Issue # 40: May 11, 2023
Update from AFT-Oregon Field Rep
Miche Dreiling
Greetings!
My name is Miche (prounced mee-sh), and I’m your new Field Representative as of January. If you ever knew a guy by the name of Bryan Lally – that’s who I am taking over for. He’s still in the union world, working for faculty at Portland State, closer to his home. Frankie asked me to introduce myself this week and to provide some useful and fun information for y’all.
I am so excited to work with y’all, because I live in this area, care deeply about your work, and want to see LCC workers and our whole community have what they need to live a good life. I’m originally from Wichita, Kansas – moved out here in 2017 to attend UO, got really involved with my union, and that’s how I discovered my passion for standing up for workers at the bargaining table and in their workplaces.
I have a 13-year-old who goes to school in Eugene, and I live in Springfield. I love this area – my kiddo is into rock climbing and gaming, and I enjoy camping when I can get away during summer. I’m always down to hear about your interests and hobbies – I have learned so much from just talking to members and hearing about what’s important to you.
Bargaining Update:
Your bargaining team has been hard at work developing proposals that will get classified workers what you need. We are at the beginning of the process, so neither side has made a ton of movement yet and we’re all getting a feel for the dynamics at the table. One thing’s for sure: we have much work ahead of us, and your B team will need your feedback and support as we move forward and start getting into more monetary proposals.
Keep an eye out for surveys, focus groups, and other opportunities to help your team be successful in fighting for a great contract for everyone!
Frankie on Vacation:
I will be out on vacation from Tuesday May 9th – Tuesday May 23rd. During that time I will be hanging out with my very energetic 2 year old Granddaughter Amelia and I am not sure if she and I will be able to be counted on to write for the newsletter. I’m pretty sure we will be busy playing blocks, taking walks, and watching cars drive by from the living room window, a few of her favorite activities.
During this time if you have a labor issue please contact our VP of Labor – Buck Potter. If you have a grievance please contact our Field Rep – Miche at miched@aft-oregon.org. If you can’t reach them you can reach out to Colin Vurek – VP of Organizing.
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Announcements and Reminders
DON’T FORGET TO WEAR RED ON WEDNESDAYS!
We have a Membership Drive scheduled for the week of May 8-12, 2023. CAT members and myself will be coming to departments for brief chats.
LCC BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING BEFORE THE PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED WORK SESSION WHERE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE ALLOWED. YOU CAN FIND THE PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN UP ON BOARD:
https://go.boarddocs.com/or/lanecc/Board.nsf/goto
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
The next two General Membership meetings will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm. And Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
Vice President of Labor Relations
Buck Potter (2022-2023 Term)
Labor Issues
We do have few labor issues going on, currently. If you are having issues with Management Bullying or Workplace Disagreements with Managers, please reach out concerning it.
This week in Labor Union History:
- May 8th – Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Unionize – 1863
- May 9th – 45 coal miners die, Roslyn, WA – 1892
- May 11th – Seattle Grocery Workers Strike and Lockout – 1989
- May 14th – LIUNA 483, Portland first city worker union – 1928
All of these come from the Labor History 2023 Calendar created by AFT – Oregon and Oregon AFL – CIO
“Ours lives begin to end the day that we become silent by things that matter.” –Martin Luther King Junior
Vice President of Organizing
Colin Vurek (2023-2024 Term)
BARGAINING CONTINUES MAY 16, 2023 AT 11:00AM!
Members are welcomed to observe via Zoom with your microphones and cameras OFF, please. I will be running a Slack 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 Slack chat. There is also a link below for anyone to RSVP on a Google form. You will find the link for the bargaining meeting below:
Join Zoom Meeting https://lanecc.zoom.us/j/96183623044
Meeting ID: 961 8362 3044
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,96183623044# US (Houston)
Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Feel free to use the image below as your Zoom background.
IF YOU’D LIKE TO RSVP TO BE SURE I GET YOU IN OUR BARGAINING CHAT PLEASE USE THE FORM BELOW:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pnbX7ov68WrXYsvZOoPfq6peq0rF76C7knwiItj7dB8/edit?ts=6418c7e6
We have a Membership Drive scheduled for the week of May 8-12, 2023. CAT members and myself will be coming to departments for brief chats.
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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)
Stepping down as the grievance officer.
Hello to all. I have come to realize that being the grievance chair is not serving my mental wellness. I do enjoy helping people and have been so grateful for the people I may not have met. I will be stepping down as grievance officer effective immediately . If I can support my fellow classified teammates in any way please reach out to me.
