Category: Minutes

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were fourteen people in attendance. There was a bare quorum for the Chapter Council.

Agenda.
The agenda was approved.

Amendments to the Amendment Process in the Governance Documents.
Amendments to the Amendment Process presented at the August 28 meeting were presented to the Chapter.

• Motion to Amend Article VI of the Constitution as proposed at http://faculty.ourusf.org/2009/08/30/proposed-amendments-to-the-amendment-process-updated/ . Motion approved.
• Motion to Amend Article VI of the Bylaws as proposed at http://faculty.ourusf.org/2009/08/30/proposed-amendments-to-the-amendment-process-updated/ . Motion approved.

The amendments come into effect immediately and apply to the subsequent proposals to amend the Constitution and Bylaws.

Amendments to the Governance Documents.
The proposals to amend the documents were presented to the Chapter.

• Motion made and seconded to act as a committee as a whole. Motion approved.
• Motion made and seconded to change text of proposal to return to the old language concerning the Chapter Council. Motion approved.
• Motion made and seconded to make appointments to committees subject to the consent of the Chapter Council. Motion approved.
• Motion made and seconded to adjourn from a committee as a whole. Motion approved.
• Motion made and seconded for a technical change in the language. Motion approved.
• Motion made and seconded to include the Grievance Chair as a member of the Executive Committee. Motion approved.
• Motion made and seconded to accept the proposal as amended for presentation to the UFF/USF Membership for approval. Motion approved.
• Motion made and seconded to commend the ad hoc committee for its work on proposing amendments to the Chapter Governance Documents. Motion approved.

Announcement on Health Care.
Our affiliates asked us to call Senator Bill Nelson and ask him to support Health Reform on Tuesday, October 13, in the Finance Committee.

Report on the English and Sociology Departments.
John Noonan will compose a summary of the report for circulation to the UFF USF membership.

Instructor Promotion Track.
Discussion.

Reports.

• Membership continues to grow.
  • Motion made and seconded to extend the rebate of $ 300 for new members to the end of the semester. Motion approved.
• Grievances discussed.
• Communications discussed.
• Treasury. We have money.
• AFSCME in impasse; discussion.
• Bargaining discussed.
• Faculty Senate to be discussed.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on October 10, 2009.

Draft agenda, UFF-USF Chapter, general membership meeting, October 9, 2009
The meeting will start at noon in SOC 258 and will conclude at 1:30 pm (with an automatic motion to close debate on any main motion and amendments currently on the floor).
1. Consideration of governance amendments recommended by member motions at August 28 meeting. (These would move all future amendments away from membership meetings and into a balloting process involving the entire chapter membership.)
2. Consideration of the ad hoc committee report on governance documents. (The ad hoc committe’s recommendations are at http://uff.ourusf.org/connections/PROPOSAL082809.doc and a select comparison of variants on two issues discussed in prior meetings is at http://www.uff.ourusf.org/connections/PROPOSAL082809variant.doc .)
3. Request for public-policy action by UFF’s affiliates.
4. Followup on meetings with sociology and English department faculty.
5. Instructor promotion track
6. Reports

 

• Membership
• Grievances
• Communications
• Treasury
• Campus unions
• Bargaining
• Faculty Senate

7. For the good of the order

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were eight people in attendance. There was no quorum for the Chapter Council.

Agenda.
The agenda was approved.

Minutes.
The September 11 minutes were approved.

Minutes.
The September 11 minutes were approved.

Online Meetings.
There have been two online meetings in the last two weeks. We will continue to have about one a month and then review the results.

Membership.
We have gained a number of new members recently.

• Motion made and seconded: That the dues rebate be offered on a one-time per person basis, that is, a once in a lifetime offer. Motion approved.

A Junior Faculty Group is up and started. We are also investigating the possibility of social hours.

Labor at USF Generally.
UFF officers have attended recent bargaining sessions between USF and AFSCME.

• The following letter was presented to the Chapter: The United Faculty of Florida supports USF AFSCME Local 3342 in their efforts to win reasonable wages and working conditions for the members. As faculty, we understand well the importance of the work that staff performs and we believe that the University should value and reward their critical efforts. Instead, however, the BOT and the administration has steadfastly refused to provide any increases from University funds since 2003, and it has been several years since the legislature mandated base raises for university employees. During the period between then and now, inflation has increased by 13 %. This means that staff has steadily lost ground. It is important to note that the wages and salaries earned by member employees were already unconscionably low. According to a salary study from 2007, 13 % were below the official poverty line (set for that year at under $ 20,000 for a family of four); 39 % were eligible for federal food stamps; and 88 % earn less than what is considered a “living wage”. The people who do the heavy lifting and critical paperwork at the institution deserve to be able to avoid public assistance. They deserve to be able to support their families and build savings for the future. They deserve respect and reasonable remuneration.
• Motion made and seconded: That the Chapter adopt this letter to as a Chapter Letter to the Oracle.

USF is advertizing for a Director of Labor Relations.

