Issue # 27: February 7, 2023
Update from the President
Frankie Cocanour (2022-2024 Term)
Collective bargaining:
Definition: The negotiation of wages and other conditions of employment by an organized body of employees.
It is the process in which working people, through their unions, negotiate contracts with their employers to determine their terms of employment., including pay, benefits, hours, leave, job health and safety policies, ways to balance work and family, and more. During this process a contract agreement is put into place for a specified period of time. That amount of time is also agreed upon during bargaining.
Agreements can last 1-2 years or longer, it depends on what is negotiated. The advantage to a longer agreement depends on if there are large changes that need to be made. Maybe there’s a labor piece that you would like a longer agreement to make so that you don’t have to negotiate that labor piece. When we have agreements that go out past a couple years there can be articles in the agreement that allow fiscal reopeners. That is what we have had in place with our last agreement. So in the lead up to bargaining we will need to decide if we bargain similar to LTD where they have a 4 year agreement that gives them raises yearly that makes up the 22% raise that they received or do we instead opt for a fiscal reopener? Both ways have advantages and disadvantages.
During this process the bargaining team needs to know what are the hills that we need to die on and where we can concede. Our CAT team will soon be sending out surveys to our members so that we can understand what is most important to you.
Bargaining and CAT:
Please contact Colin Vurek if you would like to join the CAt team. Are you good at writing surveys? Do you have a few hours this month that you could dedicate to writing the surveys and presenting the data collected to the bargaining committee?
It’s the U and I in UNION that makes us STRONG!
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Announcements and Reminders
DON’T FORGET TO WEAR RED ON WEDNESDAYS!
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Vice President of Labor Relations
Buck Potter (2022-2023 Term)
While I didn’t go up for the AFT Oregon Winter School, I was at the memorial service for Alen Bahret, as the LCCEF Representative and also did sound for the service as well. It was a beautiful service, and an amazing send off for a man who gave 35 years of service to LCC, and also as an LCCEF Officer.
I also wanted to bring this back as we need a regular reminder of this. Keep being vigilant to using your Weingarten Rights for disciplinary conversations from Managers. Please Do Not Be Afraid To Use Them!
Here’s some links concerning your rights as well: Weingarten Rights | National Labor Relations Board – Nat’l Labor Relations Board
Dawn Rupp our Grievance Officer is out of the office until February 9th. If you are having labor issues or think that you might have a grievance with a manager please send me an email and I will assist you.
Vice President of Organizing
Colin Vurek (2023-2024 Term)
Greeting Members,
We are beginning to plan a couple membership drives. The first will be in March and the second will be later in the Spring 2023
Also the Executive Council meetings date and time has changed to Wednesday mornings at 11am. Members are allowed to observe for a portion of the meeting until there are items that may be confidential. Below is the link for the next meeting this Wednesday, February 7, 2023.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://lanecc.zoom.us/j/99092665560
Meeting ID: 990 9266 5560
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,99092665560# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
I just ordered a new batch of T-shirts. It’s a brand new look! We should have all sizes available in about a month.
This week I’m starting to work with new Membership Chair, Skye Nguyen on some actions such as a membership drive and a few rallies during bargaining.
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To get your T-shirt email me at: colinlccef@gmail.com
T-shirt sizes and count
- Small – 9
- Medium – 33
- Large – 31
- Extra Large – 6
I also have window clings and stickers for you to flaunt your support for your union! See below!
DON’T FORGET TO WEAR RED ON WEDNESDAYS!
UNION STRONG!
Grievance Officer
Dawn Rupp (2023-2024 Term)
Happy fifth week of term!
I am out on medical until February 9 but will be looking at all emails that come my way and helping out where I can with union issues.
Feel free to reach out to any EC member as they will be covering for me.
If you have someone that you would like to recognize for a job well done consider sending them some chocolate. https://inside.lanecc.edu/cpdt/random-acts-chocolate
Check out the following wellness opportunities for employees for Winter 2023 at https://inside.lanecc.edu/wellness/employee-wellness-classes
Quote(s) of the week:
“Hard work spotlights the character of people. Some turn up their sleeves. Some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” -Sam Ewing, baseball player
Treasurer
Linda Reling (2022-2023 Term)
We had a terrific time at Winter School. I attended several workshops led by AFT on bargaining. I am feeling energized and ready to dive into the contract. It was great networking with other locals and hearing their stories.
