What's Really Happening
Columbus State Education Association Newsletter of April 28, 2006
CSEA SPONSORS IN-SERVICE SESSION ON HEALTH CARE
Dramatic and ongoing increases in health care costs are at the center of most employee-employer conflict in the nation these days, as witnessed by the 70% increases in costs to CSCC employees last year for the same health care coverage as in 2004-2005. CSEA is sponsoring an In-Service Day session by the Single-Payer Action Network (SPAN), a nonpartisan Ohio group interested in health care coverage for all citizens. Consider attending the afternoon presentation to find out what you-and the College-can do to address the unnecessary and unfair shifting of costs to employees.
JOIN US AT THE MAY 13 EMPLOYEE CELEBRATION
We hope you'll join your CSEA colleagues at the annual Employee Celebration from 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, at the Bridgeview Golf Course. Deadline for the required advance registration is MONDAY, MAY 1, so it's time to act. You've received an emailed final notice already from the President's office, and whether you dress for the theme or not, we hope you'll come, create a strong faculty presence, and share an evening with faculty colleagues and other employees. You can RSVP here.
ADJUNCT FACULTY PAY
On April 11, CSEA President Steve Abbott sent the email reprinted below to the chair of the Instructional Support Council's Human Capacity Development Committee, with a copy to the chair of the Council and to all adjunct faculty. To date, more than 3 dozen adjunct faculty have responded with appreciation and support:
"Six years ago, before full-time faculty organized to be represented for purposes of collective bargaining, faculty representatives met with Dr. Moeller and Provost Dr. Snider to discuss the issue of how pay is issued for adjunct/contract faculty. The issue is that they receive pay vouchers 5 times per quarter, which means that these employees go a month between the last paycheck of one quarter and the first of the following quarter.
"This is an unreasonable burden to place on employees with an ongoing relationship with the College. It's understandable that new employees might have to wait to receive pay until they have demonstrated that they are actually working for the College. The majority of adjunct faculty, however, have continuing relationships with the College, and as professionals they should not be subjected to the budgeting and related hardships that come with going a month between paychecks. The technical aspects of adjusting payroll practices to spread adjunct faculty pay over 6 pays (and thus also reduce the amount of federal income tax deducted from each check) can't be that complex.
"Six years ago, Dr. Moeller said that she would look into addressing this issue. To my knowledge, no action has been taken. In November 2005, I addressed the Board of Trustees about this issue, but aside from their polite attention, I have heard nothing more.
"It is long past time that professional educators receive some consideration in receiving timely pay from one of the area's largest employers, one that prides itself on considerate treatment of its workers. Columbus State's adjunct faculty make up 75% of the faculty, and they not only teach but contribute to curriculum development, textbook selection, and numerous other elements of creating and maintaining the College's quality and reputation. Hundreds of them have long ago proved their loyalty and commitment to the College; when will the College do the same for them?
"The lack of action to date is shameful, and the failure to address this concern can only continue to erode the morale of all faculty. The current governance structure leaves adjunct faculty with no effective voice within the College. What can be done to get moving on this issue?"
REPORT ON MEMBER MEETING
In brief, the April 26 member meeting included discussions of ongoing work (in conjunction with Human Resources) to produce a hard copy of the implemented terms, appointments to college-level committees and the governance councils, and a membership recruitment project that will include a survey of faculty attitudes about goals the Association should seek as well as comment on past gains and current shortcomings. More details of the proceedings will be sent out next week.
VISIT THE CSEA WEB SITE
You can learn more about the history of CSEA, review back issues of What's Really Happening, and look up aspects of the last collective bargaining agreement at our web site www.cseafaculty.org.
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