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Volume XIV |
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Number Ten |
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In This Issue: |
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In the
summer of 1987, the MCCC lost one of its most respected leaders when
then MCCC Treasurer Raymond C. Lemieux from Springfield Technical
Community College died suddenly of a heart attack.
Ray Lemieux was a man who was committed to the teaching profession. He was equally committed to representing and defending the professional rights of his colleagues. Actively involved on his campus and in the MCCC, MTA, and NEA, he earned the respect of faculty, professional staff, and administrators alike. His command of the college and state accounting systems made him indispensable when the MCCC needed to set up new salary schedules. In 1991 the MCCC established an award in Ray's memory and for the past four years has awarded it to a unit member who personifies the qualities and characteristics . . "of 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, the maintenance of high standards of professional excellence, and a demonstrated leadership in higher education at the chapter, MCCC, MTA and NEA levels.
At the MCCC Delegate Assembly on April 26, 1997, the sixth Raymond C. Lemieux Award was presented to Dennis Fitzgerald a professor at Massasoit Community College and the Grievance and Research Coordinator of the Massachusetts Community College Council. Former MCCC President Tom Parsons, last year's recipient, was the presenter. Dennis Fitzgerald, a professor of mathematics at Massasoit Community College, is the MCCC's Grievance Coordinator and Research Coordinator. Fitzgerald's involvement in the MCCC dates back to its initial organization and has continued unabated for 22 years.
Throughout his career, Fitzgerald has distinguished himself by his attention to detail, his commitment to thoroughness, and his perseverance. "There was nothing that I could not give Dennis to do. I knew that I would never have to worry about the quality of the results," said Tom Parsons in his remarks. "The amount of work he is able to produce and keep track of is amazing. I do not know anyone who is as organized and productive." Prior to becoming MCCC Grievance Coordinator, Fitzgerald was chapter grievance officer, secretary, and president at Massasoit. In addition he continues to serve as chair of the chapter's MACER committee. In 1979 he was appointed MCCC Grievance Coordinator and then was elected as MCCC Vice President. When his term ended as vice president in 1982, he was reappointed as Grievance Coordinator. Over the past 16 years, Fitzgerald has developed a reputation for his superb representation of unit members and the MCCC in his work to maintain rights in our collective bargaining agreement. He became involved in negotiations as an ex officio member of the 1980-1983 Negotiating Team. In subsequent negotiations, he was team secretary then vice chair. He has been chair of the last two negotiations teams. The confluence of being the Grievance Coordinator and a member of several negotiating teams has provided Fitzgerald with a profound understanding and a perspective of the contract and the evolution of its language. He has expanded his knowledge of contract language by working closely with MTA's Division of Legal Services. When he worked as a consultant to Attorney Betty Gittes on the MCCC equity suit, he began developing a data base of MCCC unit members' salary and seniority. His database is recognized by management as being more accurate than theirs or the Board of Higher Education's. In addition he monitors every posting in the system to make sure they are in compliance with the contract or the unit is not losing positions by management slipping them out of the unit.
As a result of his extensive, complete, and accurate database, Fitzgerald was named MCCC Research Coordinator in 1992, and he has maintained it since for all full-time and part-time unit members. This information has been invaluable during negotiations as well as the work done on equity issues over the past six years.
As he began taking on more responsibilities in the MCCC, Fitzgerald also continued to expand his knowledge and experiences by attending conferences and workshops that would help him hone his skills. In his remarks to the delegates on April 26, Fitzgerald acknowledged the MTA's importance to the MCCC and to his personal growth. He said, "The Division of Higher Education along with the Division of Legal Services provide excellent support [to the MCCC]. I cannot express enough how lucky the MCCC, the chapters, and I are in having a superb Division of first class lawyers to work with us. I have worked with them all, and they have made me a better grievance coordinator... ."
