MCCC Home | Year Index | 1992 Index

In This Issue:

• MCCC Election Results
• Raymond C. Lemieux Award
• MTA Proposed Budget
• New MCCC Consultant

Raymond C. Lemieux Award Established

In the summer of 1987, the MCCC lost one of its most respected leaders when Raymond C. Lemieux from Springfield Technical Community College died suddenly of a heart attack. Ray Lemieux was a man with a strong commitment to teaching and the union. Ray had the rare ability to deal with tedious details while at the same time saw the bigger picture and brought things into focus for the greater good with a style and attitude that engendered good will and respect. He understood reform, pro-gress, and change. He was in perpetual motion and always available to respond to colleagues' concerns be they from STCC or the MCCC, MTA, or NEA. His knowledge of the accounting systems both for the community colleges and the commonwealth made him indispensable to the union, college administrators, and the state when it came to the contractual salary implementation.

In Ray Lemieux's memory, the MCCC established an award to be given periodically to a unit member who personifies the qualities and characteristics as follows:

The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual whose service, leadership, and dedication have contributed significantly to the Massachusetts Community College Council. Criteria for the award are service to higher education and to the labor movement in the quest for improved working conditions, and the maintenance of high standards of professional excellence as well as demonstrated leadership in the MCCC and higher education.

Ernest Therrien 1st Recipient of Raymond C. Lemieux Award

At the MCCC Delegate Assembly on April 25, 1992, the first Raymond C. Lemieux award was presented to Ernest Therrien a Professor at Springfield Technical Community College.

"The MCCC could not have chosen a more fitting recipient for this award," said MTA Vice President Robert Murphy. "Those qualities which made Ray such a remarkable man are personified in Ernest Therrien. Like Ray, Ernest's reputation for being an articulate and forthright voice of worker's rights reaches far beyond his U.S. Labor Relations classes at STCC. By his example, he brings dignity to the teaching profession. The members of the union and the education community have benefited alike from his knowledge, experience, compassion, and humor."

Therrien's activities have spanned philosophical, academic, union, and political concerns, and he has served the college and the union in numerous capacities.

Therrien earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of Maine; his M.A. in Economics from Fordham University; and was enrolled in the Doctorial Studies Program in Economics at Fordham. He began teaching at Springfield Technical Community College in 1974, as a Professor of Management and Finance.

At STCC Therrien has served on the numerous committees, including the Faculty Senate and the All College Council. Andrew M. Scibelli, President of Springfield Technical Community College says, "Ernie Therrien is a very appropriate honoree. While possessing completely different personalities, Ernie and Ray do share similar values, that is dedication and hard work. And perhaps more importantly, Ernie, like Ray, is a man of the utmost integrity. I value him as a faculty member. I trust him as a person, and I admire his commitment to the MCCC. I offer my sincere congratulations. The STCC family is very proud both of the award and the honoree."

Therrien participation in the MCCC began in 1975. From campus involvement on the Executive Committee of the STCC Professional Association and being the first chair of the MCCC Bylaws and Rules Committee, he became a member of an MCCC Negotiating Team and the MCCC Board of Directors. He was elected by the MCCC to the MTA Board of Directors where he was a voice for unity and cooperation between higher education and K-12 segments. He has served on several MTA committees, including the MTA Bylaws and Resolutions Committees. In 1990 Therrien was the first higher education person elected as one of the four NEA Directors by MTA members, K-G, in Massachusetts. Jo Reiter, president of the Massachusetts State College Association, says, "Ernest is one of the most affable, diplomatic, and tenacious voices for public higher education in the commonwealth. He is the quintessential advocate for all unit members."

"Though the union's goals and objectives have not changed over the years, I have watched the union grow in its ability to deal with the issues of collective bargaining," says Therrien.

"We have a very intelligent, aggressive statewide grievance program in place. This is important because the enforcement of the contract is the enforcement of the substantive and procedural rights of the members. It is now time, however, that we look to increase our political activities if we are to stop the erosion of the state's commitment to public higher education.

"The focus for the protection of members' rights has shifted away from the bargaining table into the political arena, and it is there we must seek justice for our cause. We must convince our members of the importance of their political involvement before the higher education structure in Massachusetts has been too seriously eroded to achieve the objectives for which the system was established." Therrien himself has been an active member of the Agawam Democratic Committee and has been elected a delegate to state Democratic Conventions. He has participated in political campaigns on behalf of candidates and issues affecting union members.

Proud to be selected as the first recipient of the Raymond C. Lemieux Award, Therrien believes that Ray's influence is felt to this day, and that his contributions to the union are still recognized. Therrien says, "Ray was a person who was always active-ever present when needed. He was able to express difference

without anger, never raising his voice, never personalizing that difference. The man was patient, compassionate, and never once spoke unkindly of anyone. It is an honor to receive this award in Ray's name; he was a good unionist and a true friend of us all."

DCE Resolutions

There have been several DCE grievances resolved prior to going to arbitration. Unfortunately management persists in dragging out the resolution of grievance issues until both parties are on their way to arbitration.

Course Preferences

When the DCE contract was im-plemented, Massasoit Community College implemented a new way of soliciting course preferences; the college asked for a unit member's unavailability of hours and nothing else. This has now been resolved, and the college has agreed to solicit from unit members the courses, in priority order, days, and times that faculty are interested in teaching. The new form will be sent to all unit members in the seniority pool and will be effective for the Fall, 1992 session.

