UFF/USF Chapter Meeting
April 6, 2007
In attendance: J. Martin, A. Shapiro, S. Permuth, G. McColm, M. Klisch, B. Welker, J. Noonan, S. Dorn, E. Mitchell, M. Kaplan, S. RamÃrez Wohlmuth, C. Dee
Adoption of the Agenda: The agenda was adopted as amended, ‘with flexibility.’
Authorized Signatories: The group agreed to have the president and vice president as well as the treasurer be authorized signatories on the credit union account. Sonia RamÃrez Wohlmuth, treasurer, Sherman Dorn, president, and Mark Klisch, vice president, will be added to the account.
UFF Senate Meeting: There are 5 senators who have responded as attending the April 14-15 UFF Senate Meeting, and 2 who are not. Dorn will be looking for proxies if there are not enough alternates attending. Wohlmuth will arrive early and Martin will attempt to do so, in order to assist with senate registration on Saturday the 14th. The chapter will reimburse for half the room if one is not rooming with another senator.
Transparency of Chapter-Assigned Releases: Klisch presented the following motion: “At or before the regular Chapter meeting immediately following the deadline to notify the USF administration of released time, the president of UFF-USF Chapter will notify the Chapter members of the released time units given to members. Members awarded released time units will provide a brief report of their released time activities at the end of the applicable term.†The motion was seconded. Klisch explained that release time is a privilege from the contract and that this action will make it clearer as to who has release time and what was accomplished with it. The motion was seconded and passed. Dorn then announced that Klisch has one unit ULP unit for bargaining and grievances, Dorn has one unit for serving as president, Welker has one unit for serving as bargaining chair, Weatherford has one as FEA Higher Education Director, and Martin has one ULP unit for bargaining team and chapter secretarial duties.
Bargaining: “I think we’ll get a contract today,†said Welker. “Of course, I said that a few weeks ago, too!†Welker talked about the current state of the bargaining situation, including some possible scenarios.
Chapter Priorities: Dorn distributed a couple of copies of the results of the survey he posed to chapter members soon after his election as president. The email snafu was not as big an issue as others were, such as the instructor promotion track and some salary issues. Dorn was suffering from a head cold, and so asked that those present think about priorities for the chapter in the near future as they will be discussed at an upcoming meeting when his head is clearer.
New Faculty Orientations: UFF-USF was left out of the university’s new faculty orientation earlier this semester. There were some lame excuses about a shortage of space at the Marshall Center. Dorn suggested and those present heartily agreed that the chapter should sponsor a breakfast for the orientation and use it for ‘contract education’ among other things. It would be money well-spent.
Consultation: There are 2 meetings scheduled now. The first is Monday, April 23rd from 12:30 to 2:30 and the other is Monday, April 30th from 3 to 5 p.m. Dorn distributed a list of tentative consultation topics. Two topics were removed from the list, as they are subjects of active grievances. The group agreed on the following:
· Instructor Promotion Track
· Unit Integrity [reclassification of employees and new classifications]
· Gender Equity [several issues here, including salary data, opportunities and support, climate, Committee on the Status of Women, etc.]
· Mediation Pilot
· H1B Visa and Green Card Practices
· Eligibility of University Employees for University-wide Initiatives
· Regional Campuses [ICAR document, etc.]
· Joint Contract Education
· YouTube
· GEMS
· Updating Annual Review Procedures in Departments/Units
· New Hire Welcome
· Michael Bérubé
· Government Relations Forward Planning
· FAST
· FAIR
· Contracts for ’06-’07 [not out in some departments yet — added at the end of the meeting]
Solidarity and Campus Environment: Dorn talked about a coalition forming of the unions serving employees on the university campus. A motion was made, seconded, and passed to allow Dorn to draft some by-laws for such a coalition that the UFF-USF chapter would then assist in founding. Another motion was made, seconded, and passed to allow up to $500 of chapter monies to go towards the funding of a visit to campus by Yale Anthropology professor David Graeber. His visit is being co-sponsored by the Department of Anthropology. Graeber, an acclaimed anarchist scholar, was denied tenure; some claim it was partly due to his support of the graduate student union on the Yale campus.
Reports:
a. Treasurer: The new treasurer had to leave the meeting early and was unable to give her report. Dorn said that the chapter ‘has money.’
b. Grievances: The arbitration is in limbo, but it still active. Another grievance is in extended Step I while there is an attempt to solve the issues involved.
c. Communications: McColm mentioned he is still working on the Uncommon Sense and hopes to have it out by finals week. Dorn has contributed an article introducing himself to those who don’t already know him.
Over the Horizon Issues: This is another topic that Dorn would like to see those present think about for the future. This might be something that isn’t coming up right now, but something that would need attention in the future and the chapter should be aware that it is looming on the horizon.
Other Business: It was mentioned that at least one department has yet to receive contracts for this academic year and it is beginning to worry some colleagues. The group decided to add the topic to the consultation list.
Good of the Order: Should the group meet over the summer? The group quickly reached a consensus that meetings would be held at CDBs on alternate Fridays (per past practice) at noon.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 1:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jana Martin