MCCC Home | Year Index | 1993 Index

In This Issue:

• Presidents Demand Takebacks
• Elections
• Health & Welfare Changes
• Early Retirement & Sex Equity

Management's Proposal:

A Prologue of Things To Come?

On November 22, 1993, the MCCC Negotiating Team (Dennis Fitzgerald, Chair, Massasoit; Cathy Boudreau, Massasoit; Susan Dole, Bunker Hill; Rick Doud, Middlesex, Phil Mahler, Middlesex; Richard Nagle, Massasoit; Tom Parsons, Mass. Bay; Wil Robert, Greenfield; Donna Sirutis, MTA Consultant; and Carolyn Tetrault, Springfield) met with management representatives to receive the initial proposal from the community college presidents' negotiating team. The participants in the drafting of their proposal are many.

In addition to the 15 college presidents and their administrators' input, the following are the most visible:

The presidents' Negotiating Committee: Andrew Scibelli, Chair, STCC President; Daniel Asquino, Mt. Wachusett President, and Ray Sloan, Greenfield President.

Members of the presidents' bargaining team are: Cynthia Denehy and Carol Colby, attorneys both working in the Counsel of Presidents' Office. William Collins, Massasoit; Jane Coviello, No. Shore; John Dunn, Springfield; Stephen Fabbrucci, No. Essex; Terry Comes, Massasoit; Thomas Holland, Springfield; Rick Nastri, Cape Cod; Paul Raverta, Holyoke; Ira Rubenzahl, Greenfield; and Mary Lou Thielman, Holyoke. Attorney Henry Stewart, a partner from the law firm of Palmer and Dodge in Boston, hired by the presidents as their chief negotiator, opened the session with the following remarks.

"We have proposed changes in approximately one-half of the articles. This proposal represents an enormous amount of effort on behalf of the bargaining team and the presidents. The Counsel's office sent out questionnaires and these are the results. The team met between 10 and 12 times. We decided to deal with the reality the schools are facing in times of economic hardship.

We present this to you with the hope that we can move to resolution."

The package was then handed over to the MCCC Negotiating Team.

ER & ES Study In Senate Supplemental Budget

On Monday, December 13, 1993, the Senate reported out its Supplemental Budget request. Though the two items of major concern to the community colleges and higher education were included, the early retirement provisions poses some serious problems.

Equity Settlement Monies. The correct amount for this settlement is included, and Senator Birmingham reported on this item as being a priority for funding. Once the supplemental passes the Senate, the budget will go to Conference Committee. Because the House version was short approximately $18,000, it is expected that the Conference Committee will come out with the correct amount. Please make sure that thank-you notes have been sent to your legislators who have supported this funding. In addition, regardless of where you live, a thank-you note or telephone call must go to Speaker Flaherty, Rep. Joan Menard, and Senator Birmingham for their support.

Early Retirement. The version reported out of the Senate has the colleges picking up the entire cost of the retirement, and the colleges cannot sustain this kind of financial impact. Amendments will be made, and by the time you read this, the budget should be in the Conference Committee. Pressure should be put on the Conference Committee to come up with a bill where the colleges are not responsible for the entire cost and pressure should be put on the governor to sign an early retirement bill with cost sharing.

Health and Welfare Trust Changes Dental Carrier

The contract for our dental coverage expires at the end of this year, and the members of the Trust have contracted with Blue Cross to be the new dental carrier. According the Nick Minton, the union's chair, the transition from Delta Dental to Blue Cross should be seamless. During the bidding process, both Delta Dental and Blue Cross dropped the cost of the present program. Though some of the level one services may see a slight increase, the level three services which are more expensive will be a little less expensive. This new plan also provides for a PPO (Preferred Provider Option) similar to our health insurance plan. All unit members will be receiving a new card and complete information on the new plan within a month. The contract with Blue Cross begins February 1, 1994.

Nota Bene

• The female unit members who will be receiving a substantial amount of money from the equity settlement should speak with their accountants or tax people when preparing this year's taxes. Since half of the money is taxable, the increased income could affect a tax status; therefore, arrangements should be made in anticipation of this additional income.
• Norbert (Bob) Nunes from Mass. Bay Community College has become the fifth member of the DCE Negotiating Team.

Elections Elections Elections:

MCCC Officer, MTA and NEA Annual Meeting, MTA Board, and MTA Executive Committee

The following is an outline of all upcoming elections and the deadlines for nomination papers. Vacancies are open to all MCCC unit members in good standing--Full- time day faculty and professional staff, part-time day faculty, and DCE.