Post Outside Entity Courses

No. Essex Community College has agreed to post DCE courses which are being taught for an outside entity as required by the collective bargaining agreement.

No Course Limitation for Day Faculty

No. Essex had a practice of limiting the number of DCE courses a day faculty could teach while not restricting the number for other DCE unit members. The college has agreed to abandon this limitation policy.

Over the next few months, several important cases are scheduled for arbitration. The issues include whether the college is obliged to use the appointment article for each DCE session rather than simply the Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions. Another issue involves the questions of whether the college must offer a faculty member a course in each work area where they hold seniority.

If you have any questions regarding DCE, contact MCCC DCE Coordinator Joe Rizzo.

Legislators Call Report Flawed

In a joint letter to the Higher Education Coordinating Council (HECC), Senate Majority Leader Sen. Walter Boverini and Education Committee member, Rep. Edward Lambert cite their objections to the Report of the Commission on the Future of State & Community Colleges. As members of the Commission, they encourage HECC to look closely at "the faulty process which led to its production, the lack of recognition that greater funding is required... and the possible faulty perception that consensus exists amongst the Commission members. . ." Since no vote was taken or consent signature requested, doubt remains as to the level of support for this report.

Writing that ". . . for the Commission to have been presented with a near-final document... only to have been put on hold for nearly two months... while a consultant from a prestigious 'private' institution was retained (without the consent, or even the knowledge, of most of the Commission members). . ." to redraft the proposal and add new language was inexcusable.

"The greatest failing of the Commission report is the lack of recognition, or clear statement, about the need to fully fund our public higher education system. While the report calls for new initiatives ... there is no mention of resources to fund them . .. . In not wanting the report to appear to be an 'advocacy document', the Commission risked having the appearance of being just the opposite, and missed an incredible opportunity to bring the importance of public higher education to the public's attention."

Though both legislators allow that there are positive recommendations in the Report, they felt it was necessary to communicate "some of the danger inherent in the precepts of this report, and its implementation, and the faulty process by which it was developed."

Conor Johnston Receives Butler Award

The Eighth Annual Jon G. Butler Memorial Award for outstanding chapter president was awarded at the MCCC Delegate Assembly on April 25, 1992, to Dr. Conor Johnston from Massasoit Community College. This award was established in the Fall of 1984 in honor of Jon Butler, former chapter president at No. Shore Community College, former MCCC Research Coordinator, and an outspoken and active proponent of unit members' rights.

Conor Johnston, a Professor of English, received his B.A. In English from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; his M.A.T. in English from Johns Hopkins University; and his Ph.D. in English from Boston College. In 1979 he was hired as an Instructor at Massasoit.

"My first union encounter was in London, prior to college when I was a member of the Transport and General Workers' Union. Because I was young and new, my boss tried to cheat me out of a bonus. The shop steward heard about it, and within 15 minutes I had my bonus." That, Johnston states, showed him the effectiveness of unionism.

In 1983 Johnston became involved in the Massasoit chapter and was elected building representative. He was subsequently elected chapter president in 1984, 1985, 1989, and again for the 1991-1992 year. He has also served as secretary and vice president and is a member of the current MCCC Joint Study Committee.

"Although working as chapter president takes a lot of time, the sense of union camaraderie, of being able to meet management on an equal footing, and of being able to defend the dignity of the profession all provide great satisfaction for me." On the other hand, says Johnston, these are difficult times because the membership is understandably frustrated with the lack of state support for higher education. He encourages all members to unite, politicize their frustrations, and direct them at Beacon Hill.

Looking to the twenty-first century, Johnston believes that academic unions need to move away from the industrial model but lose none of the strength that comes from that model. "The industrial model tends to be from-the-top-down and less interested in the professional quality of work, which I believe is as important as wages and conditions of employment. If we are going to make an impression on the public, we must let it know we are interested in other issues apart from salary. We must make the public aware of what we do and how well we do it at such a low cost.

"I come from a family in Ireland where I learned the concept of the dignity of labor, and it is because unions defend that concept so well that I am passionately interested in our union. I would like to see more of the membership in all of public higher education feel comfortable with speaking out and moving as a unified force to confront those politicians who refuse to acknowledge the importance of public higher education in our society," says Johnston.

Higher Ed Taken Out of Early Retirement Bill

After months of teasing higher education employees with the expectation they would be included in an early retirement bill, the governor excluded higher education and judiciary employees from the bill when he filed four amendments. When the changes hit the House and Senate, both chambers concurred but accepted an amendment by Sen. Havern which requires a bill to be filed for these employees within 60 days of the passage of the early retirement bill. Whether this new bill is meant for Fiscal, 1993 or to be for employees retiring this year remains to be seen.

Know Your Contract

Apr. 29	Faculty submit preferred class schedule for Fall
Apr. 30	Notice of tentative courses for Fall, 1992 due faculty
May 1	President makes tenure recommendations or one-year appointments
May 8	Faculty submit Student Advisement and College Service forms
May 21	Notice of tenure or one-year appointment
May 26	Notice of tentative class schedule for Fall, 1992 due faculty
May 30	Professional Staff submit Student Advisement and College Service forms

N.B. Dates may vary depending on first day of classes. Also, most of these dates are "last date" standards. In many instances, the action can he accomplished before the date indicated.