Issue # 31: March 7, 2023
Update from the President
Frankie Cocanour (2022-2024 Term)
Bargaining:
It’s official, we start bargaining our contract on Tuesday, March 21st from 11:00 am to noon.These meetings will be hybrid meetings so that you can attend in person if you are available or watch on Zoom. Remember that if you attend bargaining sessions it has to be your lunch break or use vacation or personal time We will send out an update with the location and the Zoom invite.
Other Union News:
How many of us pay attention to where we purchase our food? I have been getting better at it since I started working at the college. It’s hard sometimes because our paychecks sometimes can barely stretch to cover what our needs are with food. Those of us who eat meat do you ever think about where you purchase your meat from? For years I would look at the weekly ads and go where I could get the best deal. During the pandemic I discovered that I could get better prices from a local butcher in Springfield. Around that time I also had a video from a rancher come into my Youtube feed so I watched it. That gentleman was discussing the issue that ranchers were having from the large corporation packers. The same packers who just last week were being held accountable for using children to clean dangerous equipment, hazardous chemicals, and some working the graveyard shift which violates multiple child labor laws. Anyhow, that is another subject by itself. Here is a video that I found that was narrated by Beau of the 5th Column and put out by a more perfect union. I want to say that I understand that not everyone in our union eats meat or eats beef. But as you watch this take a few minutes to think about who you are purchasing produce from. I am not telling anyone how or where to purchase their food, I am saying as union members we need to remember that it is in our own best interest to support people that are struggling to make a living instead of corporations that have CEOs that are raking in the big bucks and not paying fair wages.
More Perfect Union – Cattle Ranchers
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Announcements and Reminders
DON’T FORGET TO WEAR RED ON WEDNESDAYS!
Bargaining 2023
LCCEF BARGAINING TEAM BEGINS BARGAINING WITH THE COLLEGE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2023 AT 11:00AM – 12:00PM.
See Colin’s the VP of Organizing update below for more information.
Bargaining Survey Bargaining Survey 2/28/2023
Newsletter Feedback
We want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback on our Weekly Newsletter. Newsletter Feedback Survey Goggle Form
Vice President of Labor Relations
Buck Potter (2022-2023 Term)
Vice President of Organizing
Colin Vurek (2023-2024 Term)
Greeting Members,
Membership Week 3/13-3/17/2023. Be ready for an awesome Raffle throughout the week! You can win prizes by participating in some of the actions we’ll be calling for, new t-shirts (have arrived), and LCCEF Swag!
Membership Week 3/13-3/17/2023. Be ready for an awesome Raffle throughout the week! You can win prizes by participating in some of the actions we’ll be calling for, new t-shirts (have arrived), and LCCEF Swag!
BARGAINING IS FINALLY HERE!
Our first bargaining session is Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 11:00am- 12:00pm! Members are welcomed to observe via Zoom with your microphones and cameras OFF, please. I will be running a Google Chat to allow observers to chat with me and I can pass ideas to the team at the table. I will actually be at the table also but bouncing into the chat to answer questions you may have. Email me your private email address to: colinlccef@ gmail.com so I can add you to the chat. You will find the link for the bargaining meeting below:
Join Zoom Meeting https://lanecc.zoom.us/j/96183623044
Meeting ID: 961 8362 3044
Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Feel free to use the image below as your Zoom background.
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THE NEW T-SHIRTS HAVE ARRIVED. WE HAVE PLENTY OF EVERY SIZE. Please email me at colinlccef@gmail.com to get yours!
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)
It has been a rough couple weeks for all and hope you are taking time to take care of yourself.
Remember to make the change you want to see get involved! There are a couple ways to do that and I pasted them below.
Coffee & Tea with Campus Public Safety – March 8th
We would love to get to know the community we serve. This is our way of connecting with students and staff through coffee and conversation.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 8th
TIME: 11am to 1pm
WHERE: Center Bldg. 2nd floor next to J&J Java
Submitted by Lisa M. Rupp
Campus Conversation on Safety and Security – March 7th
Please join us for a campus conversation on safety and security on Tuesday, March 7, from 11:00 a.m. to noon in Building 19, room 226 or via Zoom. We will be discussing planned facilities upgrades funded through the Bond program, safety and security services, training available through Public Safety, and a debrief of the February 22 security incident on campus. Please register for this event here. Thank you, and we look forward to the conversation.
Submitted by Priyanka Srinivasa
A Pulse on the Community: We would like to hear from you! March 7th Deadline
The Office of the President hosted a Climate Forum to share what belonging would look like at LCC and what norms we would like to see at our college. We would like to continue the conversation and hear from you! In efforts of engaging through multiple avenues to ensure as many people are heard and recognized, we are sharing an anonymous survey to receive feedback and ideas. This anonymous google form will be open until March 7th. You will be able to submit multiple times with your answers, ideas, feedback, and suggestions. Feel free to submit as an individual, a collective, as a department, or as a group of peers. Thank you for your active participation in this survey. We appreciate your inputs and reflections to establish norms and elevate our community.
