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In This Issue:

Make Sure You Vote DCE Money Offer Joint Factfinding Candidate Highlights

40% TURNOUT WON'T DO IT!

It is imperative that everyone get out and vote on Tuesday November 8, 1994. We cannot let ourselves slide back two years to when we did not have a strong majority of support for higher education in the legislature. The following are the MTA election recommendations:

Governor

At a special MTA Board Meeting on September 27, 1994, the Board endorsed the candidacy of Mark Roosevelt for governor. There was much debate and genuine frustration with the motion since K-12 has just gone through two long years of education reform put forward by Rep. Mark Roosevelt. In the end, however, the Board felt Roosevelt would be a better governor if he were to win.

For higher education employees, let us never forget that the governor furloughed state employees. The governor refused to submit our contract for funding, and forced all state employees to bypass our collective bargaining law and go directly to the legislature. The governor increased our medical insurance contributions. The governor has vetoed an early retirement bill for higher education employees. It has been the legislature, not the governor that has given us a respectable increase in our last two budgets. Enough said!

State Legislature

The upcoming elections hold promise or danger, depending on who prevails. There are several state legislator seats that have no incumbents; therefore, supporting MTA recommended candidates are our best hope for legislative support. There are some incumbents facing a difficult race, and they need help. The MTA has targeted these races, and members may be called to volunteer an hour or two.

The targeted races listed below need as much support as possible. They are close races, and are key seats in the house and senate. If any of these races are in your district, please call the campaign headquarters and volunteer, even if only to write a few "Dear Friends" cards; it will be greatly appreciated and remembered.

Senate Races

Robert Bernstein (D). Bernstein is running in the First Worcester District that includes: Boylston, Clinton, Holton, W. Boylston, and Worcester, W1-4, 7, 9, & 10. The seat was held by Arthur Chase. (Campaign Tel. 508-792-6000).

Michael Bissonnette (D). Bissonnette is running for the seat vacated by Shannon O'Brien who is running for state treasurer. It includes: Chicopee, W1,3,6,7,8,9; Easthampton, Granville, Holyoke, Montgomery, Russell, Southampton, Southwick, & Westfield. (Campaign Tel. 413-598- 8141).

Robert Haven (D). Haven is an incumbent who has always been supportive of higher education. His district includes: Acton, Ayer, Berlin, Boxboro, Harvard, Hudson, Littleton, Marlboro, Maynard, Shirley, Southboro, Stow, Westboro, P1,2,4. (Contact person: Marilyn Delana 617-395-8450)

Cheryl Jacques (D). Her district was redistricted, and it now includes Attleboro, Millis, Natick--P6,7,9,10, Needham, Norfolk, N. Attleboro, Plainville, Sherborn, Wellesley--PB,F,G, and Wrentham. (Campaign Tel. 6 1 7-444-3 3 3 5)

William Keating (D). He is the incumbent who has taken on Senate President Bulger. His district includes: Easton P3,6, Foxboro, Mansfield, Medfield, Norton, Rehoboth, Sharon, Seekonk, Stoughton, Walpole, W. Bridgewater. (Campaign Tel. 508-668-6119)

Brian McDonald (D). An incumbent that MCCC members worked for two years ago needs help again. His district includes: Braintree P6,7,9, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Scituate, Weymouth.

Therese Murray (D). Murray is also an incumbent, and her district includes: Bourne, Falmouth P1-3, 5,6,8, Holbrook, Norwell, Quincy, Rockland, P1-7. (Campaign Tel. 508-747-7733)

House

Brian Donnelly (D). He is running for former Rep. Mann's seat. His district includes: Duxbury, Hanson, and Pembroke P1,2,4. (Campaign Tel. 617-934-7447)

Joseph Gallitano (D). He is running for Peter Forman's seat. The district includes: Plymouth, P1-10 and 12. (Campaign Tel. 508-746-1500)

Jacqueline Haas (D). She is running for Rep. Madden's seat. Her district includes: Wellesley, Weston, P1,3,4. (Campaign Tel. 617- 237-4664.

Jay Kaufman (D). He is running for Rep. Karol's seat. His district includes: Lexington and Lincoln. (Dawny Gershkowitz 617- 646-6172)

We do not know what kind of struggle we will have in getting our contract funded. We do not know what kind of campaign we will have to wage to get an early retirement bill. We do know that unless we have support in the legislature, we can expect little attention. Again in this election, there will be a significant turnover of new legislators. An hour of your time will reap vital support in the next legislative session.

