UNAPPROVED minutes of the AFT2121 Delegate Assembly of 8/24/10
ATTENDANCE Delegates: Charles Belbin, Alison Datz, Terry Doyle, Mike Estrada, Deborah Goldsmith, Marc Kitchel, Billington Mbolo, Bob Price, Carmen Roman-Murray, John Robinson, John Verosky, Howard K. Yu. Executive Board Members: Allan Fisher, Stephen Goldston, Gus Goldstein, Chris Hanzo (Executive Director), Jim McKinney, Alisa Messer, Rodger Scott, Kovak Williamson. Members: Susmita Sengupta, Barbara Shaw, Janey Skinner, Debra Wilensky
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. at Ocean Campus, Arts Room 307.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Alisa Messer called for volunteers to participate in newly forming AFT2121 committees, including a Family Task Force and Political Task Force. Allan Fisher noted that the Executive Board has endorsed the New Priorities Campaign, whose goal is to end wars and urge local officials to pressure senators and congressmembers to vote against funding wars and redirect money for social spending. Participants include moveon.org, American Friends, as well as labor and religious leaders. Also, Allan is interested in countering military recruitment by steering students toward other goals. Alisa noted that we want to build membership in the Diversity Caucus and in the Local's retirement chapter. Contact AFT2121 for further information. Alisa commended Cliff Liehe and other organizers for the highly successful retirement flex-day workshop with 150 participants. The Local has begun Facebook and Twitter accounts. The San Francisco Labor Council needs volunteers for phone banking in the upcoming election. (See ballot measures below.) Alisa noted that we will track volunteer work. We applauded the passage of ACR138, a statewide resolution that demands that part-timers be treated with dignity. A campaign for nationwide part-timer UIB benefits during the summer and other periods of unemployment is under way. (See newfacultymajority.org.)
BALLOT MEASURES: The CFT's Prop 25, which would allow passage of the budget by a simple majority senate vote, has also been endorsed by CTA. We must work to pass the bill, which needs 66% of the vote. Prop B, the Adachi initiative, which would ask CCSF and other city workers to pay 50% for health insurance for dependents of CCSF, must be defeated. Prop J is a hotel tax; Alisa noted that a tax increase has not been implemented recently. Prop N splits real estate taxes so that property worth over $5 million is taxed at a higher rate. Election material was distributed to Reps.
MINUTES: Motion: We should approve the minutes of 5/25/10. Yes: 12. Abstain: 2. Motion passed.
AFT REPORT ON AFT2121's FINANCES: The full six-page report of the AFT financial investigator can be downloaded from the front page of the 2121 website. Alisa reminded delegates that the Executive Board asked CFT/AFT last spring to help our Local investigate concerns about some reimbursements. Alisa distributed a letter explaining the report by the investigator from our national affiliate and the Local's plans to implement her recommendations and suggestions.
CLOSETHELOOPHOLE CAMPAIGN. The campaign is for a split property tax to compensate for the loophole left by Prop 13. We should start educating people about the tax and want to work with the group to hold a forum on campus. (See closetheloophole.com.) Allan noted that a fall conference is taking place on progressive taxation and a campaign to increase taxes on the rich. Deborah Goldsmith added that a student group at CCSF is meeting to discuss the budget cuts.
CORO CENTER: We were to buy a ticket last spring to this group's event with a letter of dissatisfaction with its lack of student and faculty representation. The time has expired for purchasing tickets.
Motion: We should rescind the donation and letter of protest to the CORO Center. Seconded and passed.
VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Gus Goldstein commended Alisa for spending the summer working for the union. Alisa, Chris Hanzo, and Gus are interviewing candidates for Political Action Coordinator and Part-Time Negotiator.
TREASURER'S REPORT: A financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30 will be completed by an outside accountant and independent auditor sometime in September. We presented a report at the last General Membership Meeting as required and are scheduled to present one this semester. The previously reported figure of a $75k budget deficit for the last fiscal year might not stand. The deficit could be as high as $125k and as low as $50k. The Delegate Assembly passed a deficit budget last fall that expected a $75k shortfall to be covered by our reserves. Although one review verifies the $75k figure, further analysis that includes such items as declining income from dues and expenditures for our budget fightback and political campaign indicates that the deficit might be higher or lower. Kovak suggested that we look at our procedures for paying dues per member (per caps) to AFT and CFT to make sure we are not overpaying. Rodger Scott recommended that once a year we inform membership of our reserves.