For further questions and concerns, please reach out to Pri Srinivasa, Chief of Staff at srinivasap@lanecc.edu
There are several board seats coming up this year. Make sure to check out information that Fiora has provided below.
Quote(s) for the week:
I’m convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they’re stones that don’t matter. As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good.”
— Dr. Maya Angelou, American poet & civil rights activist
Treasurer
Linda Reling (2022-2023 Term)
Thank you for filling out the bargaining survey. Your feedback really helps guide us!
Records Officer
Tracy Weimer (2022-2024 Term)
For context I am a Lead Project Coordinator. Right now, as I write this we have 88 Project Professionals in the seniority queue at LCC. I can tell by the names that many have staffed vital functions for the college, in various departments, for far longer than two years. We have 54 Project Coordinator 1’s (note that Bilingual and Leads exist that are not delineated in the seniority list); we have 10 Project Coordinator 2’s; 9 Project Specialist 1’s; and 15 Project Specialist 2’s. Perhaps it is time to either rename the professionals or clean up ‘project’ rules.
3.2.5. Project Employee (contract 2016-23) A classified employee with specialized skills working on a defined task with a definite starting and projected ending date. At the end of the project, the job, and the need for the employee on that defined task, ends. Prior to any person being contracted to do project work, the project must be pre-authorized by the appropriate vice president and by Human Resources. Within seven working days of the authorization, the Union president must be notified of the project and the person contracted to complete the project. If the person is employed to do multiple projects, each project must be pre-authorized and the person’s employment must not exceed two years. If this condition is violated, the person becomes eligible for bargaining unit status. A person hired to complete designated projects for the College shall not have worked for the College in any other capacity for 12 months prior to being hired for the project, during the project period, or for 12 months after the project work is completed.
3.3.6. Projects (contract 2016-23) Project work is considered a specific, non-repetitive type of task which requires a person with special skills. Persons may be hired for specific projects for no longer than a consecutive 24-month period after which a 12-month break in service must occur. The employee may work multiple approved projects during the 24-month period. A person hired to complete designated projects for the College shall not have worked for the College in any other capacity for 12 months prior to being hired for the project, during the project period, or for 12 months after the project work is completed. Employees working on specific approved projects shall not be bargaining unit members nor receive any benefits associated with bargaining unit status unless their employment exceeds a consecutive 24-month period. At such time, the employee will achieve bargaining status and will receive the associated benefits.
Classified Professional Job Roles (retrieved 2.27.23):
- https://inside.lanecc.edu/hr/classification/project-specialist-1
- https://inside.lanecc.edu/hr/classification/project-specialist-2
- https://inside.lanecc.edu/hr/classification/project-coordinator
- https://inside.lanecc.edu/hr/classification/project-coordinator-2
Related: 16.9 Special Compensation; 16.9.1. Bilingual and 16.9.2 Lead Worker designation
Until next time, Be Well.
Communications Officer
Marleena Pearson (2022-2023 Term)
March is the time to take action. Become a Worksite Leader, participate in the survey, talk to your coworkers about joining as a dues paying member, plan to attend bargaining, and get involved!
Membership Week 3/13-3/17/2023.
Bargaining Meeting 3/21/2023 11 am.
Membership Officer
Skye Nguyen (2022-2023 Term)
We have moved our membership forms and other forms online through softdocs! This makes it that much easier to sign up as a member with no hassle of printing or working with a PDF form filler. Check out and share the form that is now posted on LCCEF’s website!
If there are any questions about membership or someone has interest in joining, they can reach out to me (membership@lccef.org) or fill out the online membership form. 🙂
Your Benefit Info of the Week
Did you know that members get some really useful benefits? This week we are highlighting free identity theft protection for AFT members. There are a lot of phishing, scam emails, and phone calls that get around out there. You can be a little more prepared and protected with identity theft protection. You can learn about this free opportunity you can get as a union member by visiting AFT’s website.
Find out what other benefits you are qualified for as union members by going to AFT.org.
Resources you may need!
- How to update your physical address on Expresslane.
- Complete this form for a Membership card or a new membership card! If you are a new member, one may have already been requested, contact the LCCEF Membership Officer for info.
- Submit an Important Life Event for you or another member may have coming up.
Chief Labor Delegate
Mark Jordan (2022-2023 Term)
COPE Officer
Fiora Starchild-Wolf (2022-2023 Term)
Officer At Large
VACANT
Did you know that members get some really useful benefits? This week we are highlighting discounts on computer purchases. Members can get a discount on select brands of computers. If you are needing to change your computer out, why not use a discount. More info about this discount on AFT’s website.
Find out what other benefits you are qualified for as union members by going to AFT.org.
Stay connected to LCCEF
Website: https://lccef.org/
Subscribe to Calendar: LCCEF Union Google Calendar
Email address: lccef@lanecc.edu
Resources you may need!
Submit an Important Life Event for you or another member may have coming up.
How to update your physical address on Expresslane.