U.S. Congress

To no one's surprise, the reelection of Senate Edward Kennedy is a major objective for education, the MTA and NEA. The NEA has sent four staff members to Massachusetts to help on this critical race. For those who may have not decided, consider the following sample legislation that Senator Kennedy has sponsored or cosponsored that has affected our educational lives:

Vocational Education Act

Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Higher Education Act

Pell Grants

Education of all Handicapped People

Teacher Corps Bill

Elementary and Secondary Improvement Act

Also, he cosponsored the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Brady Handgun Prevention Act. Last year he lead the fight against the Dole sponsored voucher bill. Five votes saved this bill from defeat; Kennedy was one of the five. He helped craft the $60 Billion Elementary and Secondary Education Act signed by President Clinton at Framingham High School on October 20.

According to MTA President Robert Murphy, "The stakes are high for all of education. He needs our help, and he has earned it."

If you need signs, posters, bumper stickers, Dear Friends cards, call Jack Pacheco at 1-800-392-6175 immediately.

John Tierney is running against first term Congressman Peter Torkildsen. Tierney was graduated from Salem State College and is an attorney in the North Shore.

Kevin O'Sullivan, of Worcester is running against Congressmen Blute.

Referenda Questions

Question 1. This question would limit the way in which business and certain nonprofit corporations could contribute to and spend money on ballot questions. This question has brought business and labor- MTA, Massachusetts Municipal Association, Chamber of Commerce--together against this question. Since the MTA is incorporated, it would be prohibited. along with hospitals. businesses. universities, and many other entities from speaking out on ballot questions even if the questions affected them directly. It would, however, allow unlimited campaign spending by special interest ,groups like MassPIRG. The question could make it illegal for newspaper to editorialize about ballot questions, for example. Though the question was supposedly written against big business' money in politics, it is far more widespread. and. according to some, an issue of freedom of speech.

Question 6 and 7. These are the graduated income tax questions. "... this amendment will guarantee tax cuts for 92% of Massachusetts taxpayers, including all couples making less than $101,700 and all individuals making less than $62,050." (Source: The Weld Administration and as reported in The Official Massachusetts Information for Voters booklet.

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What Have You Written?

Last spring, a new column appeared in the Newsletter recognizing accomplishments of MCCC unit members. This column will appear, again, in the November issue.

Please send information about you or a colleague to the Editor. The column will focus on areas like publication and/or adoption of books, awards (national or local.) publication of articles, coordination of national or statewide conferences, and other accomplishments. Information should be as specific as possible and include college. home address. and phone number. Send to:

Problems With Blue Cross Dental?

There have been several complaints concerning the Blue Cross Dental program. In order for the Health and Welfare Trust Fund to bring these concerns to Blue Cross, it must have the information. Abe Sherf from No. Shore Community College has been appointed as the community college representative. Please send your specific concerns to him. This contract will be up for renegotiations soon so the Trust Fund representatives need more than complaints of "I don't like it." Because there has not been an increase in the employer's contribution since 1988, there is only so much that 1988 dollars can purchase. However, complaints in the administration, level of reimbursement for certain procedures, and lack of doctors in the plan are some concerns that should be addressed. Send your note to: Abe Sherf.

Looking for a Job The vacancies within the community colleges are easily accessible on the MTA Bulletin Board System (BBS). You can read, download, and/or print these vacancies at your terminal. If you do not have access to a modem, a printout can be faxed to you. Fax your request to the Communications Coordinator at 617- 236-0448. You must include the name of the college(s) where you work. to access the BBS from within Massachusetts dial 1-800-523- 8883. (enter your baud, 8 data bits; 1 stop; NONE parity). Enter your name and password. Sequence: Check for New File (N); LWBulletin-Q(uit) and enter. F(ile); 6 (Vacancies in community colleges); (F)files in this area; (V)iew and type in full number on last entry e.g. 11-01-94. Specific questions about the bulletin board go to the systems operator (SYSop) Ron Miller, preferably through the BBS. Questions about a particular aspect of a job go to the individual colleges.

DCE NEWS

DCE Team Bowled Over By Money Offer: 2-2-2

After seven months of bargaining, the presidents' negotiating team stood tall and proud and bellowed out their money offer for DCE employees: a whopping 2-2-2, with the first 2 percent not to be effective until the semester following full agreement on all items. Although the contract expired August 1993, the presidents apparently are ignoring any retroactivity.

The Team rejected the salary offer and restated its desire to address the issue of retroactivity for time lost between contracts and for parity with day salaries. The team continues to negotiate language, and the next meeting with the employer is scheduled for October 28.

