Meeting held at Hillsboro High School. Call to Order at 5:35PM.

Meeting Minutes - PDF - Draft

On the Home Front

This spring the key focus of the Passaic County Community College chapter of United Adjunct Faculty of NJ has been negotiations.  I thank everyone who participated in the surveys.  Quite a few people added their own comments to explain their ratings or share their experiences.  This was helpful and were considered along with comments and priorities in the negotiations survey when creating our demands for negotiating with the College for a new contract. .  The data is also guiding the negotiations team.  There was a broad range of views on the hiring process.  There were also some misconceptions noted in people’s comments that merit clarification.  First, the college is free to hire or not hire adjunct faculty each semester.  Second, the school is not required to give any explanation for not rehiring someone who has been working there regardless of how many semesters he/she has worked. In addition to negotiations, the union has been having a successful membership drive.   

AFTNJ/AFT

AFTNJ, the state union with which we are affiliated, has been busy advocating on our behalf, as well.  One area it is working in is trying to make sure that adjunct faculty do not have difficulty collecting unemployment.   AFTNJ and AFT national are also watching what effect full time status requirements will have under Obama care.  The regulations are still unclear as to what equals thirty hours a week (the amount of time to be considered full time) when it comes to teaching as adjunct faculty members.  One negative trend that has been noticed is that some schools have reduced the loads adjunct faculty can teach out of concern for being required to provide health benefits.

UAFNJ

We are a chapter of the United Adjunct Faculty of NJ.  Enclosed with this update is elections material for the UAFNJ.

GOING GREEN/SAVING GREEN

In the past I have asked for non school  e-mail addresses, and many people have given them.  However, many have not.  E-mail would allow us to be more environmentally friendly, save money, and save time.  Please e-mail me your e-mail addresses.  I can be reached at n2slf@aol.com/

THE TEACHERS INSURANCE and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF) has, for the first time, adopted a Responsible Contractor Policy dealing with its real estate investments. The decision came after AFT president Randi Weingarten met with TIAA-CREF chief executive officer Roger Ferguson. She announced the fund's new policy at a New York State United Teachers delegate assembly on April 12.

This "really important step," Weingarten said, makes "common cause with our brothers and sisters in the building trades."

Please be sure to join us for the final union meeting of the year on May 14.  All committees will report out. 

The North Dakota legislative session, now in its 80th and last day it can be in session legally, has been thrown into turmoil by the House's reconsideration and defeat of the K-12 education funding bill passed yesterday. NDPEA stands alongside our friends at NDEA in our disappointment with the games going on in the Capitol today. Read all about it.

You may have heard that we need to conduct another ratification vote.  This is true. In fact, we are currently waiting for a Memoradum of Agreement from the College attorney to present to you for ratification.

Your Negotiating Team is hard at work trying to reach a tentative agreement, and we feel cautiously optimistic that the end of the process is near.  Please continue to be patient and supportive, and once we have reached a settlement, a membership meeting will be scheduled.

Notice of Local 6100 Election

The MATC Part-Time Teachers’ Union will hold elections for steward positions at each of the following campuses: Two (2) Truax (seats A & B), as well as seats at each of the following campuses: Commercial, West Campus, Fort Atkinson, and Reedsburg campuses May 7, 2013.  Successful candidates will take office and assume the position on May 8, 2013 and will serve for two (2) years. 

Additionally, the May 7, 2013 election will seek to fill two mid-term* vacancies.  The steward positions at the Truax (seat C) and Watertown campuses will also be posted.  Successful candidates will take office and assume the position on May 8, 2013. 

*These positions will be for the duration of one (1) year, fulfilling the remainder of the original two (2) year term.

To be eligible to run for office, a person must be an AFT Local 6100 member in good standing for a period of one year prior to the date of the election.  If you have any question about your union standing please feel free to contact the union office:

Mjlist@madisoncollege.edu

608-243-4680

Nomination papers (see website) will be required with the signatures of five (5) members or people eligible to be members of Local 6100.  The nomination papers must be received by the Election Chair, Laura Turzynski, at MATC Part-time Teachers’ Union, Local 6100, Truax Campus, Mail Code #827, 1701 Wright Street, Madison 53704 by April 1, 2013.  Nomination papers can also be requested from the union office, mjlist@madisoncollege.edu 608-243-4680.

For more information regarding the responsibilities of these positions and job descriptions please see election and constitution links at http://wi.aft.org/ptunion .

Qualified members interested in running for these positions may call the union office 608.243.4680 for further information. 

In solidarity,

Laura Turzynski, Election Chair

MATC PART-TIME TEACHERS' UNION

PROPOSED 2013-2014 ANNUAL BUDGET

http://ptunion.wi.aft.org/files/050113_proposed_2013-14_budget_w_ltr_to_membership.pdf