In the past two weeks, FA leaders have presented the FA proposal and heard
part of the District proposal.
At the September 21st meeting, FA leaders asserted that by the District
own admission the unilateral cancellation of Winter Session (2013) was
tentative. The District=92s legal counsel conceded the =93tentative=
aspect, but the District has not clarified what =93tentative=94 actually me=
ans.
FA attorney Mike Anderson asked several times what =93tentative=94 meant with regard to contractual obligations.
On September 14th, the FA had asked the District not to advertise the =93ne=
w=94 calendar as if it were an accomplished fact, especially given we are still
in negotiations. If not outright bad faith bargaining, it is unethical
communication to the college community. To our great dismay, the District
subsequently published a full-page advertisement in the *Courier *(Sept 20th)*, *and apparently has plans to publish ads in future editions.
The FA finds such tactics very disturbing. Why is the District resorting to
such extraordinary measures in an attempt to make its case? Many faculty
have expressed severe hardship at the drastic calendar change. Clearly,
students are overwhelmingly opposed to the cancellation of Winter session,
2013.
When pressed to defend his actions, Dr. Rocha had little to say other than
defend the cancellation of Winter itself. That is when the discussion
became somewhat bizarre. While Dr. Rocha no longer can claim financial
necessity, he asserted that PCC=92s transfer rates were low and that he had
a vision to transform the college=92s faculty through professional development.
While the FA favors professional development and support for faculty=92s
academic enrichment, we find it insulting to claim that PCC faculty are
somehow at fault for student transfer rates. We pointed out that the cuts
of over 1000 classes in four years (while increasing District reserves from
14% to over 20%) is the main cause of students being unable to transfer. We
also noted that the CSUs in particular have severely diminished their
acceptance of transfers. Finally, the cancellation of Winter 2013 will in
fact hinder the transfer of PCC students even more. These issues were
discussed in a collegial fashion, but FA leaders were very disheartened to
hear such a skewed attempt to defend the unilateral cutting of Winter.
The District reconfirmed that if Proposition 30 passes the District will
receive $6.7 million in guaranteed funds. At $5500 per section on average,
funds would cover 1218 sections, more than enough classes to offset those
that have been cut. We noted that PCC could easily provide a Winter session=
.
It is true that a good portion of the $6.7 million would be received in
June, 2013, but the District has ample reserves (approximately $22 million)
to cover such a contingency.
When asked what faculty raises the District was proposing, Dr. Rocha would
not provide a specific number. The District reconfirmed its proposal to
limit overload to 10 hours per year (including summer, winter, and fall,
spring). The District expressed interest in a total restructuring of the
pay schedule, and Dr. Rocha stated that a =93soft landing=94 would be provi
ded for those who teach overload now. No specifics were provided. It is
increasingly evident that the District proposal, supposedly in place since
March, is woefully short on particulars, lacking in specific contractual
content. FA negotiators have been frustrated at this vagueness.
The FA is seeking a one-year contract, especially given the turmoil on
campus. Certainly, Proposition 30 would significantly alter the current
fiscal year=92s allocations. The FA in good conscience must take these
statewide factors into account. The District is seeking a three-year
contract.
The FA has proposed that a Supplemental Employee Retirement Program (SERP)
be established, with faculty receiving 75% of salary if they retire in June
2013. The District is seeking to restrict the proposal to faculty who have
20 years of service and are at least 60 years of age. The District also
stated that if would need at least 20 retirees; Dr. Rocha=92s actual
statement was =9320ish=94 retirees.
The FA will pursue every legal and collegial resource to challenge the
unilateral cancellation of Winter 2013. The FA supports the collegial
deliberations of the Shared Governance process, and the FA will defend all
contractual agreements. If Shared Governance is ignored and the contract
is broken, we all suffer enormous consequences. Finally, as we emphasized
to Dr. Rocha, the students are seeking our support, and they deserve it!
The next Negotiations session is scheduled for October 5th, 2012.
*The FA proposes that all faculty who have a concern regarding contract negotiations meet on October 2, 2012 at 12PM in Circadian during the Professional Development Day.
