1650 WELCOMES NEW TEACHERS
Local 1650 extends a very warm welcome to several new teachers this
fall: Charles Dunlap, Health Careers; Mark Foret, Science; Jennifer LaRose,
Mathematics; Jacqueline Lawson, Business/Economics; Kimberly Lindquist,
Nursing; Talaat Pasha, English; Samuel Plaza, Social Science; Catherine
Wakefield, Nursing; Helen Weeks, Health Careers; Kristopher Young,
Automotive Technology; and Rochelle Zaranek, Social Science.
Additionally, Diana Baran in Business/Economics and Jolie Stepaniak
move from temporary to permanent full-time status.
An orientation session was held on September 5 for new teachers to meet and socialize with members of the Local 1650 Executive Board, receive background on the Local’s role on campus and in the Dearborn community, and review key features of the contract. New teachers are encouraged to become active in Local 1650 by attending monthly membership meetings and joining one of the Local’s committees (Political/Legislative, Insurance, or Solidarity). Local 1650 Membership Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month, September through April, at 3:15 p.m., in L-311.
1650 SEEKS DUES INCREASE
The Local 1650 Executive Board is recommending the first increase in
the Local’s dues structure since the 1980's and only the second in the
Local’s 40 year history.
The Local’s revenue has been severely reduced by retirements under
three Voluntary Early Severance Plans (VESP) over the last seven years.
This coupled with AFT and AFT-Michigan affiliate dues increases have
put the Local in deficit in six of the last seven years.
With a fourth VESP next year and no guarantee of replacement faculty
for 24 months, with further AFT and AFT-Michigan affiliate dues increases
looming, and with a good five year contract renewal in hand, the Executive
Board believes is necessary and time to place the Local on a sounder
economic footing.
Presently, Local 1650 dues amount to 1.1% (.011) of a member’s ten
month contractual salary. The
Executive Board recommends a new dues structure of 1.3% (.013) of a
member’s annual contractual and extra-contractual compensation.
Without another VESP in 2008, such a dues increase would generate
approximately $76,000 in additional revenue to the Local.
However, previous VESP offerings have reduced the Local’s revenue
on average by $26,000. The
remaining $50,000 in additional revenue, if all of that materializes, will
allow the Local to eliminate its annual $30,000 deficit, meet anticipated
AFT and AFT-Michigan dues increases, cover its three year office rental
costs, begin to restore budget cuts of the last five years, and replenish
its fund balance. The
Executive Board intends to revisit the Local’s dues structure in three
years to see if a downward adjustment is feasible at that time.
You will receive another copy of this article with additional background information in your mailboxes shortly. The dues increase recommendation will be open for discussion at the September and October General Membership meetings. A paper ballot vote will be conducted in November.
John McDonald
STATE BUDGET CRISIS AND HFCC
The State’s $1.8 billion budget deficit remains unresolved, with an
October 1 deadline looming and with it the shut down of many functions of
State government. Given $4
billion in State budget cuts over the last four years, virtually every
credible fiscal analyst has concluded that further budget cuts alone can not
address the State’s budget crisis, that increased taxes must be part of
balancing the State’s budget.
Why then have legislators not acted?
When legislators last raised taxes during the Blanchard
Administration, Democratic legislators faced recall challenges and two
legislators lost their seats. Several
legislators are already being targeted by a former State Republican
legislator with recall campaigns if they vote for any tax increase.
Moreover, State Republican party leaders believe that they can regain
control of the State House by unseating Democratic legislators who vote for
a tax increase at the polls in November 2008.
So we are confronted with paralysis in the State Legislature. Democratic legislators fear being unseated if they vote
responsibly, and Republican legislators adhere to the ideology and political
strategy of their leadership in calling for closing the deficit with cuts in
“State services.”
Please be advised that Henry Ford Community College is a “State
service.” 30% of HFCC revenue
comes from the State. Republican
legislators are presently calling for revisiting the State’s community
college allocation – and not to increase it.
In short, if the State budget crisis is not resolved with a large
infusion of revenue, HFCC’s State revenue is in jeopardy and with it
student access, College programs, and faculty livelihoods.
Please contact your legislator TODAY urging increased State revenue to fund education and other vital State services.
John McDonald
HFCC-FT PAF COLLECTION
Two major political challenges face Local 1650 in the upcoming year
– the election of two College Trustees and resisting re-call drives that
are now being prepared to oust legislators who vote to increase State
revenues.
At the local level, College Trustee Joe Guido, whom the Local has
supported throughout his tenure on the Board, is seeking re-election.
The seat of Trustee Mary Lane is open.
