|
|
|
|
|
Massachusetts Community College Council |
|
NEWSLETTER |
|
Volume XI |
September, 1993 |
Number Two |
In This Issue:
After MCCC Grievance Coordinator Dennis Fitzgerald distributed information regarding chapter and systemwide salary inequities to all campuses, a chapter grievance and several individual grievances were filed about salary inequities at Holyoke Community College. Last spring the chapter in consultation with Dennis Fitzgerald began negotiations with college president David Bartley to resolve the grievances and salary inequities. This summer the college, the chapter leadership, and the MCCC agreed, as a gesture of good faith and in settlement of a chapter grievance, to adjust the base salaries of 64 employees beginning with the September 26, 1993, paycheck.
The agreement constitutes a settlement of salary equity grievances for bargaining unit members at Holyoke. The agreement acknowledges, however, that salaries may be revised systemwide as part of a systemwide equity study, a settlement of the systemwide equity grievances, and/or as part of a successor collective bargaining agreement. If a systemwide salary revision were to happen through the negotiating process, Holyoke members would be eligible. Both parties agreed that this settlement would not set a precedent and could not be used in any other forum. In return, the MCCC agreed to withdraw the chapter equity grievance at Holyoke Community College. The settlement will affect 64 unit members with salary adjustments ranging between $1134 (one step) to $3402 (three steps).
All other individual and chapter grievances at the other colleges
have now been consolidated into one systemwide grievance for the Step
II hearing. The MCCC is willing to negotiate a resolution, at any
time, to grievances at the chapter level as it did for
Holyoke.
The following unit members have been named to the DCE Negotiating Team.
Marcia Blanchette. The Director of Counseling at St. Joseph College in West Hartford, Connecticut, she has been an instructor in Psychology since 1988 at Springfield Technical Community College and has been an active in the STCC Professional Association.
James Bradley. He is currently the president of the No. Essex Chapter of the MCCC and has taught in the evening division for the past 17 years. In addition to the presidency, Bradley has been chapter vice president, secretary, grievance officer, and a member of MACER. He has been a member of the MCCC Negotiating Committee for the day contract as well a member of the 1980-1983 day contract Negotiating Team.
Vincent Chiachio. A senior IS Technologist at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, he is an adjunct faculty member at Bunker Hill Community College.
Joseph Rizzo. Currently the DCE Grievance Coordinator for
DCE, Rizzo has had extensive experience in administering both the day
and DCE unit contracts. He has taught in DCE for 22 years at No.
Essex Community College and is a Professor of Behavioral
Science.
DCE and Part-Time Employee News:Unemployment cases upheldTwo more DCE faculty unemployment appeals have been successful--one from Greenfield and one from Quinsigamond. As in previous cases, these faculty were not otherwise employed and the pivotal issue was the tenuous nature of DCE assignments. As such, a tentative assignment does not constitute reasonable assurance of future employment. The claimants were found to be eligible for unemployment compensation between semesters. Although these cases were litigated, the vast majority of claims were processed without contest. Salem State College moves in on No. EssexLast year Salem State College offered courses at No. Essex Community College that the MCCC considered to be redundant to what No. Essex offered. The MCCC filed a charge with the Labor Relations Commission, and the college agreed to impact bargain over this issue and to inform the MCCC which courses would be offered. The MCCC was not against upper level and graduate courses being offered as long as they did not replicate No. Essex courses. The MCCC held the Labor Relation charge in abeyance pending a resolution. The college never responded to the MCCC's charge that these courses impacted unit work at the college. This year a brochure came out listing courses which the
MCCC has objected to being offered by Salem. The MCCC will
be filing a grievance and proceeding with the charge at the
Commission. |
The August issue of the Newsletter reported that the MCCC would be publishing an interdisciplinary journal in the spring. The MCCC invites any unit member, full or part-time or DCE, to submit an article, commentary, or book or article review on any topic which he or she believes would be of interest to MCCC unit members. The journal is intended to be a forum for the many views and interests of the membership, and the submissions should derive from thoughtful research. The articles can deal with any aspect of the academic environment. Contributors should follow APA style and must submit copies of their work on computer disk and hardcopy. Each submission should run no longer than 3,000 words, including quotations, footnotes, and references.
For a detailed outline of submission requirements, please contact
the Newsletter Editor. All submissions must to sent to
MCCC President Tom Parsons. The deadline is February 15, 1994, at 5
p.m.
Public Relations Grants. These grants are available to any higher education chapter for a program designed to expand public awareness of and support for public higher education; to enhance the image of all members; and to publicize the professional expertise and accomplishments of the local or chapter. This program, administered by the MTA Communication Committee, awards grants of up to 50 percent of net costs, up to a maximum of $500 for any one project with a limit of $1,000 for more than one project. Grants are awarded on a first come, first served basis, and the deadline for all applications is February 1, 1994. If your chapter is interested, contact the MTA Communications Division for an application and explanation of the guidelines. (1- 800-392-6175). All chapter grant applications must be signed by MCCC President Tom Parsons prior to submission.
Professional Development Grants. This program awards grants
of up to $500 to chapters, a group of MTA members, or to an
individual member for the design and implementation of a professional
development program. The goals of the program are: to improve local
conditions for teaching and learning; to assist members in their
continuing professional development (not, however, to support the
personal research, educational, or professional activities of
individual members and to assist members to achieve an increased,
effective role in the management of their professional and working
lives. Applications may be submitted by either October 8, December 9
or February, 3, 1994. For an application and specific guidelines,
contact the Professional Development Division (l
-800-392-6175).
