We want to express our gratitude for the expressions of solidarity this past couple of weeks. We believe the administration felt the impact of every single employee who showed up to support the bargaining team last Friday. Thank you so much to every fellow classified employee that took the time to be in the room and offer your silent support to your bargaining team. Thank you to every person with a sign in your window, wearing your red LCCEF shirt, and every employee letting management know that they’re not happy with the way we’re being treated; again, we really appreciate your support.
On May 10, the college brought a hypothetical to the table. The essence is an offer of a salary increase if we move to an OEBB Insurance plan. The Faculty Association has been so kind to provide us the language in their OEBB MOA so that we can get a running start at proposing detailed guidelines for an OEBB benefits package, should you decide this is the direction we should take. Your EC, Bargaining Team, and Joint Insurance Committee, have been actively seeking personal and commercial information on OEBB and HSA’s. We encourage every Classified employee to attend the OEBB information sessions this week and continue to educate yourselves regarding this decision. We cannot make this decision for you. Many of us have heard good and bad stories from tens, maybe hundreds of people and their experiences with OEBB. Some good things, some bad – but the strength that we have in this situation is that we are in control. Administration must know of the approximate cost savings. We have a pretty good idea of the savings ourselves and we’re going to make sure that every last piece of that savings is reinvested in the Classified Unit.
Your Bargaining Team can’t do it alone. We are going to need you all to continue to communicate by showing up, wearing red, posting signs, and keeping the conversation going.
Please make sure that if you decide to come to a bargaining session that you ask your manager first. You must use leave or flex time to sit in a session. If you ask your manager to come to bargaining and you are given a reason that doesn’t seem right, please let us know at communications@lccef.org.