What Has the Union Done for You Lately?

I. We’re In the Money-$8,500 Chancellor’s Staff Development Money

By Barbara Hanfling, FA, AFT 6157 Executive Director

How we teach, what we convey to our students, how we learn, how we remain current on new methods, aware of on new materials are critical components of being a faculty member in California’s Community Colleges. And how do we develop those skills? Through Staff Development.

Many of you may remember the total lack of staff development training funds for the mid years of the 2000’s. Suddenly in 2006-07 the state allocated some very precious money for faculty staff development. Faculty swept down and immediately started attending important conferences and classes for the improvement of their teaching skills.

The Union also has been a constant proponent at the state level and with our Chancellor for staff development money. In 2007-08 we were able to access another $75,000 for faculty staff development. This money which the Union fought for came from the Chancellor’s fund and was allocated to the colleges. Along with this money came the commitment from the District and Chancellor that the Union would have a representative on each Staff development committee to help determine allocation of these funds.

The FA representation became critical:

At EVC in fall 2008, the finance department told the Staff Development Committee that the allocated money from the Chancellors’ fund was used up and did not roll over. Frank Espinoza, FA, AFT 6157 Vice President sitting on that committee immediately took up the banner to ensure that money was returned for our faculty. With a few well placed emails, the money was restored and allocated to many deserving EVC faculty in fall 2008.

At SJCC, the struggle for the money was a bit more protracted. At first SJCC Staff Development Committee was told the same story by the SJCC Finance Office, that the staff development money was rolled back into the general fund. At that point the Union again put pressure on the college to find that money and allocate it.

1. After some struggle it was agreed the money would be back in the account, but the amount of money ranged from $11,000 to $3,000. When the committee thought they had the number, it would change again. Repeated requests for information from the SJCC finance office and Vice President Jim Williams went unanswered.

2. Finally in early March the Union sent a detailed letter with the following demand: “So we have the following proposal to make based on our belief that between the 2 funds there is probably somewhere between $6,000 to $11,208 available:

a. “The SJCC Finance office give us a complete accounting of total amount of money allocated to both the State Fund and the Chancellors fund beginning three years ago and a complete accounting with date, name, amount allocated for each faculty member and staff who has collected money from these two funds or:

b. We agree that we have approximately $8,500 dollars worth of requests in this last announcement for payment for workshops for faculty and that the Staff Development Committee approve all those requests. Based on this, the SJCC Finance Office will agree to pay this amount ($8,500) and then both the State and Chancellors fund are closed and spent.”

3. This seemed like a reasonable request, but that was not the case. There were numerous emails lacking in professionalism from the Finance Vice President before finally a meeting was held and agreement was reached. The SJCC Finance office opted for proposal b above and there will be allocated $8500 for the remaining requests for staff development money.

Please if you have been allotted this money go to your conference and use it, because at this point, there will probably be no more money for some years to come.

This is what Heidi Kozlowski chair of the SJCC Staff Development Committee has to say about the Union’s participation: “Your approach was a successful one and was right on the money, so to speak. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: (!), that without the union getting involved, there would no Staff Development funds this year to allocate on our campus.”

II. A Heartfelt Thanks:

By Roxie L. Banks, Cosmetology Instructor, SJCC

I want to thank the Union, San Jose/Evergreen Faculty Association, AFT 6157 for helping me through my recent illness. In May 2007 I had a relapse of leukemia and as a result I had to have a bone marrow transplant. My long recovery exhausted my accumulated leave and was about to use up all my other options. It was imperative that I maintained my medical insurance and my employment as well. With the help of my Union Representative, Barbara Hanfling, Executive Director of San Jose/Evergreen Faculty Association. AFT 6157, working timelessly to make sure that I took advantage of every option; I was able to have peace of mind, recover and retain my position at San Jose City College Cosmetology Department.

Union Representative, Barbara Hanfling, Executive Director of San Jose/Evergreen Faculty Association. AFT 6157 helped me take advantage of the catastrophic leave program developed by the Union. This program allows union members to voluntarily donate, their own accumulated leave for others that have illnesses that keep them out for an extend time.

Because of my disability I returned to work as a person that needed reasonable accommodation under the American’s for Disability Act (ADA). I was able to come back to work with help from the Union and Human Resources who figured out what the reasonable accommodations were in my work place.

I would like to thank everyone that contributed to seeing me though my difficult time by donating their leave and everyone that worked so diligently to get me by to work. I would have been ruined if I didn’t have that option.

Fortunately, I was able to return to work; my first day back was March 16 2009. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who contributed sick leave and allowed me to be paid and have medical benefits for most of my serious illness; and to everyone in the Union, Human Resources, my Dean and others for all their assistance in accommodating me in returning to work.
I encourage everyone to get to know what their benefits are as a union member. Introduce yourself to your Union Representative and get involved if you can, because you never know what life will put in your path, there is help out there.