Category: Minutes

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
Ten in attendance, including seven members of the Chapter Council, insufficient for a quorum.

Chapter Grievances. Discussion of outstanding grievances.

Reports.

• Treasury. We are solvent.
• Services. We are close to attaining 500 members far ahead of our original 5/5/11

Membership.

• Motion made and seconded Resolved, that members joining between March 12 and May 6 (end of the term) shall qualify to receive a $300 rebate in September. Motion passed unanimously.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on April 6, 2011, based on notes composed by Paul Terry.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Election. Here are the results of the election.

• The President is Paul Terry.
• The Vice President is Sonia Wohlmuth.
• The Treasurer is Art Shapiro.
• The Secretary is Greg McColm.
• The UFF Senators are Ross Alander, Sherman Dorn, Celina Joszi, Smita Mathur, Greg McColm, David McMullen, Jerry Notaro, Adriana Novoa, Cynthia Patterson, Steve Permuth, Art Shapiro, Harry Vanden, Bob Welker, and Sonia Wohlmuth. The alternates are Marvin Karlins, Mariam Manur-Leiva, and John Noonan. Paul Terry serves ex officio.
• The FEA Delagates are Smita Mathur, Greg McColm, Cynthia Patterson, Steve Permuth, Art Shapiro, Paul Terry, and Harry Vanden. The alternate is John Noonan.

The Executive Committee shall consist of the four elected officers and the chairs of the Bargaining and Grievance Committees, and therefore now consists of Greg McColm, Art Shapiro, Paul Terry, Bob Welker, and Sonia Wohlmuth. The Chapter Council consists of elected officers, Senators, Alternate Senators and, ex officio as non-voting members, the appointed chairs of the standing committees, and therefore now consists of Ross Alander, Sherman Dorn, Celina Joszi, Marvin Karlins, Smita Mathur, Mariam Manur-Leiva, Greg McColm, David McMullen, John Noonan , Jerry Notaro, Adriana Novoa, Cynthia Patterson, Steve Permuth, Art Shapiro, Paul Terry , Harry Vanden, Bob Welker, and Sonia Wohlmuth.

Hardcopies of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

• Motion that the USF Chapter of the UFF print 2,000 copies of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Motion approved.

The contracts will be part of a packet sent to all members of the UFF USF Bargaining Unit.

USF Senates liaisons. The following UFF members are appointed to be liaisons with the USF Senates: Cynthia Patterson for the USFP Senate, Ross Alander for the USFSM Senate, Jerry Notaro for the USFSP Senate, and Stever Permuth for the USFT Senate.

Membership. We will resume lunch chats and flyers.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on April 3, 2011.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance. Twelve, including eight members of the Chapter Council, insufficient for a quorum.

Coalition of Immokalee Workers.Representatives made a presentation on conditions of employment of tomato workers, and its Penny for a Pound campaign to pay an additional penny for each pound of tomatoes to increase tomato worker wages.

• Motion that the USF Chapter of the UFF encourage all members of the Bargaining Unit to participate in the March 5 march in downtown Tampa, sponsored by the Coalition of Immokolee Workers. Motion approved unanimously.
• Motion that the USF Chapter of the UFF donate $ 200 to the CIW. Motion approved unanimously.

Protests in Wisconsin.

• Motion that the USF Chapter of the UFF donate $ 200 for the Wisconsin higher education affiliates of the NEA and AFT. Motion approved unanimously.

Reports.

• Treasury report. We are solvent.
• Political action. We are active.
• Communications. The Executive Committee has approved moving forward with DeftLogic’s proposal to reorganize the website.
• FEA Retired. Discussion

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on February 27, 2011.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
Eleven members in attendance, all members of the Chapter Council, insufficient for a quorum.

Announcements.

• NEA organizer Valerie Wilkes will be visiting during the last week of February.
• Governor Scott’s budget appears DOA.
• Hearings on the Teacher Quality Bill have begun.

Grievances.
Discussion of a grievance involving a backdated letter of non-reappointment, and of merit pay raises.

Political Action.
Discussion.

FEA Governance Board.
Discussion

Sabbaticals & Leave.
Discussion of administrative paperwork problems.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on February 13, 2011.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Legislature.
Discussion.

Reports.

• Budget. We’re solvent.
• Communications. Fliers were distributed.
• Membership. Discussion of Lunch Chats and other organizing activities.
• Grievances. Update on two grievances.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on January 29, 2011.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were thirteen members in attendance, including eleven of the Chapter Council, insufficient for a quorum. There were two guests.

Introductions and minutes.
Previous minutes approved.

Membership.
There will be a membership campaign in spring.

• Motion made and seconded: Resolved, the deadline for a rebate of $ 300 for new members, to be made at the end of June, 2011, be extended to Friday, March 11. Motion approved. NOTE: the effect of this action is that all new members joining by January 31 shall receive their rebate in May, while those joining between February 1 and the Friday before Spring Break shall receive their rebate at the end of the fiscal year. This action temporarily modifies the standing policy that new members shall receive a rebate of $ 300 after being a member for a full academic term; this modification shall be announced as appropriate.

The dates of the first Lunch Chats were set to be February 2 at USFSP, February 9 at USFSM, February 16 and USFP, and February 23 at USFT. The Lunch Chats will be accompanied by organizing efforts.
UFF Executive Director Ed Mitchell stressed the particular importance of the recruitment effort.

Separate Rebate Issue.
Two former UFF members experienced communication errors concerning their status.

• Motion made and seconded to proved a rebate of $ 300 to each of these two former members. This action shall not be a precedent for other rebates. Motion approved.

