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What's Really Happening - 2005/05/31

Posted On: 5/31/2005


What's Really Happening

Columbus State Education Association Newsletter of May 31, 2005

SPECIAL HEALTH INSURANCE MEETING FOR FULL-TIME FACULTY

We remind you that CSEA will host an informational meeting tomorrow/Wednesday, June 1, at 2:30 PM in Delaware 121. CSEA representatives will address your questions and concerns.

In negotiations so far, administration representatives offered your CSEA Negotiating Team only one of the three options presented at recent campus forums. Health insurance coverage is still on the table, and we hope to address your understandable concerns at the meeting.

As noted in the last What's Really Happening, we advise that until we have ratified a new contract, you select Alternate #2 of the options presented by the College at recent health insurance forums. The College is required to maintain insurance comparable to our present coverage until we have ratified the new Agreement, which may entail adjustments in your own coverage. Temporarily choosing Alternate #2 will reduce any confusion until the new contract is ratified.

CALLING ALL INSTRUCTORS: SEND US YOUR POINTS

The CSEA Negotiating Team has submitted as part of bargaining a new Promotion and Tenure proposal based largely on the work of a committee chaired by Dean David Hockenbery. The proposed section would place any faculty member who is an Instructor at a different step within the Instructor rank based on the number of points s/he documented upon hire. The change would create salary differentials based on past degree work, teaching experience, and other pointable activities, so your prompt reply to the Negotiating Team's request could mean a pay increase in addition to other fundamental salary changes in the next contract.

All faculty at the Instructor rank will receive, or have already received, an email notice seeking this information. Please respond to that notice ASAP, but no later than this Friday morning, June 3.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

In sessions last week, negotiators came closer to agreement on several issues. Both negotiating teams refined proposed clarifications in Article 23 in the Agreement, the provision covering possible reductions in force (lay-offs). CSEA wants to assure that the College does not use retirements or resignations to reduce the number of full-time faculty. In the past, faculty positions have sometimes sat unfilled for more than a year. We believe that, especially given the deplorable ratio of full-time to adjunct faculty, this practice is in effect a reduction in force.

This practice allows the Board of Trustees to construct a budget that appears to be spending a certain amount on faculty compensation, but the money allocation for these unfilled positions becomes extra cash that is then rolled into cash reserves at the end of a fiscal year. CSEA believes the College should notify the Association if it intends to re-allocate a vacated position into another program or to not fill the position at all.

Further discussion of revised guidelines for program coordinators and lead instructors brought negotiators closer to agreement. We are hopeful that we can reach tentative agreement on this article before the end of the week.

MEDIATION TO BEGIN FRIDAY, JUNE 3

A neutral mediator will begin working with both negotiating teams this Friday, June 3, in an effort to bring the parties closer together on unresolved issues. The most significant of these involve our proposed salary schedule, insurance coverage, reassigned time for Association business, and adjustments to sections of the workload component of the current Agreement.

A major sticking point so far has been the administration's unwillingness to negotiate seriously on any of the financial issues. Rather than actively seeking compromises, the administration negotiating team seems to be counting on an outside third party to "force" them toward a settlement.

SEE HOW IT'S DONE

Several faculty have been attending the negotiating sessions as observers. You can, too. Contact Steve Abbott or Karl Rieppel if you are interested in attending any session and learning more about the bargaining process that determines how we will work and be compensated over the next 3 years.


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


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