August 9, 2011
Colleagues,
The members of the Executive Board (EB) hope that you were able to find some time to relax over the summer break. The fall semester is about to begin, and there are a few issues you should be aware of.
The Contract and Negotiations
As you know, the contract was ratified in May (thank you to all of those faculty who voted to support the ratification). And, no sooner have we completed the ratification then we need to begin negotiating a successor contract. On Opening Day, we will have paper surveys available for faculty to weigh in on the issues they are most interested in having CCFT address at the table.
Over the summer management attempted to use the budget crisis to force CCFT to bargain salary reductions for faculty. We informed management that as a member-driven organization, we would not enter into such an important issue until we had developed a position based on the views of our members; this required us to wait for the end of the summer break. CCFT is anticipating that management will continue to ask for negotiations on salary reductions for the 2011-2012 academic year.
Budget
Budget issues are still looming and, if you have been following the local or state news, things look like they have improved for the short-term. However, part-time faculty and classified continue to bear the brunt of the reductions that were imposed last spring. The budget is a shifting target and we will continue to stay on top on our District’s budget data and keep you informed. Regarding budget, here are two links that you might find of interest:
This link is a fiscal trend analysis of revenue and expenses as Cuesta reports them to the State:
http://www.cccco.edu/Portals/4/CFFP/Fiscal/Accountability/trends/1011/San_Luis_Obispo_Fiscal_Trend_Analysis(09-10).pdf
The link below is to the most current 50% and Faculty Obligation Number (FON) information (our current FT faculty numbers as well as our FON have decreased and our percent compliance is hovering just over 50% at 51.90%):
http://www.cccco.edu/Portals/4/CFFP/Fiscal/Standards/ft_faculty/FS10-09_FON_Compliance_and_Attachments.pdf
Benefits
As we reported in the graduation edition of the newsletter last semester, SISC has yet again raised their rates. Information on the rate changes, and plan details, can be found at www.ccft.org under “Current Issues.” We are seeking your feedback on a possible plan change, so please review the information carefully.
The EB is discussing one possible plan change--replacing the PPO High Deductible Health Plan (Plan D) with another option, Plan M – Prescription Plan 9 – 35 with no brand name deductible ($642.00), as presented in the SISC 2011-2012 Monthly PPO 80% Composite Rate Sheet. The EB and Benefits Committee members are seeking your feedback on this proposed SISC change so please take a moment to complete the Benefits Survey online by going to ccft.org, then to “Current Issues” and then to “Survey 2011-2012.” Paper surveys will also be made available during faculty hour Opening Day.
We have been informed that SISC needs any plan changes by August 15, 2011 so that open enrollment can begin immediately. Please provide your feedback by noon, August 15.
Looking Forward
This coming academic year we intend to stay the course by seeing that the rights of all our members are protected and that the contract is respected; by continuing to move us to be as member-driven as possible; and by advancing CCFT as an organization of professionals dedicated to the education of our students.
Our most difficult challenge this year will be working collaboratively with management. We remain committed to that principle as the best way to advance the broad interests of our organization and our members. Effective collaboration between management and CCFT requires building relationships grounded in professionalism and mutual respect. This has been difficult in part because the old presumption of the "union as adversary" continues to prevail, diminishing management's willingness to work proactively with the union.
Instead of going to the union early and often in the interest of heading off problems, management seems to prefer to set a course and presume the faculty can be swayed to follow along. This usually brings CCFT into the equation after mistakes have already been made and processes violated, thereby creating unnecessary and expensive conflict between management and CCT. We wish this were not the case and will continue to seek opportunities to work productive with management to ensure that faculty rights are preserved. When that is not possible, we will use the resources at our disposal to protect and advance the interests of our members.
We remain grateful for your support and look forward to working on your behalf this upcoming semester
Thank you for all the work you do!
Regards-
Cuesta College Federation of Teachers
Executive Board
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