Records Officer
Tracy Weimer (2022-2024 Term)
Welcome the year of the Rabbit. Note that today (Imbolc) we are halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox; as we celebrate the festival of lights, let’s also welcome the lengthening days. It is a bit chilly and seems early to start on spring cleaning, <laughs in hidden> every year I intend on planting a salsa garden and usually the chance slips by, potential plants thus escaping my black thumb(s) another time.
Communications Officer
Marleena Pearson (2022-2023 Term)
We are all needed this year to do our part and work together on this bargaining. From attending meetings and filling out surveys to participating in actions, or by becoming worksite leaders and committee members to create and organize those meetings, surveys, and actions. This is going to be an important year.
Membership Officer
Skye Nguyen (2022-2023 Term)
Greetings! For those who have filled out the membership card form below your requests are in for a new or replacement card! They should be sent out in a few weeks. If you have questions just let me know! Also, we are charging through the year and it’s bargaining time, are you ready to come support?
If there are any questions about membership or someone has interest in joining, they can reach out to me or fill out the membership form to send to me (nguyens@lanecc.edu). 🙂
Membership Cards
We noticed a lot of members may not have membership cards. This membership card has your member ID on it and can help prove that you are a part of the union! Please complete this quick Google form and we will request a membership card for you! If you already have a membership card please do not submit this form.
Your Benefit Info of the Week
Did you know that members get some really useful benefits? This week we are highlighting pet insurance for your furry family. It’s always a scary thing to think about your pet getting ill. Pet insurance could give you some peace of mind so you can focus on your pet if they are ill and not on the unexpected expenses.
Find out what other benefits you are qualified for as union members by going to AFT.org.
Resources you may need!
Chief Labor Delegate
Mark Jordan (2022-2023 Term)
Enjoy meeting with fellow unions in the county? Learning about what events, organizing, and partnerships are being offered throughout Lane County? Anyone appointed to this position would continue to serve the remaining one year of term in 2023.
COPE Officer
Fiora Starchild-Wolf (2022-2023 Term)
Direct political work today!
If you have time and want to participate in helping to create real legislation in Oregon that will have an impact on Lane and all Oregon public colleges, as well as our students, there is an opportunity today!
The following is a copy from an email about the Hunger-Free Campuses bill, being heard today in the Oregon House, that was sent to me yesterday by Rosa Lopez. Please click the links for information about the bill, as well as how to participate :
I am super excited to announce that a Hunger-Free Campuses bill is being presented in this legislative session! HB 3089 creates an incentive program that would send funding to public colleges and universities that address student hunger on campus. Any college or university is eligible to access these funds if they:
- Establish a hunger task force that meets a minimum of three times per academic year to set at least two goals with action plans and includes representatives from the current student body.
- Designate a staff member responsible for assisting students with enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Provide options for students to utilize SNAP benefits at campus stores OR provide students with information on establishments in the surrounding area of campus where they can utilize SNAP EBT benefits.
- Participate in an awareness day campaign activity and plan a campus awareness event during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
- Provide at least one physical food pantry on campus OR enable students to receive food through a separate, stigma-free arrangement with a local food pantry or food bank near campus.
- Develop a student meal credit donation program OR designate a certain amount of money for free meal vouchers for students.
- Annually conduct a student survey on hunger, developed by the Department of Education, disaggregated by race, gender identity, sexual orientation, parenting status and financial aid status of students.
If you are interested in providing either written or oral testimony in support of this bill, here is information on how to provide testimony.
For more information, please reach out to Nick Keough, Legislative Director at Oregon Student Association at nick@orstudents.org
For more information about higher ed bills to support this session, please visit: Oregon Student Association on Instagram
Board positions opening up in the upcoming May Special Election:
More direct political work you can help with:
In May, there will be a Special Election in Oregon, and among other things, the LCC Board of Education will have some openings, as Rosie Pryor, Angela VanKrause, and Holli Johnson will not be running again.
I have already been contacted by Lisa Fragala about possible LCCEF endorsement.
If you have any ideas about who might be interested in running for the Board, please let me know.
Officer At Large
VACANT
We are looking for a 1039 employee that cares about what rights the 1039 classified professionals have with the new contract. Are you frustrated with how 1039 classified professionals are being used to fill long term positions with no real benefits? Would you like more control over how you are treated by management? If this fits you please reach out. It is hard for LCCEF EC to know exactly what is needed at this time because we are all full-time contracted. Please contact an EC member if you are interested.
Stay connected to LCCEF
Website: https://lccef.org/
Subscribe to Calendar: LCCEF Union Google Calendar
Email address: lccef@lanecc.edu