CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN
Local 1650's current five year contract expires August 27, 2007, and negotiations with the Board of Trustees on a successor contract are now underway.
Negotiations will continue throughout April and into the summer months should a contract settlement not be reached by May 7 – and given the State’s budget crisis, a settlement by May 7 is highly problematic.
Each 1650 member is urged to update, if necessary, home address, home phone, and personal e-mail with Local 1650, so that the Union can notify the entire membership of developments in negotiations over the summer months and of possible meetings prior to the Fall semester.
PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT FUND
Article XV.D. of the Local 1650 contract provides for reimbursement for many professional improvement expenses, including: membership in professional organizations, subscriptions to professional journals, relevant book purchases, computer hardware/software, and expenses approved but not fully covered under the contract’s Travel-Conference Fund.
The application deadline for reimbursement from the Professional Improvement Fund is August 15. By that date, itemized receipts and a cover letter listing expenses and indicating that the purchases will be used in fulfilling professional responsibilities at the College should be submitted to the office of Ms. Marge Swan, College Vice-president/Controller.
STATE’S BUDGET CRISIS IMPACTS HFCC
Three very disturbing facts! The State is facing a $900 million budget deficit this fiscal year. The State faces a $3 billion (billion with a b!) deficit next year. 30 % of HFCC’s revenue comes from the State.
The Republican controlled State Senate maintains that the State’s current $900 million deficit must be covered in its entirety by budget cuts. Governor Granholm seeks to cover it with cuts and revenue enhancement, and most responsible analysts concur that Michigan can not address its structural deficit solely with budget cuts. The sooner the Legislature agrees to revenue enhancement, the more manageable next year’s $3 billion deficit becomes – a $3 billion deficit due in large part to the Republican Legislature’s repeal of the State’s Single Business Tax.
Absent increased State revenues, higher education, K-12 education, and other State services will face severe cuts in State support – and this will impact contract negotiations at HFCC.
All 1650 members are urged to contact their State Representatives and State Senators telling them that the State’s budget crisis can not be solved only by budget cuts, that tax cuts over the last several years have not turned Michigan’s economy around, and that investment in education is the best hope the State has for improving its economy.
Members who have not used the 1650 Legislative Committee’s sample letter to Legislators, available on the Local’s website (hfccft1650.org), are urged to do so, or members can go to aftmichigan.org and click on “Act Now” or “Take Action” to contact their legislators.
FORD MOTOR and HFCC’S FUTURE
All of us at the College would do well to consider what Ford Motor has meant and means to HFCC when purchasing an automobile. To begin with, this campus sits on land donated by Ford Motor Company, as does the College’s M-TEC Center. The Administrative Services Building is a contribution from Ford and the UAW. Ford has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment to the College’s career programs over the years. Ford and its employees have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in tuition revenue to HFCC over the years. The Ford family has contributed tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship funds. Ford’s share of Dearborn’s tax base is considerable, and 22% of HFCC revenues derive from that tax base.
Given that the American auto industry, at the insistence of the United Auto Workers, has brought – directly and indirectly – tens of millions Americans into the middle class, a decision to purchase a union made American automobile – and in our case a union made Ford automobile – should be an easy one, since it is clearly in our self interest to do so
INSURANCE COMMITTEE REVIEWS BC-BS and UNUM COVERAGES
The Local 1650 Insurance Committee, chaired by Jennifer Roderique, has met recently with representatives of BC-BS and UNUM to review Local 1650's hospital-medical-surgical and long-term care insurance coverages.
The Committee examined a detailed comparison of BC-BS traditional coverage and that provided under BC-BS’s PPO. Since all other unions at the College and in the Dearborn School District have moved away from traditional coverage to BC-BS PPO coverage or HMO coverage, the Insurance Committee sought a detailed comparison of the traditional and PPO programs in order to assist the 1650 Negotiating Team.
The initial conclusion of the Committee is that the PPO coverage is very comparable to the traditional coverage at reduced cost to the College. The Committee also noted that: (1) 90% of physicians and 100% of the State’s hospitals participate in the BC-BS PPO; (2) the PPO has no “gate-keeper” restrictions regarding access to physicians/specialists; and (3) enhancements to the PPO’s occupational-physical-speech therapy and specialized nursing care are needed.
