What's Really Happening
Columbus State Education Association Newsletter of June 4, 2002
Dear Colleagues,
A word about salary adjustments, since many of you have asked:
The Board of Trustees has approved an additional 2% raise for all staff (except public safety, whose members will negotiate their own contract) and administrators, effective July 1. The Board's action also ties future pay increases to the fiscal year (July 1-June 30), so staff and administrators will not see another raise until July 2003. This action means that, as of July 1, staff compensation will have increased over 10% since 2001 (when faculty last saw a raise). This 2% raise is in addition to a 3% raise earlier this year, classification adjustments for staff, and a redefining of the staff work week from 37.5 to 40 hours. These net pay increases for other employees reinforce the reasonableness of our request for a salary schedule that allows faculty to increase pay within their "ranges" over a period of years. The College has projected a 6.7% increase in revenues for 2002-2003.
The Negotiating Team has submitted all of our written proposals to the administration; by agreement, they will respond in writing by June 14. From there, the hard work and increased pace of bargaining will proceed.
You probably noticed that overload hours for the past two quarters have been paid at a $35/hour (adjunct hourly) rate instead of the new $36/hour rate effective since January 1. The College has denied faculty this scheduled adjustment, holding it hostage to our negotiations. Through the OEA, we have requested that faculty be paid for this difference, since the increase was part of a regularly scheduled adjustment and is not subject to bargaining. We are awaiting the College's response.
Although CSEA objected to the governance model being imposed by the College, we felt that participation in the model was essential if we were going to be subject to its decisions. We are happy to report that in the May elections faculty overwhelmingly selected CSEA members and supporters to serve on the two governance councils. The dissolution of Faculty Senate left faculty without a representative voice in day-to-day campus concerns, so we hope that these representatives will be able to make faculty insights and concerns a central part of discussions within the councils.
Summer approaches, and with it the perennial debate about summer contracts. Our research reveals that over 80% of CSCC faculty teach Summer Quarter, all but a few teaching full time. This statistic is staggering compared to colleges nationwide, and it reveals issues the College has neglected to address. Some faculty certainly work summers (i.e., work a 12-month academic year) to bring their pay more in line with salaries at other institutions (where most faculty work 9-month contracts). In other cases, CSCC faculty are virtually unable to take summers off. Their technical programs operate on 4-quarter schedules, and program coordinators in small programs must maintain their responsibilities year-round. Thus, taking the summer off is not an option.
Although we teach the same course content (a course is a course, of course, of course) and have the same workload requirements, the College traditionally reduces our summer pay by 3%. CSEA believes that we should be paid the same rate as other quarters (that is, 1/3 of a normal 3-quarter contract). The College's position is that many colleges don't guarantee summer work to their faculties; our position is that, given the College's strong summer enrollments and the number of adjunct faculty required each summer to cover courses, there is no shortage of teaching available in summer. Faculty should be paid at the same rate as any other quarter. So far, the administration disagrees, and it appears determined to deny each faculty member teaching this summer an average of $300 in deserved pay.
The College must recognize that it has moved toward making Columbus State a 24/7, year-round operation without making the necessary adjustments in pay and staffing to meet the new demands these operational and enrollment changes create. We hope that our ongoing discussions beyond negotiations will lead to creative solutions that are both fair to faculty and beneficial to our students and the community we serve.
We'll be taking some time off from negotiations during the break. Stay in touch. We welcome your questions, and we'll have an update for you in a few weeks.
What's Really Happening is produced by the Communications Committee of the Columbus State Education Association. We welcome your comments, news, and insights.
Steve Abbott, President / x5096
Karl Rieppel, Vice President / x2500
Amy Brubaker, Secretary and Association Representative / x5068
Greg Goodhart, Treasurer / x5431
Darrell Minor, Parliamentarian / x5310
Bill Mundy, Association Representative / x5176
Dr. Jane McDowell, Association Representative / x2656
Dave Busch, Association Representative / x5079
Dr. Charlie Gallucci, Association Representative / x5499
Leslie Smith, Association Representative / x5302
Dr. Wendy McCullen-Vermillion, Association Representative / x2693
Lisa Schneider, Association Representative / x5124