Table of Contents
New Format
We’re trying out a new format for the Weekly Communications Update. The old way (embedding PDFs in the page) was easier for me, but made it so you can’t search for content in the weekly updates. That doesn’t seem like a good idea, so weekly updates will now be regular posts on the website accessible to the search function. This format also gives us the ability to include a table of contents at the top of the post so you can skip right to the parts you are most interested in.
If you would like to have a PDF copy of the weekly, you can still get that by using the little PDF icon at the top right of the post.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Open Enrollment
Are you aware that if you have medical expenses, use of the FSA benefit is one way to give yourself a raise? You benefit by paying less taxes on the amount you choose to contribute to the account and the college contributes on your behalf as well. The college contribution is significant, $670.00 for employee only, $1340.00 for employee plus 1 and $1715.00 for full family. You then get to draw from this account to pay for your co-pays, deductibles, and many other medical expenses. Open enrollment is happening now and ends November 26, 2018. For more information https://www.lanecc.edu/hr/benefits/section-125
Employee Giving Campaign
The Lane Foundation and United Way campaigns are currently underway. Please consider giving to these valuable efforts!
“I give to the Andy Foelker Memorial Scholarship through the Lane Foundation. Being in IT it means a lot to me to be able to help a deserving student reach their goals while helping the field that has been so good to me.”
– Matt Danskine
Union Benefits – College Scholarships
AFT-Oregon scholarships are now open and the deadline to apply is Jan. 31st. More info here. There are many available, so check soon to make sure you give yourself enough time to apply to all that fit for your situation.
Many hands make light work! Upcoming and Current Work
The Constitution and ByLaws rewrite If this is of interest to you please contact Kyle Schmidt (schmidtk@lanecc.edu)
LCCEF Contract Committee: Putting together a knowledge base with Q&A regarding our contract. To help, contact Matt.
Member Organizer – This is a PAID TRAINING OPPORTUNITY! Updated info here. Don’t hesitate! There will be opportunities for new people each term.
Officers in Training – The Executive Council (EC) is looking for members interested in shadowing EC Officers in our Officer in Training program. Think of it as a way to try before you buy! If you would like to participate, contact your officer of choice.
Comp and Class Study
The Class and Comp Study Team met with Ruth the LGPI Consultant last Friday, Nov. 9. After reviewing some initial data we determined more work needs to be done before we can release the rankings to everyone. There were some anomalies we believe we should investigate. We think these may have occurred because some employees did not do as good a job of reflecting the complexity of what they do. One interesting thing that came through from the data is the majority of our classified employees ALL have complexity to their work and the spread of that complexity from the least to the highest is not as great as we might have expected. Once the additional work is done to address the anomalies the rankings will be released. Unfortunately this means the completion date will be pushed back even further. We are now hoping to release the rankings just after the first of the year. When the rankings are released everyone will have the opportunity to appeal if they believe they are ranked inaccurately.
Classified Workload Survey
Our intent is to have a clear understanding of staffing and workload in each department across campus so that we can advocate for the departments and areas in most need. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey. The more data we have, the more we can help.
Contract Fact
12.1 Rest Period
12.1.1 All employees shall be granted a fifteen (15) minute rest period for each four (4) hours of continuous work. Rest periods shall be utilized as feasible with the operational needs of the College as determined by its supervisors.
What if I have two 3 hour shifts? One in the morning, one in the evening?
That’s a pretty strange schedule, but feasible in certain departments. Unfortunately, two 3 hour shifts separated from one another are not 4 hours of continuous work, so, no 15 minute rest break.
What if my shift is 4 hours long?
A 4 hour shift is 4 hours of continuous work. Feel free to take a break anytime during your shift.
Rest periods, should be utilized as feasible with the operational needs of the College as determined by your supervisor.
Does this mean my boss decides when I can take my break?
Not exactly, though your supervisor could determine a scheduled break time for you. For most, this means that if you work in a place that gets really busy at certain times of the day, you still get your break, you just need to be sensitive to the needs of your department and work with your manager to make sure they happen. Your manager may have to make arrangements to accommodate this and that is your contractual right.
One last note; For regular day shift employees, your 15 minute breaks are paid, your lunch breaks are not.
Our union by the numbers
Membership: 646 Total classified / 349 members (~54%) / 297 (~46%) Non-members (As of 11/13/2018)
Officers: 9 officer positions filled / 1 position on temporary hiatus (COPE Chair)
Labor Management:
- 36 active cases including 6 multiple member/group issues. 60 resolved since Jan 1, 2018
- Currently 1 formal complaint and 1 grievance.
- Helped place 13 members in new positions with 1 more in process.
Worksite Leaders:
Interested in being more involved in your union? Be a worksite leader and share information with your colleagues, educate new employees, participate in work groups to build and analyze surveys, help with bargaining… Help with all, or pick and choose. Your level of participation is up to you! If you have any questions contact your membership chair, Rosa Maria (membership@lccef.org).
And Last But Not Least
We would like to move away from using the Classified Staff email address through Groupwise for these weekly communications updates. Just go to lccef.org and look to the right side of the home page. You’ll see something that looks like the image. So far, 87 have signed up! If you have tried, but did not receive a confirmation email, please let me know at communications@lccef.org.