AFTFacultyGuildWestL.A.College Chapter

Meeting of March 17, 2011

Attendance: Betty Jacobs, May Du Bois, Jack Ruebensaal, Mark Susuki, Lisa Cain, Nancy Sander, Mindy Chen, Alice Taylor, Cassie Green, Abel Rodriguez, Nick Dang, Norma Barragan, Evelyn Liskin, Richard Block, Tim Russell, Jessica Pineda, David Newell, Richard Olivas, John Oester, Bruce Anders, Olga Shewfelt.

As the meeting was getting underway, Richard Block introduced Patricia N-Enyekwe Akudinoki of Cal State Dominguez Hills, a student outreach counselor who works with West. She has a regular presence in the TransferCenter and was at West today as part of an effort to join with CSUDH to recruit math and science students transfer students from West with scholarships.

Minutes of 2/17 Chapter meeting were read and approved with grammatical corrections sent by email from Jane Witucki.

Budget Update: Olga reported that the District Budget Committee (DBC) met yesterday. Amidst the anxiety, all DBC members are striving to do the right thing. Olga called attention to the State Budget Update, in which the Legislative Analyst proposed an additional $13.5 billion in cuts if the tax extension fails. In that case California’s community colleges would be cut an additional $685 million, including a $71.5 million cut to the LACCD. If a June tax extension is passed, the cuts to community colleges would be 5.2% with $25.76 million cuts to LACCD. However, if there is not a tax extension, then the cuts to the state community colleges would be 14.3 % and the District would suffer the $71.5 million cut. In the 5.2% scenario, 5,828 FTES would be lost, and fees would rise to $36.00/unit. In the 14.3% scenario, 16,178 FTES would be lost, and fees would rise to $66.00/unit.

Olga also mentioned a study by the “Little Hoover Commission on accountability budgeting, which was critical of the STRS and PERS pension systems. She noted that the pension systems are written into the state constitution and that the pensions are regulated by the state legislature.

The DBC continued to discuss the Faculty Obligation Number (FON) issues. In last month’s meeting, Olga noted that the issue had been referred to the Fiscal Responsibility Subcommittee. That committee is composed of the Chancellor, union representatives Carl Friedlander and John McDowell, CFO Jeanette Gordon, and DAS President, David Beaulieu. At that time it was not clear what the District would do about the FON for 2011 of 93 FTEF, at West. Still in place is the penalty of $66,800 for each FTEF that a district or its colleges fall short of hiring. During the last DBC meeting the parties discussed the FON at length, with the AFT and the Senate agreeing that hiring should proceed now, while the administration prefers to wait until June. Faculty leaders on the DBC believe that this wait could result in hasty hiring and hence, a poor quality. The DBC still has not come to a conclusion as to when to start hiring. There was some discussion about waiting for the larger campuses to begin hiring.

John Oester, VPA stated that the college has made progress on its budget, and is hoping to carry a $1 million surplus, if it is allowed to carry the surplus forward. He stated that our target costs for benefits were reduced. Two years ago, we were at 8,200 FTES, and if we were there now, there would be no deficit; however, we are now capped at 7,200 FTES. Jack Ruebensaal expressed concern that under the present circumstances, a small college, such as West, can not grow.

College Council: On 2/25, the Chancellor met with the Executive Committee of the College Council to develop a timeline for the hiring of the next president of the college. He proposed setting up focus groups of various constituencies to guide him in writing a job description.

Student Interns: Mindy Chen reported on the Interns’ activities, in three areas to raise awareness of community college funding issues: 1) gathering personal testimonies among peers; 2) a “Ramen Noodles” demonstration and meeting at Governor Jerry Brown’s L.A. office; and visits to various legislators.

AFT in Madison, Wisconsin: Alice Taylor presented an inspirational slide show of her participation with other Guild members in Madison during the weeks of the contentious struggle over collective bargaining rights.

BoT Election Results: Guild supported candidates prevailed in three of the four races: Mona Field won Seat 1; Steve Veres won Seat 3; and Miguel Santiago won Seat 7. In the race for Seat 5, Guild endorsed candidate Scott Svonkin will meet Lydia Gutierez in a runoff.

Grievance Report: Bruce Anders reported on two issues: 1) Article 22D gives retiring full-time faculty the right to be placed upon an hourly seniority list of their choice. He is pressing the case of a faculty member, whose request has not been honored in a timely manner. 2) Adjunct faculty may be paid for ancillary duties, and should make arrangements for this before beginning work, if they expect pay.

Negotiations Update: Bruce Anders reported. The Guild is opening several articles, and expects stiff resistance on any proposals which require the expenditure of money. A Negotiations Bulletin has been placed in all faculty mailboxes.

A faculty discussion ensured: The L.A. Times has had an impact. For example, at the Culver City candidates’ forum, Lydia Gutierrez and other candidates relied upon the series on the campus building upgrades, but had very scant knowledge of the facts issues. So have talk radio hosts, such as John and Ken. It is important that Guild faculty help frame the issues and not let others have the initiative. For example, it is not widely known that employees contribute to their own pensions, with the state contributing only 3%. Olga noted that the Guild has a Communications Director, Cheri Saunders. The Chancellor needs to make a point-by-point response, and the union can do something similar. It is important to work with larger organizations, such as the L.A. County Federation of Labor. She also noted that the CFT Convention is this weekend and that we have ninety delegates going.

MOU Voluntary Suspension of Seniority by Fulltime Faculty: The MOU allows fulltime faculty to voluntarily give up an hourly class so that a part-time faculty member will not lose h/er assignment. In such a case, there will be no effect on the status of the fulltime faculty member’s seniority position.

Work Environment Committee: The WEC had no quorum last meeting. Its first meeting will be tomorrow (3/18).

Rosters: Olga noted that all faculty need access to college email as rosters must now be submitted electronically. Betty Jacobs noted that Dean Golterman is checking on the possibility of having online rosters that could also be printed out. Olga had to remind Admissions and Records to send updates to faculty reminding us of deadlines.

Next Chapter Meeting: April 14th. Chancellor is invited.

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