General Membership Minutes

NOTE: The General Assembly meets once each semester.

UNAPPROVED minutes of AFT 2121 General Membership meeting of 10/23/07

ATTENDANCE: Delegates: Gloria Barcojo, Kate Connell, Joe Diamond, Marc Kitchel, Renato Larin, Alex Leyton, Allan Paul, Carmen R. Roman-Murray, Connie Staff, John Verosky, Annie Wong. Executive Board Members: Ron Bixler, Rosemary Brinson, Lu Maria Dea, Allan Fisher, Stephen Goldston, Gus Goldstein, Chris Hanzo (Executive Director), Kimberly Keenan, Jim McKinney, Ed Murray, Pablo Rodriguez, Rodger Scott, Kovak Williamson. Members: Ruth Goode, David Lisker, Billington Mbolo, Mabel Michelucci, Jack Wilde, Debra W. Wilensky. Guests: Matt Garron

MINUTES: The minutes 3/27/07 were approved. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 3:12 p.m. at Ocean Campus, Bungalow 702.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Ed Murray pointed out that the recent approval of the new Chinatown/NB campus was the result of a group effort by faculty, organized labor, community groups, and students. However, the Hilton Hotel Corp. may still sue to halt the project as it claims it will block some views. Ed read a letter from member Agnes Chan thanking the union for its support and for bringing out union speakers. Motion: We should approve the President's appointment of Howard Yu to replace Lisa Romano in Precinct 8. Seconded and passed. Ed thanked Lisa Romano for her service and congratulated her on her election as Academic Senate President.

FLEX DAY WORKSHOP: Kovak Williamson announced a workshop will be given and one of the topics will be increasing minorities' participation in the union.

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE: Allan Fisher reminded us that a training on campaigning for the Community College Initiative will take place on Oct. 25 at the union office at 1 p.m. An anti-war rally by labor will be held at the federal building at 10:30 am on Oct. 27.

CITY COLLEGE STUDENTS AGAINST THE WAR: Motion: We should contribute $200 to City College of San Francisco Students against the War. Seconded and passed.

"YES ON A" CAMPAIGN: Matt Garron spoke for Prop A, which has been endorsed by the SF Labor Council. If it passes, 80% of parking revenue would go toward MUNI instead of 50% going toward the general fund. Prop H, "Traffic for Neighborhoods," is a measure which is said to increase the number of vehicles and emissions in the city and is opposed by the SF Labor Council and the Sierra Club.

SICK LEAVE BANK: A majority of faculty has yet to join. Rosemary Brinson said that Reps should encourage people to sign up. Faculty at this meeting volunteered to make another attempt to increase membership.

NEGOTIATIONS: On Oct. 22 faculty should have received a check including the additional .5% increase for 2006/07, and on Oct 29 we will receive a check for the .5% covering 7/1/07 through the present. An additional 3.5% increase for 2007/08 and retroactive to Aug.'07 will be paid next month. Part-timers will receive an additional 1.18% for pro-rata pay which will increase from 85% to 86%. Effective in Jan. '08 (not retroactive) those full-timers at Step 15.5 will move to Step 16, which will mean an approximate increase of $1200. Compared to other colleges in the Bay Area we had not been making sufficient progress at the top of the salary scale. The science lab load factor will go from .8 to .85. Five additional full-time positions were negotiated, bringing the total of new full-time positions to 25. In spite of many departments not applying for additional positions and consolidations, we now have about 800 full-time faculty, the most CCSF has ever had. If we continue making progress at this rate, we could have more full-time than part-time faculty in a few more years. Thanks to Don Griffin for his persistence and support on this issue. At the same time, AFT2121 will still continue to strive for pay equity for part-timers. The dental coverage maximum will increase from $2000 to $3000 and from $1500 to $2000 for life-time orthodontia. We will extend contract negotiations for 6 months to negotiate other issues. We've done well in spite of poor budgeting and will extend contract negotiations for 6 months to dig into other issues.

PROPOSED CALENDAR: The winter break is shorter for 2008/09. We stop working Dec. 19 and return for flex day on Jan 8. We will take a vote at the next delegate assembly to decide whether to move the calendar forward a few days past the May 24 memorial day to increase the winter break.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Jack Wilde, Rep for DSPS (Precinctl8) spoke on the need for an employee assistance program. He noted that many faculty have nowhere to turn when they have personal problems since they cannot use the counselors at Student Health Services. The EAP would provide voluntary counseling for work-related, marital, stress, and relationship issues. This service could improve job performance and provide support to those who need help. We have more than 2,000 employees and SF State has an EAP program as do many colleges across the state. Motion: We should open negotiations for an EAP. Seconded and passed. We need to do research on EAPs in other institutions.

AFT2121 COMMITTEE REPORTS: Pablo Rodriguez, co chair of the Part-timers Committee noted that the committee is looking forward to beginning work on the CCI and other issues. Human Civil and Women's' Rights committee chair Carmen Roman-Murray reported that the committee discussed rights issues including the current crisis in Burma and the Jena 6 and will keep people informed as to what they can do to improve those situations.

AFT2121 TREASURER'S REPORT: Kovak Williamson went over the current budget report with us. We are spending within the budget at this time.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE INITIATIVE: Allan noted that many colleagues are unaware of the measure and its importance. If passed, it will bring an additional $12 million to CCSF annually. We need phone banking volunteers. Although many are wary of phone banking, several members pointed out that it is actually a good experience with members happy to receive a phone call from their union. We should also utilize the CCSF coalition group and reach out to community organizations and religious groups.
Motion: We should open a COPE meeting. Seconded and passed.
Motion: We should support Prop A. Yes: 15. Abstain: 3. The motion passed.
Motion: We should oppose Prop H. Seconded and passed.
Chinatown/NB Rep Annie Wong thanked AFT2121 and faculty for their support of the new Chinatown/ North Beach campus.

RETROFITTING DELAY AT JOHN ADAMS: John Adams faculty is angry that half of the main building has been closed off for two semesters and retrofitting has not yet begun. A plan for retrofitting and remodeling was submitted to the state but the plan was unrealistic and was not approved. The question remains as to why the date of approval was so grossly miscalculated. Faculty demand an explanation and that retrofitting begin for the safety of students and faculty.

SITUATION IN BURMA: ESL faculty member Ruth Goode, who recently worked in Burma for one year, said that according to estimates 3,000 students have been murdered. The cost of fuel has gone up 500%, and 70% of income goes to transportation. Many other appalling human rights violations continue in Burma. She has already brought her resolution condemning the current regime to the board of supervisors, where its passage is expected. Motion: We should endorse the resolution on Burma submitted by Ruth Goode. Seconded and passed.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve Goldston, Secretary