It is imperative that Local 1650 assist candidates for College
Trustee who are open minded and have a vision for the College as well as the
K-12 segment of the District. In addition, we have just negotiated a very good contract,
but given the State’s economic picture, no collective bargaining agreement
is secure from calls to re-open the contract.
This College and Union need Trustees who would see this as a very
last resort.
At the State level, legislators who are contemplating voting for
increased State revenue are already being threatened with re-call. This Local and other unions must have political action funds
to support those legislators who put their careers in jeopardy by voting to
fund education and other necessary State services.
Further cuts or “delays” in State funding mean greater tuition
hikes and diminished student access. Further
cuts or “delays” in State funding mean reduced community college funding
– funding that underwrites 30% of the Local 1650 contract.
Please be aware that Local 1650 operates two Political Action Funds (PAF).
The first, a “restricted” fund, is used only for local millage/bond
elections, Board of Trustees’ campaigns, and the campaigns of municipal
and State Legislative candidates whose decisions impact directly on HFCC
revenues. The Local uses the
“unrestricted” fund to engage in political activity and to support
County and State candidates not so directly involved with the revenues of
HFCC but whose decisions definitely affect Local 1650’s ability to
represent the interests of its members.
No Local 1650 PAF monies go to national political parties or
candidates for federal office.
The Executive Board is seeking a $100 contribution to the Local 1650 Political Action Fund, either by check or payroll deduction. Historically, over 90% of the 1650 membership has supported the Local’s annual request for PAF contributions. The Executive Board appreciates the membership’s strong support of Local 1650’s political efforts to protect their bargaining rights and secure the funding necessary to operate HFCC, maintain instructional quality, and fairly compensate its employees.
John McDonald
CONGRESS APPROVES PELL GRANT BOOST IN HIGHER ED BUDGET BILL
Congress on September 7 passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which increases Pell Grants by nearly $12 billion over four years, lifting the amount of the maximum award to $5,400 by 2012. The bill passed 79-12 in the Senate and 292-97 in the House, and President Bush has said he will sign the bill into law. The act cuts the interest rate for student loans in half, from 6.8% to 3.4%, and includes innovative loan-forgiveness provisions for public service employees, such as those in public health and public education--including early childhood education. It also cuts waste by eliminating more than $20 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies for lenders like NelNet and Sallie Mae. The bill "puts the emphasis back on helping students attend college, not on subsidizing private banks," said AFT president Edward J. McElroy. Lenders lobbied furiously to block the interest rate changes and reductions in other "special allowance payments" that add to their profits. But this time they were no match for the voices of people like those the AFT represents and serves, who have been seeking relief for years from the escalating costs of college. (Note: HFCC students receive $27 million in federal funds annually).
Inside AFT
1650 HOLDS ELECTIONS
This fall the following Local 1650 offices are up for election: Vice
President of Internal Affairs, Secretary, and Area Representatives from
odd-numbered areas (Area 1 – Counseling, Library, Placement Office, Focus
on Women, Assisted Learning, Student Activities, Instructional Technology;
Area 3 – Technical; Area 5 – Health Careers/Nursing; Area 7 – Science;
and Area 9 – Fine Art and Fitness).
For all positions, nominations will close at the October 15 General
Membership Meeting, and elections will be held the following week.
If you are interested in running for one of these positions, please
inform Jeff Morford (Math) or Nancy Widman (Library) in writing or e-mail,
or have your name nominated at the October 15 General Membership meeting.
TWELVE MONTH PAY OPTION
In the recently negotiated 2007-2001 contract, the College
Administration agreed to provide a twelve month pay option by the Fall 2008
semester.
The Administration and Local 1650 are presently working to resolve a major impediment to the twelve moth pay option. The Local’s contractual short term disability (STD) income insurance coverage calculates a disabled teacher’s benefit based upon weekly pay at the time of disability. If income is deferred over twelve months, then the STD benefit is diminished. This issue must be resolved with the insurance company before the twelve month pay option can be implemented.
NEW CONTRACT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY SERVICE FUND
As a community college, HFCC seeks to establish constructive
connections with the Dearborn community in many ways that extend far beyond
the education of its residents in our classes.
Valued highly is community service provided by HFCC employees, a
priority that has been reflected for quite some time in 1650's contractual
Community Service Fund.
In the new 2007-2012 contract, the Community Service Fund was strengthened considerably. No longer a grant coming out of the Professional Improvement Fund, it now is a separate fund budgeted by the Board. Through this fund teachers can receive a grant of up to $250 annually to defray the costs of membership dues in non-sectarian community service organizations based in the College District and are eligible for extra funds up to $20 weekly to pay for meals associated with those organizations’ meetings. Teachers will follow a process similar to PIF’s to request such compensation. The Local hopes that the additional financial support spurs its members to become increasingly active in such community service.