AAUP Communiqué

Bobby E. Davis, Jr., Editor
Published by the Cuyahoga Community College Chapter
Newsletter, Spring 2005

President's Message

Contract Corner

Editor's Notebook

Treasurer's Perspective

Labor Happenings Update

Professor Sat Ire

President's Message

I am both pleased and apologetic as I write this message. Pleased that we have once again our chapter newsletter available but apologetic that it took much longer to get it out to faculty than we planned!

Faculty will also note that our web site has a new look, that too was a major revamping that took additional time. Both revisions will serve the chapter and it members well.

The AAUP negotiators continue to work on completing the faculty evaluation issue by May 1, 2005. We are pleased with the direction and interaction that has taken place with this committee. Look for a separate communication on this soon.

AAUP negotiations on the domestic partner benefit have not gone well. We shared with the administration data collected through our national office in DC that at colleges and universities where this benefit is offered, there is no additional charge passed on to bargaining unit members. However, the administration has remained resolute in insisting that the “surcharge” is warranted and be passed on to all employees in order to receive this benefit. Look for a separate (mailed) detailed communication on this matter.

Finally, a “tip of the hat” to all faculty who, by their dedication, diligence and hard work keep Cuyahoga Community College at the forefront as an institution of higher learning.

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Contract Corner

Summer School
Article 21 Pages 20-27 in written contract; Pages 26-33 in PDF of contract. Our summer school article is long and detailed. Faculty are encouraged to read it in its entirety.

A few items are worthy of attention now:

1. Office hours are based on pro rata ESUs worked
2. Faculty may earn up to 7 pro rata ESUs and 5 part-time ESUs*for a total of 12 ESUs
3. ESUs can be earned in any combination during the 5-week, 10-week or new 8-week sessions (session O – Corporate College)

Several key dates to remember are:

• Availability forms distributed, April 15, 2005
• Return form to Dean/Supervisor by April 25, 2005
• Sign Proffer during Mandatory Day – May 18, 2005

Summer pay dates for full-time faculty are:

• June 17, 2005
• July 1, 2005
• July 15, 2005
• July 29, 2005

Summer pay dates for part-time faculty are:

• July 2, 2005
• July 16, 2005
• July 30, 2005

 *  Initial pro rata is at 7.0 ESUs and will undoubtedly remain at that level.

For more information about Summer Staffing, please refer to your Contract, or Article 21 online.

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Editor's Notebook

I echo Patrick's comments about our newsletter. It has taken a long time, and great effort to bring it to you.

Finally, if you haven't visited our web site lately, you may be surprised by what you have been missing. The Executive Committee is dedicated to updating the web site with new information and improving its usability. Please take a look at our recent efforts and be sure to check out the new photo gallery!

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Treasure's Perspective

A report of no new major developments is usually desired when reading an update from a Treasurer and this is true for this update. The smaller developments are important when thinking about the current financial health and position of our union; I want to take a few moments and give you an update on these:

• Our recent compilation (audit) verified what I reported last year- our systems are working and our documentation is solid.
• The returns on our three Fidelity funds are solid with a preservation of principal objective.
• A portion of our short-term cash reserves has been moved into a CD ladder and we have maximized our shorter term cash with low risk.
• Our AAUP office continues to receive technology attention and more is coming.  We now have several faculty members who are assisting in this area and we are making plans to do more.
• Most importantly, the AAUP is positioned well financially to advance and defend the interests and principles of our members.

I want to thank Ann in our AAUP office for her constant and consistent support. I also want to thank each of you. The more I learn and experience, the more I verify that it is the excellence of each of us that is the true soul of our College and the renewable source of hope and value.

If you have any questions or comments please call or e-mail. It is a pleasure to serve in this capacity. - Ed Foley

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Labor Happenings Update

A labor dispute began last July in the Old Fort Local Schools, in Fremont, Ohio, when the Board of Education cut wages and benefits. On the basis that the Board had not negotiated the cuts, the teachers’ union filed an unfair labor practice with SERB. After a tax increase was approved by voters in November, the Board reinstated the salary cut to nonunion employees but only offered restoration to union employees if the union dropped the unfair labor suit. The union has since filed a second another suit against the school board, and unless negotiations succeed, hearings for the unfair labor practice will take place in May.

The AAUP Chapter at the University of Akron sponsored a rally on April 15, to highlight the fact that they are still negotiating a contract after six months of talks .Prior to the rally, Dr. Kevin Mattson from Ohio University discussed “The Collapse of the Ivory Tower”, and Ohio State Senator Eric Fingerhut presented the keynote speech at the rally. The AAUP Chapter plans a Teach-In on April 13-14 to discuss collective bargaining issues with students before or after class time. The Chapter also plans to call for fact-finding at the end of the semester.

By the end of March, two faculty labor unions at the University of Toledo had approved new contracts. The unions are the UT AAUP Chapter and the UT lecturers bargaining unit. The agreements will not be finalized until Board approval later in April.

Four Ohio Republican state senators have introduced an “academic bill of rights for higher education” because they believe that “eight or nine of ten” faculty are “Democrats or of the left-leaning persuasion” and that students are “indoctrinated, not educated”. Not all Ohio university presidents agree that such a bill is necessary or desirable and state that policies and procedures are in place to handle violations of classroom conduct standards.

Long-standing dissatisfaction with Lawrence H. Summers’ management style plus his latest remarks regarding women and the sciences earned the Harvard President a vote of no confidence from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences on March 15. This is said to be the first such vote at Harvard.

The Chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago also received a vote of no confidence last January following a three-week faculty strike. His faculty describe him as a “reckless manager” who follows trendy management fads. Chancellor Watson contends that he is creating a paradigm shift and such responses from faculty are not unexpected. Bones of contention include threats to outsource some faculty positions, replacing full-time faculty who retire with adjunct faculty, an erosion of shared governance, and course load. The no-confidence vote was 360 to 5 with 10 abstentions.

At Tri-C, the Service Employee International Union 1199 representing full-time employees is considering Fact Finding to resolve negotiations between the College and the union.

Peking University, one of China’s premier educational institutions, fired a journalism professor who wrote articles against the government’s policy on freedom of speech. According to a university spokesperson, Professor Guobiao was dismissed because he lacked permission to take a six-month fellowship in the United States, but prior to his leave, the college cancelled his classes and told him he could no longer advise graduate students.

Want to wear a kilt to commencement? The University of Cambridge will enforce a dress code which requires regulation commencement garb, thus eliminating the wearing of the kilts. I wonder if we have such a dress code at CCC. Should we check this out?

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Executive Committee

President
Dr. Patrick Masterson, Speech, Eastern Campus x2298

Vice President, Metro
Dr. Laurie Judge, Counseling, x4170

Vice President, West
Roxanne Urvan, Radiologic Technology, x5263

Vice President, East
Dr. Jacquelyn Jefferson, Counseling, x2387

Secretary
Jean Allen-Jenkins, Counseling, Metro Campus x4276

Treasurer
Edward Foley, Business Administration, Western Campus x5297

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