out that MTA was the largest union in MA and that NEA was one of the largest nationally. D. Buckley said he felt there was strength in numbers and MTA and NEA offered that. It was noted, however, that MTA should not be endorsing candidates until it was clear a candidate could win.
• D. Hebert asked if we had a contract? M. Bourbeau stated clearly that we did. We continue to work under the provisions of the 1999-02 contract.
• R. Rodgers asked if MCCC had ever received the market analysis data on which the contract was based. He also noted that he did not believe DMG/Maximus had ever done a total workload study - instructional and non-instructional. L. Kleindienst stated that , to the best of her knowledge, the analysis for professional staff had never been distributed. C. Mathison said she believed that the market analysis Bob referred to was available and she would obtain it.
• M. O"Brien expressed concern over Gov. Romney's recent statements about not continuing funding for HE contracts in FY 05.
• B. Schaedler spoke to concern for a rumored $2mil shortfall on the STCC campus. C. Mathison said she felt we could rely on Pres. Scibelli to keep the campus accurately informed. However, with regard to FY 05 funding, the BHE keeps changing the rules for the funding formula.
• There was overall concern for the viability of the Classification scheme. That scheme is monetarily out of date and no update has been received. New employees on several campuses have been hired above the established salaries. Grievances have been filed both at STCC and several other campuses. It is increasingly difficult to hire qualified candidates on the existing structure.
• The trend toward the hiring of adjunct faculty is diminishing our full time numbers, therefore our income and strength. It was noted that the best way to resolve this is to fight for PT benefits.
• S. Torrence commented on the numbers she is dealing with as an adjunct, the poor pay received for tutoring, and lack of health benefits.
• R. Rodgers believes that the Presidents should be more pro-active on behalf of the faculty and staff.

  Motion to Adjourn: 1:49, K. Thomes, D. Hebert. Passed.

  Secretary,

  Lynn Kleindienst