PRECINCT REPORTS: Charles Belbin introduced a new Rep for Chinatown, Alison Datz. Charles will continue to represent the smaller of the two Chinatown precincts. Billington Mbolo asked about site meetings on the new contract and Alisa reported that some are already under way and reminded precinct reps that they should contact the office to schedule times based on reps' knowledge of their precincts. MSP to create precinct 32, a new precinct for a new department, the Multicultural Retention Program, has been established for the Multicultural Retention Program. It was pointed out that precinct size varies due to locations and department size.
DISTRICT BUDGET REPORT: After distributing the most recent budget report, Marc Kitchel reported that even with the freezing of salary steps and the near elimination of a summer program, the District still spent $2 million in reserve funds. Since the District has to come back to base to get funded for growth, it can only reduce programs to a limited extent. It is expected to take $3 million to reach the point to receive the necessary growth money. We must protect categoricals and student services. A parcel tax and further District external and internal fundraising are under discussion.
CONTRACT AND TENTATIVE AGREEMENT: Chris distributed and reviewed the tentative agreement documents. We have been able to avoid a significant loss of jobs or program cuts. The Local's Executive Board has recommended a “yes” vote. Chris reported that negotiations were difficult in these dire financial straits. We must affect the state budget and change the tax structure. The concession we made in taking a temporary cut is no solution, and we sent a strong message to the Trustees that they must make every effort to raise revenues. A progressive tax structure on the wealthy is essential to fund education and social programs. Lost salary steps from last year must be restored next year. Our agreement was to share the sacrifice and all sectors of the college have agreed to concessions, including administration, who have also cut personnel. The tentative agreement includes resuming salary steps, increasing the District's contributions for spiraling medical coverage costs, and additional savings through reducing sub assignments in credit, decreasing the number of people on tenure review committees, and reducing non-instructional assignments. The agreement can save at least $.8 million but that still leaves a $1.2 million deficit, which should be covered by the 1% faculty salary giveback for 2010-11. If ratified, the 1% deduction would begin with Sept. 28 pay date, with an additional, flat amount to capture the 1% retroactive back to July. A refund for medical deductions would also appear on the Sept 28 paycheck as the new rates began in July. We pushed to reduce medical premiums since insurance rates are not easily rolled back.
A Rep asked if we could get money from administrative salaries and use that money for faculty salary and benefits.. Chris said that administrators are taking a 4-6% pay cut. Additionally, Chancellor Griffin has significantly reduced administrative positions and consultants. The Chancellor has cut his own pay. It was pointed out that a lot of replication exists in upper management in technology areas. The difference can be seen in current budget figures. The need for tenure review was questioned. It was noted that tenure review is a state mandate, and that it can play an important role in ensuring that students' needs are being met. Smaller tenure review committees are already under way, and the agreement will make more candidates eligible to apply for early tenure. Class size was also discussed and it was pointed out that some classes have as many as 45 students. Faculty should not allow class size to get out of control. One delegate suggested that when classes are canceled because a teacher is absent, we should let students know the cancellation is due to underfunding. We must seek ways to stay united and avoid animosity among part-timers and full-timers and between those on steps and those at the top of salary schedule.
It was voiced that faculty needs to take action against concessions and get peoples’ support of CCSF. We must also be politically active and join with other locals and public workers. Some faculty advocate no layoffs or cuts and a “no” vote on the contract. Faculty and students are urged to be active and participate in the nationwide actions on Oct. 7 and the Oct. 30 statewide conference against the lack of jobs and educational and social-services funding. We live in the world's seventh most prosperous economy and are being told we can't at least get COLA. The general consensus of the assembly was that the union has done a good job. However, we must work to tax oil, corporations, and the rich. We did not freeze salary steps again this year and they are already being paid. If we don't pass this contract, the District could decide to make cuts in unfunded categorical areas like EOPS. Allan Fisher pointed out that the District is legally bound to pay faculty. However, if the contract is voted down, the District could cut programs to balance the budget, thus reducing our growth money. Former AFT2121 President Rodger Scott noted that we don't have the leverage to stop layoffs and urged a “yes” vote. It was noted that the cuts are only in personnel, and not in other forms of spending. We could take action and organize our own protests against the cuts. Alisa emphasized that faculty participation in the November campaign will be crucial in changing our financial picture.
Motion: The Delegate Assembly should recommend a “yes” vote on the new contract. Yes: 12. No: 2. Motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS: Rodger Scott noted that 58,000 dogs are being slaughtered in Iraq. Contact Rodger Scott to join the protest. A group will be meeting in opposition to the concessions before the contract vote and the General Membership Meeting. Location and time TBA.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.Respectfully submitted,
Steve Goldston, Secretary