Quote(s) for the week:
“Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.”― Deborah Reber
“There comes a time in your life when you have to choose to turn the page, write another book or simply close it.”― Shannon L. Alder
Treasurer
Linda Reling (2022-2023 Term)
We will miss Dawn, she has been a terrific Grievance Officer!
Records Officer
Tracy Weimer (2022-2024 Term)
LCC opened the 30th Avenue campus in 1968, winning full accreditation from the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. That same year Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society chartered the Sigma Zeta chapter in the Rocky Mountain Cascade Region on our campus, and LCC began outreach into Florence schools. The clinic began in 1972, Specialized Services launched in 1973, and Cottage Grove joined the fam in 1977. Did you know that the Grateful Dead played in the performance hall in January 1971? Yep, as a fundraiser for White Bird and Financial Aid – unknown folks sold counterfeit tickets, creating havoc and the event blew out all the glass of the performance hall with the tower of speakers. PTK did a research project in 2010, the year we coordinated Lanestock Music and Arts Fair (#1 of 3). Good Times.
Communications Officer
Marleena Pearson (2022-2023 Term)
So much is happened, and my fellow officers are kicking butt, while I have been in a busy section with my workload and in tech week of a play in my personal time. Bargaining is rolling along with the team working on more articles and it is amazing to see everyone coming together for the joint actions to save our health clinic.
Membership Officer
Skye Nguyen (2022-2023 Term)
Hello! The membership drive is going swimmingly and we are so excited for our new members! We can come together and be stronger for bargaining and our working conditions.
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 a flower service. Many people buy flowers for their mothers and moms in their life on mothers day. You can save 30% on flowers and other gifts through your Union Benefits. If flowers are a tradition for you, why not save some money along the way!
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)
Hi Everyone. The Lane County May 16 Special Election is in full swing. You are likely getting flyers in your mailbox, and maybe getting campaign volunteers knocking on your door.
I’m going to ask you just this: VOTE!!!!!!
YOU HAVE YOUR BALLOTS AND THEY WILL DETERMINE OUR BOARD!!!
The May 16th Lane County Special Election has FIVE open positions on our LCC Board!
We are now bargaining for our full contract! Who sits on our Board will make a difference. Also, in general, for years now, through the pandemic, having labor friendly Board members has been helpful in a number of ways.
Here are the LCCEF endorsements for LCC Board:
Zone 1: Denise Diamond
Zone 2: Zach Mulholland
Zone 5: Steve Mital
Zone 6 At Large: Bob Baldwin
Zone 7 At Large: Lisa Fragala
(If anyone has questions about our endorsement process, please feel free to reach out to me at fiora.lccef@gmail.com or at starchildf@lanecc.edu. I’m more than happy to talk it over.)
Ballots
If you are registered, but have not yet received your ballot, or if there is a problem with your ballot, or if you make a mistake and want a clean ballot,
you can go to Lane County Elections, WITH photo ID, and in the case of a problem with your ballot, bring your original ballot for them to destroy, and they can issue you a new one.
Lane County Elections, 275 W 10th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 682-4234
Office Hours
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – Noon & 1 – 4 p.m.
Election Day: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
In addition to our own Board, all county school districts are having their Board elections. These are important, as of course the k-12 districts feed into Lane as our students.
So, be sure to watch for endorsements in other areas, and VOTE!!!
COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO CLOSE OUR STUDENT HEALTH CLINIC!
Please show up!!!!
Last week there was a very powerful presence at the Board meeting. Students, Faculty and Classified were united, wearing red, holding signs, and 25 PEOPLE spoke passionately to the Board to:
- Request a collaborative process, not a “top/down” decision made only by administration.
- Suggest alternatives to raise additional funding
- Increase our own Telehealth offerings and add online only students to the fee structure. (this could include allowing online only students in-person access to the clinic’s offerings)
- Allow employees to opt into a fee for access as well.
- Help with “wayfinding” to the Health Clinic, as it is out of the way and a “hidden gem”–many students do not know it exists or where it is.
- Explain, in detail, exactly what the Health Clinic provides to students, how much it means to them.
- Explain how having a Health Clinic on campus helps enrollment!
OUR VOICES AND PASSION AND NUMBERS CAUSED THE BOARD TO ASK FOR A PAUSE ON A VOTE, GIVING TIME TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THIS.
NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 17TH, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MEETING, AND THE BOARD IS LIKELY TO MAKE THEIR VOTE AT THAT TIME.
PLEASE PLAN TO SHOW UP IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!!
This is where our solidarity can really help–both our students, and our colleagues who care for them every day in our Student Health Clinic.
Officer At Large
Katie Neall
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.