Table of Contents
Food Services & Titan Store Outsourcing
Fellow members, this week on Thursday, March 14, 2019 the Board of Education will be asked to vote on the college’s recommendation to outsource Food Services and the Titan Bookstore. LCCEF does not support either of these recommendations.
In the case of the Titan Bookstore we are deeply concerned that OER materials will be negatively impacted which will mean more cost passed onto our students. In the past with higher enrollment numbers our bookstore was a revenue generator and likely will be again when enrollment increases. Essentially this means a loss of income to the college in future years. Income that will go to a corporation instead.
We also believe it is a mistake to outsource Food Services. We doubt an outside vendor will be concerned with the needs of the college and the students by providing adequate hours of operation or healthy food choices. It is also likely during this low enrollment period we will not find a food vendor who wants to operate at Lane or they may give it a try and fail leaving us with no food options. Then the college would incur the expense of starting up in-house food services again. In both cases outsourcing would mean staffing the businesses with employees not from Lane. We are skeptical they will match the professionalism, dedication, and care of our Lane Classified Staff.
Please show your support for these 2 services by wearing your LCCEF t-shirts and/or buttons on Thursday, and attending the Board meeting at 6:30pm. Please further show your support by speaking during public comment in support of saving these services.
Barnes & Noble Presentation
A Barnes & Noble representative will be on campus for a forum about the company’s proposal to take over operations of the Titan Store. This forum is from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday (March 13, 2019) in Building 4, Room 106 and open to the entire campus. Let students know, too! This decision impacts everyone!
Bargaining – Economic Reopener
Bargaining has begun! Details about last week’s bargaining meetings will be posted each Monday and referenced in the weekly communications update (just like this). All posts will be available through the Bargaining Committee page on the website.
Today’s post covers the first proposal from the college. It’s pretty stark. Please take a few minutes to read the post, including the college’s proposal, and send questions, or support, to the bargaining team. You can also use the forums to discuss bargaining, but please remember to keep it professional.
SAVE THE DATE: March 22, 2019 – General Membership Meeting
Scheduled for Friday, March 22, 2019, 12:05-12:55, location TBA . Details to follow.
Classified Staff Do Good Things!
Shout out to the grounds crew and public safety staff for keeping the campus safe for students and staff during crazy snowpocalypse! Also, to the IT staff for making sure to get us up and running quickly after the fiber optic line feeding the campus was broken. Without Classified Staff working through the snow days, where would the college be?
Lisa Fragala for LCC Board of Education
Voting day is May 21, 2019.
LCCEF proudly endorses Lisa Fragala for Lane Community College Board of Education. Lisa is a 2nd grade teacher in Eugene, an active member in multiple labor union organizations including our local labor chapter and the OEA Board Director for District 5. Lisa continues to bring her passion for social justice, a local workforce, and love for Lane’s community to each position she holds.
Lisa was a student at Lane years ago and has great memories of her time here. She told the local labor chapter that she remembers our college as an unforgettable part of her higher education experience and recognizes the significant impact LCC has for other students’ lives and the community as a whole.
Please read more about Lisa on her campaign page here. Also like and share her Facebook page Lisa Fragala for Lane Community College Board.
AFT Membership Organizing Institute: Now recruiting members for Round 3
For more information, view the post, or contact Jessica Foster at jfoster@aft.org or 971-888-5665.
Seattle Mariners Package
It has been several years since we had an LCCEF Seattle Mariners trip. We are reaching out to see if there is interest in this trip. We need at least 20 people to get the package deal. If you are interested please contact Alen Bahret. The package has always included round trip train, a stay at the Crowne Plaza in Seattle and tickets to the game. Thank you Alen for taking this on!
Union Benefits – Discounts on almost everything
Have a magazine reader in your life? AFT members have access to discount rates on magazines from popular publishers. Save up to 90% off cover price when you purchase your magazines through AFT and also receive $5 off your total order!
See the list of magazines here!
FSA / Section 125 Deadline Approaching
March 15, 2019 is the last day that you can incur costs against your 2018 funds. If you have any funds remaining in your 2018 account balance, be sure to spend those dollars by or before March 15, 2019. There are resources via: https://www.infinisource.com/resources/fsa_resource_center/participants that may assist you in identifying ways to spend out the dollars. One helpful link is the FSA Store link embedded on that page (or direct at: https://fsastore.com/). If you have already spent out your 2018 funds, you don’t need to do anything.
if you aren’t sure if you have funds remaining from 2018, you can log into your Infinisource account via: https://infinconsumer.lh1ondemand.com/Login.aspx. I just did and found that I need to spend out some $$$ by March 15th! If you don’t remember how to access your username and password, there is information on the HR page to assist you: https://www.lanecc.edu/hr/benefits/section-125
March 31, 2019, is the last day for you to submit reimbursements for funds spent from January 1, 2018-March 15, 2019. If you used your debit card, you most likely don’t have anything to do! If you saved your receipts for a reimbursement check, this is the time to gather those receipts and submit! Information about how to do this is on the HR benefits page: https://www.lanecc.edu/hr/benefits/section-125
Thank you to Sharon Daniel for the email reminders!
Upcoming and Current Work.
Many hands make light work! We could REALLY use your help! To participate in any of these opportunities, or to find out more, click here.
- Bargaining in Spring 2019
- The Constitution and ByLaws rewrite
- LCCEF Contract Committee (educate members and managers)
- Member Organizer Institute
- Officers in Training
- Worksite Leaders
- Grievance Committee
Our union by the numbers
- Membership: 345 full members
- Officers: 8 officer positions filled / 3 positions vacant (1 COPE Chair, 2 Member at Large)
- Labor Management: 22 active cases including 3 multiple member/group issues, 88 resolved since Jan 1, 2018, helped place 17 members in new positions.
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