Jim Bradley from No. Essex Community College and Chair of the MCCC DCE Negotiating Team says to the presidents, "If you are serious and wish to expedite the process, then 2-2-2 just won't do it. The offer is scandalous, blithely ignores retroactively, is insulting to our membership, and clearly is the act of pugnacity by the presidents."

Conflict of Interest Grievance Settled. There have been many disputes at several colleges emanating from the practice of allowing administrators who hire in DCE to also teach in DCE. A case from Massasoit Community College, however, was unique. The grievance grew out of a situation where a day administrator without DCE hiring authority also taught in DCE. The administrator that had hiring authority in the pertinent DCE work area(s) was the subordinate of the day administrator during the daytime. However, the roles of superior/subordinate were reversed in DCE. The problem arose when the day administrator (who taught in DCE) asked the DCE administrator (who is her day subordinate) to hire a specific person for a specific DCE course. That individual was subsequently hired for assignment.

The Association grieved this activity because it went against the spirit of the contractual provision prohibiting an employee who hires in DCE to teach in DCE. The college had claimed that the disputed action merely constituted a recommendation. In the time since the grievance was filed, the administrator whose actions were in question became the designated person for hiring in DCE. As a result, the college acknowledges the contractual prohibition on teaching. In addition, the college will ensure that employees without such authority will not exert undue influence in the hiring of DCE faculty.

DCE Unemployment Cases. Several more unemployment cases from Middlesex and Quinsigamond were won for DCE faculty who were not otherwise employed. As with previous cases, these appeals pivoted on the lack of reasonable assurance that an assigned DCE course will, in fact, run. Despite continual success in representing eligible unit members, initial denial of benefits are nonetheless routine from the colleges. In addition, certain campuses, particularly Middlesex Community College, have made concerted efforts to prevent unemployed faculty from receiving their entitled benefits. It is hard to ignore the irony that college presidents have seen fit to upgrade the title of many administrators with commensurate increases in salary while simultaneously and consciously attempting to prevent DCE faculty from receiving any unemployment benefits.

The irony extends even further in two other ways. First, The DET approves these claims because of the tentative nature of the assignment. If DCE faculty were treated better so that employment was more contractually certain, the claims in question may be denied. Secondly, many DCE faculty involved in the unemployment cases earn annual amounts equivalent to what many administrators have netted through the flurry of title upgrades. With the holidays approaching, perhaps someone in authority will read Dickens.

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MCCC and Presidents Joint Factfinding Effort

On Monday, October 17, 1994, the MCCC Negotiating Team and the presidents agreed to work together to prepare a joint factfinding report on salary to submit to the governor. Each side will put together data similar to what the MCCC did when we went to factfinding during the 90-93 contract. This time, however, labor and management will be working together without a third party to prepare the research necessary to justify a decent salary increase. The MCCC and the presidents are committed to working together trying to get the best salary package they can. In the signed memorandum of agreement, it stated that both parties

are prepared and committed to negotiate in good faith, and include in the successor agreement any agreements reached on the following, subject to sufficient appropriation: base rate increases; compressed salary scales; yearly step advancement; any remaining unfunded promotions; hiring guidelines; any salary equity issues; Health and Welfare contributions; travel and conference expenses; tuition and fee waiver in the community college system and department chair/program/collegewide coordinator stipends. Salary equity negotiations resulting in settlement would result in the withdrawal of salary equity grievances that have been filed at individual colleges and on a systemwide basis.

As we are all aware, whatever we can get for funding will determine the disposition of the above paragraph. The focus for now is to complete the proposal and submit a joint funding request to the governor.

Work to Rule

Because of the agreement to work jointly to put together a money package, the MCCC Negotiating Team recommended to the MCCC Executive Committee that motions on work to rule to begin on November 1 not be taken. The Executive Committee will recommend that motion to the Directors at its October meeting.

In September the Directors passed a motion recommending that chapters hold work to rule in abeyance until November 1. The MCCC was then informed that the presidents felt that this action was not in the spirit of the "new relationship" since the union and the presidents would be working together on the financial package. After much discussion, the Team agreed to recommend the above motion.

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Know Your Contract

Oct. 23	Leave of absence decision for spring
Oct. 23	Spring sabbaticals awarded
Oct. 30	Faculty submit preferred schedule and courses
Oct. 31	Sick leave bank closed period
Nov. 21	Unit Personnel Practices Committee (UPPC) elected
Nov. 30	Full-time schedules sent to chapter
Nov. 30	Spring tentative assignments to faculty
Nov. 30	Student evaluation materials distributed

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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