Reports.

• Grievances. Discussion of six outstanding grievances.
• Political Action. The committee is considering options.
• Faculty Senates & Advisory Council. Report and discussion.
• Communications. Update of efforts to update website.
• Treasure. We are solvent.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on January 15, 2011.

Meeting from 10 am to noon in TAR 249, chaired by S. Dorn (Chapter President). 18 of 24 council members present, sufficient for a quorum.

Minutes.
Approved.

Nominations for Committees.

• Grievance Chair S. Wolmuth nominated Sheila Goethe (USFSP), Barbara Shircliffe (USFT) and Ross Alander (USFSM) for the Grievance Committee. Nominations approved.
• Bargaining Chair R. Welker nominated Steve Permuth (USFT). Nomination approved.

Release units & Biweekly.

• Motion made & seconded, that the Council recommend using one release unit for fall, 2011, for continued publication of the Biweekly in its current form. Motion approved.

Governance.

• Motion made and seconded, that the Chapter’s policy position is that we will not engage in reopeners that are not legally required, without course releases for Chief Negotiator. Motion ruled out of order; tabled.

Membership & PAC signup. There will be a $ 300 dues rebate in May for new members who join by January 31. This policy was approved by the Chapter on October 8, 2010.

FEA Retired.Current membership fees for UFF Retired (in FEA Retired) are $ 81 per year or $ 400 for lifetime membership.

• Motion made and seconded, that the Chapter rebate $ 200 to UFF USF members towards lifetime UFF Retired membership. Motion withdrawn.

Minutes.

• Motion made & seconded, that minutes of this meeting to be posted. Motion approved.

(Minutes to be composed in the usual style of posted minutes.)

These minutes respectfully submitted 31 December 2010 by Gregory McColm

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were twelve members in attendance, including twelve of the Chapter Council, insufficient for a quorum.

Membership.
Discussion of membership drive in spring.

Elections in spring.
All offices and representative positions will be open in the spring election.

• Motion made and seconded: Resolved, that there be a Chapter Meeting on December 17 to select an Elections Committee. Motion approved.

Minutes.
November 17 minutes approved.

President’s report.
Discussion of outstanding issues.

• SUS Chapter President’s discussion.
• Regarding the petition by the Manhattan College Adjunct Faculty Union, Motion made and seconded that the USF Chapter approve the following statement: “We are deeply concerned that the Administration is spending valuable College resources in an effort to disenfranchise adjunct faculty from their federal right to vote for or against a union in a fair and democratic election. We do not believe a union election poses any threat now, or in the future, to Manhattan College’s mission or Catholic heritage. As a matter of conscience and in the spirit of academic freedom and Catholic social teachings, we urge you to direct your legal team to immediately drop their objections at the National Labor Relations Board and allow Manhattan College’s adjunct faculty to vote for themselves on the question of unionization.” Motion passed.
• Motion made and seconded that “Whereas Keith White has served his colleagues as a union activist, member of the USF bargaining team, and friend and colleague, Resolved, that the USF Chapter thanks Keith White for your years of faithful and concerted service in the interests of fellow members, the bargaining unit, and higher education.” Motion passed.
• UFF disagrees with the Administration’s interpretation of Article 23.
• The grievance clock (on the 30-day limit for filing grievances) will be stopped over Winter Break as usual this year, from December 13 to January 10.

Reports.

• Treasury. We are solvent.
• Grievances. Discussion of outstanding grievances.
• Communications. Motion made and seconded to authorize the expenditure of up to $ 2,500 for upgrading the website and associated email system. Motion passed.
• Political Action. The committee is considering options.
• Services. Discussion of organizing activities.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on December 31, 2010.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Elections committee

The chapter approved the following members as the elections committee for the spring:

• Steve Tauber, chair
• Sherman Dorn
• Peter Funke
• Ylce Irizarry
• Zoe Lang
• Steve Permuth
• Ella Schmidt
• Art Shapiro
• Bob Welker

The chapter also approved the following schedule for chapter elections:

• Nominations deadline, February 11
• Ballot return deadline, March 24
• Ballot counting, March 25

The chapter’s governance documents specify that the terms for all officers and representatives begin April 1.
Urgent membership drive
UFF Executive Director Ed Mitchell explained to present members that the Alabama legislature this week approved legislation that will end union payroll dues deductions. Union staff in other Southern states, including Florida, are expecting statutory attacks on unions in the next year. The best protection against a range of attacks is majority membership, and Mitchell urged that the UFF-USF chapter intensify the already-planned spring membership drive.
The target is for members to talk with 50 non-members every week starting when classes return. Chapter officers plan to prepare the unit database for organizing over break.
Phone and internet service in union office
The chapter authorized Treasurer Paul Terry to explore ending university ethernet and phone service to the union office, which currently costs approximately $90/month. A range of replacement service options were discussed, including GoogleVoice.
Rebate for retiree membership
The chapter approved offering retiring members a $200 rebate on either the annual dues for the UFF Retired/At-Large chapter or lifetime retiree dues in FEA/NEA.
Minutes submitted by Sherman Dorn

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were eleven members in attendance, including six of the Chapter Council, insufficient for a quorum.

Implementation of CBA.
Errors in computing salary raises.

The State Budget.
Discussion of the state’s financial situation, and its impact on higher education financing. Discussion of prospective legislation in the spring legislative session.

USF Polytechnic Issues.
Discussion.

Grievances.
Discussion of outstanding grievances.

Treasury.
We are solvent.

Communications.
Discussion of the Biweekly.

Faculty Advisory Committee.
Discussion.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on November 26, 2010.