Please click on the Title above to download the Health & Safety Information.

Please click on the Title above to download the Health & Safety Information.

Having served as Local 3782’s Negotiations Chair for more than twenty years, I ask that you give careful consideration to your vote on the contract extension proposal, which was mailed to all union staff for ratification. The economic climate this year is much different than it has been in any previous negotiations. Both public employee and private sector unions throughout the nation have been hit hard by managements that want to eliminate their rights, reduce benefits and offer no increase in salary. Even when unions are willing to concede on salary issues, they have still had to fight to preserve their rights and benefits. If the contract extension proposal is turned down by the Union membership, we will be going into negotiations under very difficult circumstances and everything in the contract will be subject to change.

Historically The Arc of Monmouth comes into each negotiations with proposals to modify or eliminate rights and increase employee contributions on health care. In 2008 they came in with a salary proposal that would have based raises on the amount of annual increase in their DDD funding each year minus half a percent. Naturally we did not find their salary proposal acceptable in 2008. So we were able to negotiate a 3-year contract with respectable 3% raises that were not contingent on DDD funding amounts. In retrospect we were very fortunate. The housing crisis and economic downturn had not yet come to light while we were negotiating in early 2008. (The Lehmann Brothers collapse occurred in September 2008.) As you may be aware, DDD has not increased funding for several years now and are projected again to give no increase in funding for the next fiscal year.

The Union leadership has had periodic communications with Arc management regarding the agency’s fiscal difficulties during the last few years. I recently received an update from Mary Scott, Executive Director, who reported that Residential is in an $88,000 deficity for this fiscal year; Adult Services lost $51,000 due to DDD imposing penalties for program vacancies for the last several years; and the current transportation deficit for bus service to ATC’s and WOC is $136,257. In addition DDD is now implementing previously proposed rules penalizing provider agencies for both residential and day program vacancies. And WOC may once again be in danger of having their DVRS funding cut.

If negotiations occurs, you should consider some of the items that may be subject to change or elimination. The employee contribution for health care coverage is very vulnerable. We presently pay a very low single digit percentage of the health insurance policy costs, and our contributions are capped. If the percentage of costs becomes higher than the annual cap figure, we never pay more than the cap figure. In 2008 management wanted to eliminate caps. We held onto them, but in a very different economic atmosphere. The $0 mail order prescription option for employees hired before 2004 is another item that management has sought to eliminate in the past several negotiations, as zero copay plans have not been offered by insurance companies for some time. At a time when the employer is in a financial deficit, it would be difficult if not impossible for any Union to negotiate a salary increase without sacrificing cost benefits such as employer paid health insurance, pension matching and time off.

I urge every member to carefully consider the overall picture. Please feel free to contact me or any member of the Union Executive Board if you have questions. And please take the time to vote! We hope to receive a 100% vote return so that every member’s voice will be heard.

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

I’m Tony Chenevert, Retiree Committee Chair and 1st Vice-President of the Alliance/AFT. I'm honored  to be in a position to serve you.  I will do my best to keep you updated on what is happening in the district as it relates to our Remarkable Retirees.  Click on the above link, "A-4 Retirees", and learn how to become a member.

Thank you so much for your support.

Courses taken as voluntary overload by Full Time faculty in the Fall, 2011 and Spring, 2012 semesters.

All non-probationary part-time faculty are encouraged to read this article, regarding our investigation into improper course assignments.

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Q: It seems like a one year extension is a sign from the ARC that it has no confidence in being able to operate beyond the year 2013, and that they are giving us a year to prepare for shut down. It also seems to me like if we dont grant the ARC of Monmouth a year extension, that after the current contract is up they will cease operations altogether. A three year contract is at least for the near future work and hope, a one year contract leaves doubt and instability in a work force already struggling to make ends meet.

A: There is no reason at all to think that Arc will be shutting down. The reason they have asked us for a one-year contract extension is that they once again expect a zero funding increase from DDD. This has been the case for the last three years, and we have still received our negotiated 3% raises while Arc has cut corners in other ways. Their Monmouth County funding and fund raising proceeds have also decreased.

When Arc programs are in jeopardy or layoffs are possible, they have consistently informed the Union leadership and the affected employees. Unfortunately the Hersh High School program is being shut down at the end of this school year as the student enrollment is below levels allowed by the state Dept. of Education. The staff have already been given layoff notices. During the past couple of years the Work Opportunity Center has been at genuine risk of being closed due to state funding cuts. The cuts were averted due to efforts by the disability advocacy community. Mary Scott kept the Union informed during this crisis.

If the Union membership turns down the one-year contract extension, we will have to negotiate a new contract and everything in the contract will be subject to change including health benefits, pension matching, time off benefits and employee rights. There is absolutely no guarantee of a salary increase or a 3-year contract if we negotiate. In fact I think a 3-year agreement would be unlikely in the current economy. The length of a new contact is always part of what is negotiable. The Union Executive Board has recommended the extension, even though we are not happy about a salary freeze, because it will preserve everything else that we have for another year. Management has guaranteed us they will not come to us asking for increased health care contributions if their insurance bills go up when the insurance is renewed in July. If the economy continues to improve, we may be in a much more positive position to negotiate next year.

The HCT is forming a new group, though several names have been tossed around, “Crafty Devils”, “Knit Wits”, “Stitch *itches”… the final choice remains to be seen (but maybe not heard). What they are is a group of HCT members who are interested in sharing ideas and talents with other HCT members. One goal of the group will be to participate in the “Red Scarf Project” next fall. This project, started by the Foster Care to Success Organization, provides former foster children, now enrolled in college, with care packages several times a year. In each student’s Valentine’s Day Package, they enclose a handmade red scarf. What better way to show a student that a teacher somewhere still cares about them. So if you are looking for a new hobby, or want to find a way to de-stress or keep your fingers out of the cookie jar, please join us in the HCT office on Friday March 9th after school. If you are a veteran knitter, crocheter or any type of crafter, bring a project to work on and a pattern to share if you can. If you are a newbie, just come with or without an idea and we will help you get started. Please let Sam in the HCT office 516-937-1288 know if you are joining us.