Issue # 53: August 10, 2023

Update from the President

Frankie Cocanour

Bargaining:

On Tuesday we went over articles which were all in the old article 11. We turned over New Article 11, 13, and 14 to the college. We also reviewed Article 18 with them.

New Article 11: That deals with personnel files, outside employment, discipline, and evaluations. Mostly in this article we cleaned up language to make it read better. One change we added was making sure that if a manager in HR is aware of someone being disciplined making sure that the union is notified before the discipline action happens.

New Article 13: This deals with reclassifications, appeals, and our classification system. As with almost all articles we cleaned up language. Then we added language that matched how the application process for reclassifications are currently being done, and to make the appeal process more transparent.

New Article 14: There were a lot of changes in this article. Again a large amount of cleaning up language, but we wanted to make the process for reassignment easier. We also wanted to make sure that when you transfer to a new position or are reassigned that there is a clear plan for training you for the work that you will be doing in your new position. We also are working to be sure that the transfer list is being used and that the way it is being used is an equitable process.

Article 18: This is the class and comp article. One of the things that we wanted to address is that not every position is classified correctly. We want to work with the college to address the classifications and then to also work on the compensation.We worked to figure out a way that this could be done in a way that will be ongoing. Not just a huge one time study. This requires it to be done in stages.

Bargaining Session Next Tuesday 8/15 at 2:00 pm. We are bargaining at this new time next week because people on both teams will be on vacation, mainly most of the college bargaining team. The college is giving us their proposals for wages and benefits. This is a very important bargaining session and I highly recommend that you attend this one in person if at all possible. We will be in building 5 room 126. Remember to wear red! If you are attending via zoom a fun way to show your support for wages and benefits would be to change your profile name in zoom to APPRECIATE CLA$$IFIED! This is a great way for us to be in solidarity on Tuesday and to show the college that we need them to show us appreciation for all of the hard work everyone is doing!

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Announcements and Reminders

FAIR CONTRACT NOW

DON’T FORGET TO WEAR RED ON WEDNESDAYS!

WE HAVE NEW T-SHIRTS WE HAVE PLENTY OF EVERY SIZE. Please email me at colinlccef@gmail.com to get yours!

BARGAINING CONTINUES Tuesday, August 15, 2023 AT 2:00pm! This is a Special session because the AVP of Human Resources will be on a two-week vacation the following after next week.

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 also in the chat and the Slack 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

+16694449171,,96183623044# US

Dial by your location

+1 669 444 9171 US

+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:

RSVP for bargaining Slack chat

I buttons and also have window clings for you to flaunt your support for your union!

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Vice President of Labor Relations

Buck Potter (2022-2023 Term)

Vice President of Organizing

Colin Vurek (2023-2024 Term)

Greetings members,

In the world of Union Organizing the LCCEF is in a good position to continue growing by leaps and bounds. As membership grows we are reminded that there is Power in Numbers! When we look at various locals in Lane County that have very recently bargained for hefty wage increases for their bargaining units.

Lane Transit District (LTD agreed to a 22% pay increase over the next 4 years for the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 (ATU). They also received various bonuses, additional holidays such as Juneteenth and MLK Jr. day, and improved work-life balance policies by ensuring all employees have regularly scheduled days off.

SEIU503’s 22,000 strong union membership has recently received the best contract that state employees have seen in decades. All State workers will receive a cost-of-living adjustment of 6.5% on 12/1/23 and 6.55% on 1/1/25 or 2/1/25 (depending on whether additional funding is allocated by the legislature), step increases both years of the contract, a one-time stipend payment of $1,500 for employees on their September 1st paycheck (for employees employed as of 7/1/23 and still employed 8/24/23)

OSEA Local agreed to pay increases in December of 2022. Effective July 1, 2022, the District will provide employees an increase to their current hourly wage rate in the amount of twelve percent (12%), All current employees in Grade 6-18 will receive a step increase subject to the provisions below. After application of the twelve percent (12%) wage increase, any employee whose current grade and step is blank on the wage scale will be placed on the next step on the wage scale (but they will not receive a step increase). After application of the twelve percent (12%) wage increase, employees in Grades 4 or 5 will be placed at the step in Grade 6 with a higher wage rate (but they will not receive a step increase). Grades 4 and 5 will be deleted from the salary schedule. The step increases described in this section are separate from the step increases described in Section 19.3. Effective July 1, 2023, all employees will receive a cost-of-living increase to their current hourly rate of six percent (6%).Effective July 1, 2024, all employees will receive a cost-of-living increase to their current hourly rate of four percent (4%).

How did they get such good contracts? Numbers, that’s how! We can and deserve these kinds of contracts too!

CAT (Contract Action Team)

My goal is to increase the team just as we’ve increased general membership! We have to fight for what we deserve!

We’ve broken CAT down to Sub-groups:

Actions
Graphics
Public Speaking
Surveys
Social Media

The CAT will meet one time per week to discuss what’s happening in Bargaining what Actions are coming up and organizing the organized AND MORE!

COME BE PART OF THE ACTION!

DON’T FORGET TO WEAR RED ON WEDNESDAYS!

UNION STRONG!

Grievance Officer

Claudia Riumallo (2023-2024 Term)

Treasurer

Linda Reling (2022-2023 Term)

We know the budget issues that the college is facing. We need to make sure that the administration hears from us about the budget problems we are all experiencing. With overwhelming inflation, skyrocketing rent, and student loan payments resuming – we need a significant COLA to try and keep pace. Please join the CAT team and keep observing the bargaining sessions to show our strength. 🙂

Records Officer

Tracy Weimer (2022-2024 Term)

Communications Officer

Marleena Pearson (2022-2023 Term)

We are seeing a rise in so many union movements this last few years, it is a critical time for us to be strong and show our worth as we head into the financial aspect of bargaining.

Everyone should have a moment or a skill that could greatly impact our union and our ability to get a fair contract. Please reach out to see if there is a project or committee you can work on for a short time, or a small task you can do on a regular basis. We need people and we have a LOT of work to do over the next couple months if we want to settle on a fair contract.

Membership Officer

Skye Nguyen (2022-2023 Term)

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 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.

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

Katie Neall (2023-2024 Term)

Stay connected to LCCEF

Website: https://lccef.org/

Subscribe to Calendar: LCCEF Union Google Calendar

Email address: lccef@lanecc.edu