What's Really Happening
Columbus State Education Association Newsletter of August 20, 2003
INITIAL AND RENEWED MEMBERSHIP
Membership forms have arrived, and you will be receiving yours shortly. New members can join at any time, but we strongly urge you to join or renew now so that you can reap the benefits, discounts, and other aspects of membership immediately.
Remember, that joining the Ohio Education Association (OEA) not only helps protect you and your career while you are still working but is your advocate with the Ohio Legislature and the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) after retirement. OEA is playing an active role, as discussed in the August/September 2003 Ohio Schools magazine, in dealing with issues relating to affordable health care for STRS retirees.
IF YOU WANT PAYROLL DEDUCTION.
If you intend to have your dues deducted from each paycheck throughout the academic year rather than paying a lump-sum payment in September, you need to fill out your membership form as soon as possible and definitely no later than September 26. The Payroll office needs your authorization for payroll deduction in time to compute the amount so it goes into effect on the first pay of Autumn Quarter (October 15).
Union representatives will be contacting faculty during the next few weeks to provide membership forms and other information. If you have not been contacted already and would like to obtain a form or discuss other aspects of membership, you can call CSEA President Steve Abbott directly at 614-268-5006.
PLAN TO ATTTEND THE FACULTY MEET-AND-GREET EVENT
Mark your calendar now!
All faculty are invited to a late-afternoon social gathering near campus from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, September 4. The event, sponsored by CSEA's Membership Committee, offers an opportunity to meet other faculty, enjoy some good food and beverages, and relax before heading home for the day or on to evening classes. CSEA officers and your departmental Association representatives, as well as representatives of OEA's Member Benefits office, will also be present to informally discuss the multiple benefits of our growing faculty association.
The meet-and-greet will be held at 846 Park Street in the Short North. A follow-up email will provide directions and information about easy parking. Contact Frankie Hale (x5184) or Nancy Kephart (x2534) for more information.
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the demands of our jobs and the needs of our students that we can't seem to find time to connect with others. One of the goals of the CSEA is to bring faculty members together. We hope that this late-afternoon Meet-and-Greet will be the first of a series of opportunities for faculty to gather and relax together.
Please plan to attend. And bring a friend.
PROTECTING FACULTY RAISES
CSEA Vice President Karl Rieppel has filed a general policy grievance on behalf of all faculty based on the College's actions on the July 15 paycheck. The grievance has now moved to the administrative level.
More than 30 faculty affected by the College's action did not receive their full raises as required by the contract. Most of these faculty have been in rank for many years, and it appears that more than a few did not realize that the College had decided not to provide their entire raise. (This may have been due to the arbitrary 3% reduction in faculty pay that historically marks our summer quarter work.)
The College contended at a Step Two meeting with CSEA Vice President Karl Rieppel and Parliamentarian Darrell Minor on August 20 that these faculty are "at the top of their pay ranges." However, the contract contains no language about pay ranges, only that each rank has a base salary and that each faculty member will receive a 2% increase in current salary and a 2% stratification increase on top of that in each year of the contract. We are awaiting their response to CSEA's concerns regarding the disagreement.
CSEA is representing both members and non-members in this grievance. We hope that our protection of all faculty's incomes (and retirements) will result in greater appreciation of our contract's value and a sense of honor in supporting the union's efforts.
ADJUNCT FACULTY RESEARCHING INSURANCE COVERAGE
Although CSEA represents only full-time faculty, the Association supports the efforts of adjunct faculty to obtain some form of medical insurance. Several adjunct faculty are exploring possible availability of coverage through some form of group policy.
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