(posted 11/23/13) Your negotiation team met with district management all day on October 25, November 1, and November 15. Here is a summary of what occurred at the negotiations table.
Class Size - The discussion on class size limits has continued. Some faculty would like larger classes (over 54 students) and some would like smaller classes. The union’s goal is negotiating contract language where faculty have a greater role in determining the size of their classes.
Health Benefits - We have worked hard to keep the health benefits plan we all like, and have kept the costs of this program in line over the past several years. Out of the District’s $200 million annual budget, $29 million, about 15% of the budget, is spent on our health care plans, in addition to the $4 million we all contribute annually via payroll deduction. The roll-out of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes provisions for large organizations like ours to help fund health care for all. Management says its funding from the state is flat and therefore can’t absorb increases such as ACA fees and increased prices from prescription companies. Together, management and the union will be looking at ways to mitigate these costs while continuing to provide competitive health plans for our members.
Compensation - Management surprised us when they proposed other plans for the COLA (Cost of Living) dollars instead of a raise for our faculty. We are conducting a salary comparison study to determine how the Coast District aligns with other districts with similar costs of living. Faculty surveys have made it clear to your negotiating team that members can’t afford any increase in health benefits costs without augmentation of our salary schedule.
Professional Development - Both parties conceptually agreed to language which will allow faculty to apply for IPD/PDI funding to cover a portion of educational class costs. Additionally, both parties conceptually agreed that unspent IPD/PDI funds will roll over annually. Mentoring has been included as an option for salary advancement credit. Salary advancement credits for Independent Study, New Assignments, Publications, Production of Educational Materials, and Professional Organization Activities have changed from 36 hours to 18 hours for one unit of credit, as part of our conceptual agreement on Professional Development.
Evaluation Process - Both teams have conceptually agreed to a completely revised process of evaluating tenure-track faculty. We will now begin working on categorical, temporary, regular, and part-time faculty evaluations.
See also our separate article here at our website regarding the results of our SLO Evaluation survey.
Note that conceptual agreements are not final agreements and subject to change. Additionally, the entire contract must be ratified by CFE members and the Board of Trustees before any contractual changes are implemented.
Our next all-day session is December 6, 2013. Please contact any negotiation team member to provide input. Direct questions to Dean Mancina, CFE Chief Negotiator, at cfemancina@yahoo.com.
Your Team: Bob Fey, CFE Executive Director; Chris Hamilton, GWC; Ann Holliday, CCC; Dan Johnson, CCC; Marilyn Kennedy, OCC; Dean Mancina, CFE Chief Negotiator; Marcella Norling, OCC; Rob Schneiderman, OCC.