
Issue # 63: October 19, 2023
Update from the President
Frankie Cocanour
Bargaining:
Due to three people on our bargaining team being out this week we will not be bargaining with the college on Friday. The team still met for four hours Sunday and two hours Monday to work on the proposals that the college gave to us last week, New Article 12 and New Article 14. We want to make sure that everyone in our bargaining unit has some benefits here at the college. Some of what we are trying to get is layoff recall rights and some sort of seniority rights for 1039 (C3) employees. 1039 employees have become permanent temporary employees. They were meant to fill positions temporarily when there were gaps and contracted employees needed help, but they have become permanent cheap labor employees at the college. Your coworkers who are in these positions have no benefits and they are cheap for the college to use to fill permanent positions. This is unfair to them and unfair to us. Also there are some 1039’s that have been here for at least one if not two decades. Shouldn’t your employer owe you some sort of loyalty after that many years?
College’s Hiring Consultants:
Miche Drieling, our AFT-Oregon rep, sent a news article to the bargaining committee and when I was reading it, it sounded an awful lot like what our college is up to. We already know that the college spent a ton of money on an attorney who has a reputation for busting unions when they bargained the fiscal reopener with faculty last year. Now we have an interim vice President of Finance John Nisbet who is a partner in a consulting group for higher education. John Nisbet’s company is Foresight Consultant Group. Shane Turner has assured our union EC that they did not hire Foresight Consultant Group, but that doesn’t bring me much comfort. I am sure that John will conduct his business in the same manner in which he does with his company. John might make some great decisions for our college, but will that come at the expense of more programs being cut at our college? I hope that isn’t the case and that the hiring of John ends up being good for all of us at our college. For now I think that all of us have a duty to pay attention and to stand together to protect all of our departments and jobs here at the college. Remember, “One for all and all for one!!”
IEC Appointment:
Won’t someone please volunteer for this position? It is so important for us to have classified representation on this council. This is the 3rd week that this has been posted.
The LCCEF has an opportunity to appoint one more member to the IEC (member list). Ideally, they are looking for someone who has time to work in a subcommittee to write reports and join monthly meetings. No experience needed. The time commitment is from 2-4 hours / month depending upon their availability.
Please email me if you are interested. cocanourf@lanecc.edu
Vacation:
I am out on vacation this week. I will be back on 10.26.2023, if you need assistance please contact Buck or Colin.
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Announcements and Reminders
Executive Officer Elections 2023
These following positions will be up for election:
- Vice President of Labor Relations
- Membership Officer
- Communications Officer
- Treasurer
- Chief Labor Delegate
- Cope Officer
- Elections Committee Member
There will also be a small ballot measure to define the term of office for the election committee. Please think about running for an office! Reach out to elections@lccef.org if you have any questions.
DON’T FORGET TO WEAR RED ON WEDNESDAYS!
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 Google Form
Bargaining

Friday, October 27, 2023 AT 2:00 pm
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:
Vice President of Labor Relations
Buck Potter (2022-2023 Term)
Vice President of Organizing
Colin Vurek (2023-2024 Term)
Greetings members, bargaining continues to be contentious as the Administration continues to say “we don’t have more money” to give Classified Professionals a meaningful contract offer. We created a timeline for our path forward.
We need to hear from you all as to what it all means to you!
Below is a link for the survey we’ve put together for your feedback. PLEASE fill it out as soon as possible. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us!
LCCEF CAT Survey
CAT is working on a number of in-person actions at the next bargaining session on Friday, October 27, 2023. It is extremely important that observers use the LCCEF Zoom link and NOT the one that the college sends out! We want to have better control over how members-observers are viewing the session! CAT meets every Wednesday at 12:00pm to 1:00pm. If you’d like to join and help out with actions, membership drives and be part of something big email me at: colinlccef@gmail.com!
DON’T FORGET TO WEAR RED ON WEDNESDAYS!
UNION STRONG!
Grievance Officer
Claudia Riumallo (2023-2024 Term)
Treasurer
Linda Reling (2022-2023 Term)
Records Officer
Tracy Weimer (2022-2024 Term)
Communications Officer
Marleena Pearson (2022-2023 Term)
Take this time to make schedule arrangements to be able to attend bargaining next week, Friday, October 27th at 2:00 pm, If that means adjusting lunch schedules, or working to get a break at two an only seeing the start in person. In person matters, via zoom matters… we need management to know you are paying attention, engaged, and not going to settle.
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 BeFrugal, a benefit available for our members! A lot of holidays are coming up and why not save some money at the same time. Learn more about how to use this benefit on the Cash Back Shopping AFT page.
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)
I would like to challenge our classified professional members to attend this bargaining session. Maybe even bring a friend! I know many of us are busy and feeling overworked, but we are in a crucial moment; we must all come together in a tight, cohesive group as we continue to fight for the future of classified professionals at LaneCC. In the meantime, I still want to hear from you, especially C3, 1040 classified professionals. I am currently doing outreach on campus in person and via email. I want to know how you’re doing! If you know some C3s, let them know that as Officer at Large, I am here to advocate for them and their needs on campus. Email me at katherine.neall@gmail.com.

Stay connected to LCCEF
Website: https://lccef.org/
Subscribe to Calendar: LCCEF Union Google Calendar
Email address: lccef@lanecc.edu