Educators Services Corporation (ESC), a separate corporation
established by MTA to provide discounts on services and discounted or
free admissions to a number of places and events, is introducing a
new credit card. The card, which will be as good as the NEA card,
will carry either a 12.9 percent APR fixed rate with no annual fee or
a 10.9 percent variable rate with a $25 annual fee. Members will be
able to transfer balances from their NEA card or any other credit
card at an APR of 7.9 percent. The brochures concerning this new card
will be sent out at the end of the month to all unit members. Because
of a printing error, membership cards and service information will be
sent in early October. Members can continue to use their card until
the new one is received. If you have any questions, contact ESC at
1-800-336-0990 or 617-367- 2700.
|
The weekly salary schedule in the August Newsletter reported one of the weekly salaries as $689.07 and it should have read $698.07. |
 |
|
There are number of benefits members receive with their MTA membership card. Each issue of the Newsletter will list a few of these for your information. For buying services and travel pro-grams you must contact the division for applicable forms. Auto Insurance: Approximate savings of $147 based on regular price of $1,473. Auto quotation services: Printouts of exact dealer costs and available options for new vehicles. $7 for first quote, $5 for each additional quote. Home Heating Oil Program: Join this co-op and save an average of $150 on heating bills based on 800 gal use. Vision Care Plan: Discounted eye-glasses, contact lenses, accessories, and sunglasses at 21 Cambridge Eye Doctors' locations. Alamo Rent-a-Car: Discounted rates. TSA Travel: Special cruise and tour
rates |
The vacancies within the community colleges are easily
accessible on the MTA Bulletin Board System (BBS), If you do
not have a Hayes compatible modem, someone on your campus
will. Vacancies can be read, downloaded, and/or printed at
your terminal. To access the BBS from within Massachusetts,
dial 1-800-523-8883 (1200 or 2400 baud, 8 data bits; 1 stop,
NONE parity) (If you live outside the state, you can contact
the MCCC Editor or speak to someone in Massachusetts who has
a modem.) Follow the prompts and answer the questions. After
that, only name and password are needed. To see files, Go to
Main Menu; (F)iles area; (6)Vacancies at our community
colleges; (F)iles note most recent date; return to Main Menu
(enter); (1) Display; File to view (enter most recent date).
Questions about bulletin board go to the systems operator
(SYSop) Ron Miller (1-508-653-7244). If you do not have
access to a modem, a printout can be fared to you by faxing
a request to the Communications Coordinator at FAX number
617-236-0448. |
A letter and a survey form have been mailed to all female unit members and retirees affected by the sex equity settlement. The MCCC is requesting that representatives and senators be polled concerning their willingness to assist in getting this study funded.
Since the legislature will not be in session until the end of September, the MCCC will be planning a strategy to be put into action in October. There are limited options to funding this settlement prior to the fiscal 1995 budget--an amendment to a deficiency budget or a separate bill. Since all monetary items must go through House Ways and Means, there will be an added focus on the legislators who sit on the House and Senate committees of ways and means.
Please complete the survey and return it immediately. If you have
not received a letter, please contact MCCC President Tom Parsons
immediately.
Puerto Rican Writers at Home in the U.S.A. has been selected by the New York Public Library for the "1993 Books for the Teen Age." This anthology was published by Faythe Turner, a professor of English at Greenfield Community College.
If you have received national recognition and would like it noted in the Newsletter,
please pass the information on to your chapter president.
Applications are now being accepted from all unit members (full and part-time and DCE) who are interested in being a member of the review panel for the new interdisciplinary journal to be published by the MCCC. Specific criteria for candidate selection include: excellent grammar and writing skills; knowledge of APA format; knowledge of writing and editing professional and organizational publications; knowledge of the MCCC/ MTA/NEA and understanding of the role of unions; ability to work under tight timeliness and schedules; and ability to work as a team member.
The Panel will meet twice to evaluate submissions for publication in the journal. Responsibilities will include reviewing articles, manuscripts, letters, book reviews, and commentaries, and determining which submissions will be published. One panel member will be responsible for writing an "Overview" section, a summary of the articles and sections of interest in the journal.
Appointment to the panel will be for one year and no member of the
panel may submit manuscripts for publication in the journal while a
panel member. Expenses for panel members for meetings, meals, and
travel will be covered by MCCC. Letters of application and
accompanying resume should be sent to MCCC President Tom Parsons no
later than November 30, 1993.
There are three vacancies on the Nominations and Elections
Committee for this year. Since there will be MCCC elections in
addition to MTA and NEA Annual Meeting delegate elections, the
committee must be formed soon. Anyone interested in serving on this
committee should send a letter to MCCC President Tom Parsons.
Applications must be received no later than Thursday, October 7,
1993, at 5 p.m.
|
Oct. 1 |
Sick leave bank open |
|
Oct. 1 |
Tenure eligibility list distributed |
|
Oct. 6 |
New full and part-time list distributed to MCCC |
|
Oct. 8 |
Course Materials (E-2) evaluated |
|
Oct. 15 |
Full-time seniority lists due to unit members |
|
Oct. 15 |
Reappointments announced for unit members with four years or more of seniority |
|
Oct. 23 |
Leave of absence decision for spring, 1994 announced |
|
Aug. 24 |
Sabbaticals for spring 1994 awarded |
|
Editor: MCCC/MTA Newsletter |
The MCCC Newsletter is a publication of the Massachusetts Community College Council. The Newsletter is intended to be an information source for the members of the MCCC and for other interested parties. The material in this publication may be reprinted with the acknowledgment of its source. For further information on issues discussed in this publication, contact Catherine Boudreau, Massasoit Community College, Brockton, MA 02402. |
|
|
|
|
