Negotiations Update – October 5, 2010
On September 21 and September 28, we met to negotiate. At the September 28th session, we TA’d Articles 8 and 9 and signed an agreement to (finally) get the cover to the old contract, negotiated in 2007-2008, fixed. Given the financial landscape and the unwillingness of the Board to support a salary formula, CCFT pulled the formula proposals and replaced them with a salary / benefits proposal for PT and FT faculty. Although we are committed to the predictability and stability of a salary formula, it is clear the Board is not. The only remaining issues at the table are Article 4 and one component, reassigned time, in Article 11. We hope to have a contract for our members to ratify soon!
CCFT is committed to formulating union positions and making decisions based on data. Some data we require is available from the state and other non-District sources. However, usually the most pertinent data is held by the District and often we need help to access that information. That’s why the negotiating team is making use of Requests for Information (RFIs) on a regular basis. Labor law allows unions to use RFIs to inform them during negotiations. The District is legally bound to respond to CCFT’s RFIs.
Another tool we have made use of are requests under the California Public Records Act. Requests made under the Public Records Act need not be linked to negotiations, are time sensitive, and require the District to provide the data in the specific format requested. We use this data to inform ourselves and our members about issues relevant to our college, and build our positions and concerns. CCFT recently submitted a Public Records Act request asking for all District information and data related to the 80% fill-rate rule used this fall to cancel classes. This was an issue that many division members asked about Opening Day. We will follow-up when we have the information.
You can find the pocket guide to the California Public Records Act at www.thefirstamendment.org/publicrecordsact.pdf. |