To run for MCCC Officer: President, vice president, secretary, and treasurer seats are open for a two-year term, June, 1994 to June, 1996. Candidates must fill out the nomination paper along with 50 signatures on the back. The deadline for filing nomination papers is 4 p.m. February 16, 1994. No nomination papers will be accepted after that time regardless of postmark or fax time stamped. Papers must be in the hands of Elections Committee Chair, Allan Peck, Springfield Technical Community College, One Armory Square, Springfield, MA 01105. If you are interested in faxing, send nomination papers with a cover sheet to the college's fax 413-781-5805.

To run as an MCCC Delegate to MTA and NEA Annual Meetings: For those members wishing to run on the MCCC ballot as a delegate to the MTA and/or NEA Annual Meetings, a nomination paper must be filed for each position. Only the front part of the nomination paper must be filled out for these vacancies. The deadline for filing nomination papers is 4 p.m. February 16, 1994. No nomination papers will be accepted after that time regardless of postmark or fax time stamped. Papers must be in hands the of Elections Committee Chair, Allan Peck, Springfield Technical Community College, One Armory Square, Springfield, MA 01 105. If you are interested in faxing, send nomination papers with a cover sheet to the college's fax 413-781-5805.

To run on the MTA ballot as a Regional or Statewide delegate to the NEA Annual Meeting: You must complete the nomination form, or a copy, which is printed in the MTA Today, and regardless of postmark, it must be filed by January 14, 1994, no later than 5 p.m.

To run for MCCC Seat on MTA Board of Directors: Any unit member interested in running for the Region 44H (MCCC) seat on the MTA Board of Directors must request, in writing, nomination papers from MTA Executive Director Edward Sullivan, 20 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108. Signatures must be collected and the nomination form submitted to the MTA no later than 5 p.m. on March 4, 1994.

To run for the Region H (higher education seat) on the MTA Executive Committee: Any unit member interested in running for the Region 44H (MCCC) seat on the MTA Board of Directors must request, in writing, nomination papers from MTA Executive Director Edward Sullivan, 20 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108. Signatures must be collected and the nomination form submitted to the MTA no later than 5 p.m. on March 4, 1994.

Call for Manuscripts

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 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 hard copy. 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.

Where Are They?

The MCCC has been attempting to mail information to female unit members who are a party to the sex equity settlement, Over the past couple of months, letters have been returned with "address unknown." Unclaimed monies will revert back to the Commonwealth, If your name appears on the list or you can contact someone (or a relative) on this list, please write a note to MCCC President Tom Parsons immediately with the corrected address.

Berkshire: Jacquelynn Arnold, Judith Aronow
Bristol: Holly Furtado
Bunker Hill: Nadine Houston
Cape Cod: Janice Brencick
Mass. Bay: Sandra M. Barnes, Ann G. Hilferty, Frances P. Palacios, Susan Santucci
Massasoit: Colleen Price-Rys
Middlesex: Lucia Carrington, Marion (Ahern) Hutchinson, Joanne Kendall
Quinsigamond: Philip, Robert, Patricia, or Barbara Jean Guillette, Beneficiary for Barbara Guillette
No. Shore: Marguerite Gerstell, Helen Graham Halloran
No. Essex: Sandra Fotinos
Roxbury: June Jefferson-Randolph, Sharon Phillip, Adrienne Scott, Jodi Starnes, Antoinette Williams
Springfield: Denise Wallace Haymore; Anthony T., Dana S. or Kelly C. Watkins for The Estate of Marion Watkins
Unknown college: Susan Anderson €

DCE News

• The DCE Negotiating Team has met throughout the Fall and has created a demand package, The Team is now in the process of attempting to schedule bargaining sessions with management.
• Several more unemployment cases have been successfully appeals, One case, however, is being appealed further to the Board of Review within the Department of Employment and Training, Although the hearing officer found that the claim was valid due to the tenuous nature of DCE assignments, he also stated that reasonable assurance for further employment existed once the course had sufficient enrollment prior to the beginning of the semester, The MCCC is contesting that aspect of the decision since the course in question was in the day and under the One College Concept, The course could have been assigned to a full-time faculty member if his or her course had been canceled.

Know Your Contract

Dec. 17	Faculty submit student advisement (E4) and college service (E5) forms
Dec. 23	Part-time faculty student evaluation summary
Dec. 28	Part-time faculty teaching assignments due
Dec. 30	Professional staff submit student advisement (E4) and college service (E5) forms
Jan. 15	Part-time faculty summary evaluations (year three) due
Jan. 15	First year professional staff E4 and E5 evaluations due
Jan. 15	First year professional staff work performance evaluations due
Jan. 21	Faculty E4 and E5 forms evaluated
Jan. 23	Student evaluation summary (E6) due
Jan. 24	Earliest Spring semester can begin

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.

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MCCC Newsletter Editor: Catherine A. Boudreau MCCC/MTA Newsletter 20 Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108

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.

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