The contributions to the MCCC that Fitzgerald has made are voluminous. His strong organizational skills have been invaluable. His work on bargaining teams, the Equity Study suit, the Classification Study Committee, and especially his continual work with impact bargaining issues dealing with the contract have been well documented over the years. Accolades for his work with chapter leaders and grievants have remained constant. His adherence to high standards have made him a cornerstone in maintaining the integrity of the collective bargaining agreement. Margaret Ryckebusch, MCCC Director from Bristol, chapter grievance officer and political action coordinator and former chapter president says, "Whenever Bristol Community College members need assistance with employment issues, Dennis Fitzgerald is only a phone call away. Union work is a twelve month job. There are many times when a problem occurs during vacations or during the summer. Dennis is always available to discuss the problem and come to campus on the shortest of notice. He is always willing to work on resolutions, but never compromises a unit member's rights. The unit members at Bristol have benefited because of his advocacy of workers' rights. As chair of the last two negotiating teams, as statewide grievance officer and research coordinator, Dennis Fitzgerald lives the philosophy and principles that guide the awarding of the Lemieux Award. He richly deserves this honor."
His commitment to the MCCC and its contract manifests itself at every turn whether it is his work at the bargaining table, at the American Arbitration Association, the Labor Relations Commission, or any venue involving MCCC unit members' rights. Tom Parsons, past president of the MCCC said, "As a president, or for anyone in a leadership position, the ability to work with a person who you can always depend on to do a job better than anyone is invaluable. I don't want to imply that we always agreed; we didn't. But the disagreements were never personal, and as a result, agreement and consensus eventually surfaced. I always knew Dennis had the rights of the members foremost in his deliberations. Discussion got lively but never was there a personal agenda. It was a pleasure working with Dennis, and the MCCC is a better organization because of him."
Attorney Henry Stewart from the law firm of Palmer and Dodge was the Chief Spokesperson for the Council of Presidents for the present contract. After working with Fitzgerald over the past four years, Stewart says that in his 27 years of negotiations experience, "I have never met a union representative who represented his membership as well as Dennis Fitzgerald did. He is well organized, totally knowledgeable about the issues, and scrupulously honest. More importantly, his dedication to the MCCC is unswerving and absolute."
Ann Clarke, General Counsel for the MTA states, "I had the
pleasure of working closely with Dennis on the arbitration phase of
the furlough case. While the opportunity to work on and be successful
in such major landmark litigation is rare and sweet indeed, the
experience was made all the richer by the partnership Dennis and I
had in persuading the arbitrator of the justice of our cause. Dennis'
contribution, through his detailed understanding of the workings of
the community colleges and his incredible command of facts and
documents, was certainly a major building block in our success. His
efforts will have a lasting impact - he made an essential
contribution to our achieving this truly historic decision, one which
will surely deter those who would otherwise be inclined to so
recklessly wield legislative power to the detriment of our members."
In a decision from the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission, the Higher Education Coordinating Council (HECC), now the Board of Higher Education, was found guilty of a prohibited practice under the law. Its refusal to bargain over compensation and its failing to appoint negotiators with the authority to negotiate an agreement was the issue in this decision. On August 5, 1993, the MCCC and management began negotiations for a successor agreement. Between August 1993 and August 1994 there were eighteen bargaining sessions held during which economic issues were frequently raised by the union. When the MCCC presented an economic proposal soon after bargaining began, management's chief negotiator, Attorney Henry Stewart, stated that HECC had not authorized management's bargaining team to negotiate incremental cost items until HECC received authorization from Administration and Finance (A&F). By August 1994 HECC had failed to make any economic proposal.
In December 1994 the MCCC and management's bargaining team jointly agreed to submit an economic proposal to HECC. Chancellor Stanley Koplik, however, informed the HECC Board that this offer had not been "authorized" and it failed to take action.
In April 1995 management's team offered its first economic package but stated that any distribution language needed advance approval of HECC and A&F. In May 1995 the MCCC submitted a counter-proposal and agreed to management's parameters. On June 13, 1995, Team Chair Dennis Fitzgerald requested, by letter, that HECC acknowledge the tentative agreement. Three days later, Stewart wrote back that management's team was unable to obtain approval From HECC or A&F. On July 14, 1995, HECC withdrew its economic package from the table and offered a new money package authorized by A&F. Two weeks later, on July 31, 1995, management offered a variation from its package, and on August 23, 1995, the MCCC offered a counter proposal. The MCCC never received a response. Limiting a representative's authority...to make commitments...is unlawful. The finding of the MLRC against HECC stated that because its negotiators had no authority to bargain:
Based on the evidence, the MLRC concluded that HECC refused to bargain in good faith and, therefore, violated the law. As a result, HECC must bargain in good faith with the Union by giving authority to management's team to offer economic proposals, and HECC must post immediately, at all campuses, a Notice to Employees that it violated the law.
