Index of Past State of the Union Reports 

1650 WELCOMES NEW TEACHERS

             Local 1650 extends a slightly belated but heartfelt and very warm welcome to several new full-time teachers this winter: Mahin Baghdadchi, Science; Amanda Boye, Health Careers; Lara Hamza, English; Angela Hathikhanavala, English; Jennifer Roderique, English; Cynthia Roman, Nursing; and Adnan Salhi, English.

             At an orientation session on January 4, new teachers were invited to meet and socialize with members of the Local 1650 Executive Board. Over lunch, President John McDonald provided an overview of the Local’s role on campus and in the Dearborn community and described key features of the contract. The new teachers were encouraged to become active in Local 1650, by attending the monthly membership meetings and by joining one of the committees, described later in this report.
 

PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH UPDATE

             The Presidential Hiring Committee, consisting of faculty, administrators and support staff as well as community and student representatives, has begun its work and anticipates a busy semester. Last semester, the presidential job description was written and posted.  Please note the following time line, which aims to complete the selection process by the end of this semester:

• Application submission deadline: February 1,

• Selection Committee review of applications: February 13 and 14,

• Interviews of selected applicants: February 27-28 and (if necessary) March 1,

• On-campus meetings between finalists and various HFCC groups and the Board: March 14-17,

• Public discussion of candidates with the Board: March 20,

• Announcement of presidential hire: April 17.

            Please note especially the dates for the on-campus meetings and discussions with the Board. Given the College’s strong commitment to shared governance and the challenges and transitions that the College faces, having faculty concerns and priorities well represented at these sessions is essential.  Faculty are strongly encouraged to be available to attend those meetings. Their times and locations will be publicized at a later date.
 

HFCC-FT PAF COLLECTION

            The last several 1650 Reports, including this one, document many pressing legislative issues facing higher education and underscore well the importance of our involvement in political action. Last semester, Local 1650’s Executive Board recommended that each teacher contribute $80 to our local PAF. Members were also asked to contribute $20 to the AFT-Michigan Political Action Fund.

            To date 90% of the faculty from fall 2005 have contributed to the political action fund.  Contributions are still being accepted from all members in the Local 1650 office or through your Area Representative.  If you are new to Local 1650 this winter, you can contribute.  If you would like your contribution to be used only for local elections in Dearborn, you may mark your contributions as restricted.  (About 20-25% of all contributions are restricted in a given year.) Below is a breakdown by area:

Area 1: 13/13               100% Participation!

Area 2: 36/38               95% Participation

Area 3: 24/29               83% Participation

Area 4: 22/25               88% Participation

Area 5: 19/22               86% Participation

Area 6: 8/10                 80% Participation

Area 7: 8/19                 95% Participation

Area 8: 19/20               95% Participation

Area 9: 16/19               84% Participation

We also had a contribution from a member from Area 10, retirees.

Total                175/195           90% Participation

            The Executive Board sincerely thanks the 90% of its membership who contributed to the PAF. We are approaching an even-year general election with the Legislature considering many bills affecting our retirement benefits and health care benefits, so these contributions are essential. Such broad-based recognition and support of political action has always characterized this Local and set it apart. We look forward to your continued support.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

            Many of the same important bills regarding health insurance and retirement introduced in 2005 still need our attention.  While HB 5314 and HB 4947 (SB 635) have not passed, they remain under active consideration and are very likely to resurface in the next legislative session. Legislators who have opposed them will be under great pressure to reverse their positions; those legislators need to continue to hear from us that they have our support in opposing these bills. Below is a summary of each and its status:

• HB 5314: This bill would exclude future community college employees from MPSERS. While the initial attempt to pass this bill has failed, it is likely to be resurrected in the next legislative session. It could be eclipsed by HB 4947 (see below). One objection to this bill’s passage was that no alternative retirement system existed for adjuncts and support staff; this objection has been countered with passage of HB 4047 (see below).
   

• HB 4947 and SB 635: These bills would change MPSERS from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan and would include a graded health care premium for new employees.
   

• HB 4047: This bill, which was passed, establishes an Optional Retirement Program for adjunct faculty and support staff.

 Also note that State legislators are still actively debating other health care cost-saving measures:

• SB 895-898: These bills reflect the AFT Michigan Health Insurance Proposal that was offered as an alternative to the “Hay Group” recommendation for one statewide health insurance program to cover all public school and community college employees. Unlike the Hay Group proposal, SB 895-898 would continue locally bargained health insurance, which ensures that local health coverage reflects local circumstances, interests and needs.  These bills would ensure local health coverage bargaining that considers the conditions and sacrifices made in past bargaining agreements.  These bills would also help to control costs through the creation of regional purchasing pools and the requirement for more precise and thorough reporting from insurance providers and health care facilities. While Republicans are currently in favor of these bills, Democrats are wary of alienating the MEA, which, because of its MESSA Insurance Division, opposes the provisions related to reporting transparency. Local 1650 members are thus strongly encouraged to contact both Republican and Democratic representatives to express support of SB 895-898.
   

AFT NATIONAL & AFT MICHIGAN CONVENTIONS

            Please consideration participating in two upcoming conventions. The AFT Michigan Convention is scheduled for May 6 in Detroit, while the AFT National Convention is scheduled for July 18-23 in Boston. If you would like to run to be a delegate to one or both, please notify John McDonald, Betsy Cohn, or Nancy Widman in writing prior to the February 20 General Membership meeting, or place your name in nomination at that meeting. Nominations for delegates to both conventions will close at the February 20 General Membership meeting, and elections will follow. Both conventions are exciting opportunities not only to represent the interests of Local 1650 but also to learn more about the union movement and its issues, mission, and operation.
 

BUDDY’S PIZZA EXTRAVAGANZA 

            Help us inaugurate a new semester and welcome new faculty by meeting, greeting, and eating at our traditional Friday afternoon Pizza Extravaganza! Please join us for pizza, salad, beverages, and good conversation on Friday, February 3, at Buddy’s Pizza, 22148 Michigan Avenue in west Dearborn. Stop in any time between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m., and look for the most jocular crowd – that will be us!
 

LOCAL 1650 COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

            While Local 1650's committees have not met for the last few months, several matters need to be addressed.  Please consider supporting Local 1650, and in turn, your College and colleagues, by serving on one or more of the following Federation committees:

                        1.         Legislative/Political Action Committee: (a) monitors and coordinates lobbying efforts relative to State and federal legislation impacting College revenues, teacher and retirees’ pension and health care benefits, and legislation impacting collective bargaining; (b) coordinates efforts to support candidates and ballot proposals supportive of the interests of HFCC teachers and the College.

                        2.         Health Insurance Committee: monitors and educates HFCC teachers on developments relative to health care coverage and costs; (b) provides research support relative to health care to the Local 1650 Negotiating Team.

                        3.         Solidarity Committee: organizes and coordinates Federation social functions, e.g., Dinner Dance, “Pizza Extravaganzas,” Holiday Party.

                        4.         Technology Committee: a newly forming committee that will advise and assist the Local in matters relative to technology, e.g., Local 1650 website maintenance, evaluation of on-line instruction, collective bargaining proposals addressing instructional technology.

            To join one or more of these committees, please submit the following information to the Local 1650 office (A-201) via interoffice mail or e-mail. Thank you!

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I volunteer to serve on the following Local 1650 Committee(s):