The Insurance Committee also reviewed Local 1650's long-term care insurance coverage provided by UNUM. The Local's current coverage is $36,000 over 24 months in a professional facility and an extended period of coverage if the benefit is used for “in-home” care.
The Committee reviewed possible enhancements to 1650's group coverage and to the upgrades of group coverage available to members through individual purchase. The 1650 Negotiating Team has received this information.
The Insurance Committee strongly encourages all faculty to review the opportunities to upgrade group coverage. Such upgrades are actuarially based upon age, so upgraded coverage is comparatively inexpensive for younger faculty. The Committee also reminds faculty that long-term care coverage can be purchased for spouse, children, and parents at actuarial rates geared to age.
HFCC PART-TIME FACULTY UNION
Late in the Fall 2006 semester, several HFCC part-time faculty approached Local 1650 regarding the possibility of a part-time faculty union at HFCC.
Local 1650 contacted AFT-Michigan regarding this interest, and informational meetings have been held on campus for part-time faculty throughout the Winter semester. Approximately 50 part-time faculty have attended these meetings, with many others expressing interest via e-mail but unable to attend. Consequently, an Organizing Committee is now being formed with the goal of conducting a card campaign next Fall.
Concerns expressed by part-time faculty include: low pay, particularly compared to neighboring institutions; lack of job security; the need for health insurance; little opportunity for input regarding textbook selection and educational policy; and last minute “bumping” from one course to another.
The interest among part-time faculty to form a union is far greater than in the recent past, and there certainly appears to be significant momentum among part-time faculty at this juncture.
As reported to the Local 1650 membership previously, given the 600 part-time faculty at HFCC, it is very unlikely that the 1650 membership, numbering 205 faculty, would be inclined to bring part-time faculty in Local 1650. It is also very likely that part-time faculty would prefer their own union be led by part-time faculty.
Should part-time faculty organize, it will be very advantageous, for the part-time union and Local 1650, that both are affiliated with the same State affiliate – AFT-Michigan.
FACULTY COLLEGE AND EXCELLENCE ACT
The American Federation of Teachers is undertaking a legislative initiative in twenty states, including Michigan, entitled the Faculty College and Excellence Act (FACE). The FACE campaign is designed to address two major problems confronting higher education: the significant reduction in the numbers of full-time faculty at colleges and universities across the country and the woeful compensation and support provided the part-time faculty that have replaced them.
Over the last 20 years, the percentage of instruction conducted by full-time faculty at the nation’s colleges and universities has dropped from 80% to 50% at most institutions and to 30% at far too many institutions. At HFCC, approximately 50% of instruction is conducted by part-time faculty.
Part-time faculty have exploded in numbers across the nation because they are poorly compensated and inexpensive. Many work at three or more colleges to generate a livelihood, if it can be called that. Given their pay scale, well credentialed and experienced part-timers teaching seven courses a semester may earn merely $25,000 per year.
While FACE legislation from state to state may differ in its details, the community college legislation now being drafted for Michigan will call upon the Legislature to earmark new funding so as to assure, over a ten year phase-in, that: (1) 65% of the instruction at the State’s community colleges is conducted by full-time faculty, (2) part-time faculty compensation be based on a pro rata formula relative to full-time faculty, (3) part-time faculty be provided job security in their part-time employment based on seniority, (4) part-time faculty be provided office space and compensation for student conference hours, and (5) part-time faculty teaching 50% of a full-time load be provided health insurance coverage.
Local 1650 members will be notified as to when their support will be needed in support of Michigan’s FACE legislative initiative. In the short term, lobby your State legislators for higher education funding. Further cuts in funding will only further reduce the numbers of full-time faculty and further diminish the pay and working conditions of our part-time colleagues.
L-311 REFURBISHED
A special thank you is due Dr. Mee, Vice-President/Controller Marge Swan, Director of Buildings and Grounds Allen Gigiliotti, and the College’s Building Maintenance Staff for the refurbishment of the L-311 Faculty Lounge. The room was in dire need of refurbishment, which is now completed, and refurnishing, which will soon be completed. The room is now bright and inviting. Please express your appreciation to the above mentioned when you have the opportunity.
Also keep in mind that L-311 is not be used for student conferences or student make-up assignments. Small group meetings may be scheduled in L-311 through the Local 1650 office, x9666, provided they do not conflict with the room’s primary function as a faculty and staff lounge.