Another charge filed by the MCCC against HECC for regressive
bargaining tactics is pending at the Commission.
Classification Study Update. The Classification Team has recommended two consultants to the Board of Higher Education. The Chancellor should make his recommendation by the end of May. A contract must be drawn up and signed before any work can begin. The Classification Committee will meet with the consultant a minimum of three times and monthly reports will be generated.
The classification study survey will be sent to all full- and part-time day faculty and professional staff. Since the exact date when the consultants will be up and running remains unclear, unit members will be notified, by mail, of the Classification Study Plan. All unit members must make sure their personnel files are in order, If members are planning to be away for the summer, they should notify their personnel office if they can be reached and where.
Furlough Interest Check. The governor has signed a supplemental budget that includes the money for the furlough interest reimbursement checks. All unit member will receive a letter from either the Commonwealth or the college stating the amount of their interest check. Immediately check that amount with the information from the MTA. If there is a discrepancy that would necessitate a grievance, then the unit member has 25 days only from the date the letter is received to file a grievance disputing the interest amount, The grievance must be filed with the chapter grievance officer. Each campus will receive a copy of MTA's figures and will notify members how this information can be accessed.
Summer Leadership Conference -- Williamstown. MCCC has 30 grants available for members to attend MTA's Summer Leadership Conference at Williamstown, Monday-Friday, August Ii-August 15. Anyone interested in attending must apply to MCCC President Susan Dole. The application must state the dates of arrival and departure. Deadline for application is June 10, 1997.
Potential MCCC Committee Vacancies. In order to anticipate
some potential vacancies on the MCCC Bylaws and Rules Committee and
the MCCC Finance Committee, applications from interested unit members
may be sent to MCCC President Susan Dole. Deadline for application is
July 15, 1997.
The MCCC is in the process of moving the job postings to the MTA
Web Page (massteacher.org). Once that process is complete, community
college vacancies can be accessed. Any unit members who would like a
copy of the vacancies faxed to them, can send a request along with
the college where they teach to the Communications Coordinator Fax
617-236-0448.
At the
MCCC Delegate Assembly on March 26, Susan Jhirad from No. Shore
Community College and Ann Wiley from Greenfield Community College
made a presentation to the delegation concerning current the changes
in the welfare law. Jhirad is co-chair of the Welfare Education and
Training Access Coalition (WETAC) that was founded in January 1996.
Along with the other co-chair Erika Kates, a researcher on education
and training of welfare recipients, especially in higher education,
Jhirad and WETAC have tried to get an amendment passed that would
allow the 20 hour work requirement for welfare recipients to be
applied to their education and training time. Unfortunately, last
year the governor vetoed the bill, and WETAC is in the process of
working to get a bill passed again this year. Now, Lt. Governor has
jumped on the bandwagon, and along with the governor, have created a
targeted campaign against this issue.
Though WETAC is working on a number of corrections to the welfare law, the 20 hour work requirement impacts our community college students if they cannot apply this standard to their education and training.
If no amendment passes the Senate, then this issue will go to the
Conference Committee since it is in the House budget. Ann Wiley is an
active member of WETAC.
Anyone having a complaint or concern about the Blue Cross Dental plan and coverage should direct his or her comments to
Abe Sherf,
North Shore Community College.
He is the community college representative on the Health and
Welfare Trust Fund.
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May 30 |
Professional staff College Service (E4) and Student Advisement (E5) submitted |
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June 1 |
Professional staff work assignment submitted |
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June 1 |
Sabbatical applications due |
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June 5 |
Leave of absence decisions due |
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June 6 |
Fall sabbaticals awarded |
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June 10 |
Recall list notification |
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June 16 |
Professional staff evaluations due |
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June 16 |
Part-time faculty student evaluation data due |
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June 16 |
Sabbatical applications sent to Sabbatical Committee |
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Catherine A. Boudreau 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. |
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