INTO status.
There was a discussion of USF’s talks with INTO.

Governance Documents.
Sherman Dorn will present a third alternative, i.e., language for a smaller Chapter Council, to be presented to the Chapter on October 9.

USF Polytech Status.
Discussion of USF Polytech T & P proposal.

USF and SUS Budget Outlook.
The SUS, UFF, and individual university lobbyists are working together to advance our cause to the legislature.

UFF Senate Meeting.
The meeting will be in Tampa this weekend.

FEA Delegate Assembly.
The meeting will be in Orlando during Oct. 15 – 17.

Agenda.
The agenda was approved.

Reports.

• Treasury. We are solvent.
• Communications. The latest Biweekly was well over 3,000 words and may break a record.
• Grievances. Discussion of ongoing grievance processes.
• Bargaining. No bargaining sessions scheduled.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on September 26, 2009.

Draft Agenda, general meeting
UFF-USF Chapter
September 25, 2009, 12 noon
SOC 258

1. Agenda
2. Minutes and reports of prior meetings
3. Membership
   1. Latest numbers/status
   2. Social hours options
4. Labor at USF generally
   1. AFSCME
   2. Director of Labor Relations
5. INTO status
6. USF Poly status
7. Budget outlook, USF and SUS
8. UFF Senate meeting
9. FEA Delegate Assembly
10. Reports
11. For the good of the order

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Domestic Partners Benefits.
President Genshaft announced at her State of the University address that USF would grant domestic partners’ benefits. Discussion of UFF’s long history of pressing for domestic partners’ benefits.

• Motion made and seconded: That a Biweekly SPECIAL will be broadcast with an executive summary of the UFF proposal, with a link to a copy of the proposal and appendix. Motion approved.

Governance Document.
Discussion of two points:

• Should the documents incorporate a Governance Council that encompasses all elected officers and representatives, with appropriate leadership duties?
• What structure shall be developed for organizing and providing services?

Results of this discussion.

• There is strong sentiment to continue this discussion, especially on the first point, in the next meeting.
• The Secretary announced that at least for this semester, the secretary will broadcast an extra reminder to all Chapter Council members (under the current documents) to attend the Chapter Meeting.

Instructor Promotion Track
Discussion of current status.

• Motion made and seconded: That the Chapter approve the following joint statement with USF: “Last year, the University of South Florida and the United Faculty of Florida agreed to an instructor promotion track with guidelines to be developed in 2008-09 and applications to start in the 2009-10 academic year. The university and the union have agreed that instructors deserve an update in the promotion track agreement. During the spring and summer, representatives of the university and the faculty worked on guidelines, and draft guidelines will shortly be circulated to the university community. The promotion process for instructors will follow a different annual cycle from tenure and tenure-track promotion review, and the first reviews of instructor promotions will begin in the spring of 2010, as agreed by the university and the United Faculty of Florida.” Motion approved.

The Chapter will make guidelines for promotion available to the instructional faculty using a Biweekly EXTRA.

Treasurer’s Report
The budget for the coming year was presented for approval:

• PROPOSED BUDGET 2009-2010 for UFF-USF:
  1. Membership & Outreach: $ 15,000.
     Includes, Travel, Fall 2009 rebates, Meeting expenses.

  2. Travel Reimbursements: $ 8,000.
     Includes State UFF meetings, Regional campuses, National meetings.

  3. Office Supplies: $ 500.
  4. Printing/newsletters: $ 4,500.
  5. Postage/postal services: $ 3,000.
  6. Telecommunications: $ 3,000.
  7. Utilities: $ 1,000.
  8. TOTAL: $ 35,000.

  Note: Anticipated income is $30,000. There is carry-forward from 2008-2009 to cover the difference.
  Budget approved.

Report of the Senate Liaison
Discussion of the method by which discretionary raises were distributed.

• Motion made and seconded: In future occasions, if UFF obtains advance information about discretionary raise decisions to be made, the UFF will disseminate such information as soon as possible. Motion approved.
• Motion made and seconded: As soon as discretionary raises are distributed, the President of the UFF-USF Chapter will obtain the list of recipients and the Secretary of the Chapter will distribute the list to the unit. Motion approved.

Membership

• Motion made and seconded: That the President of the UFF-USF Chapter extend a personal invitation (by phone, email, face-to-face, etc.) to new members to attend the regularly scheduled chapter meeting on October 9.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on September 12, 2009.

At the August 28 Chapter meeting, the Amendments were adjusted to the following:

UFF-USF Constitution Proposed Amendment

Article VI. Amendment.

This constitution may be amended as follows: A proposed amendment shall be distributed to all members at least thirty days prior to a vote. A constitutional amendment shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of all those present at the time of the vote. The Chapter Executive Committee, Chapter Council, 10% of the chapter membership (by petition), or a majority of the attending members at any membership meeting may propose an amendment to the constitution, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership thirty days before a paper-ballot or an electronic vote. Ratification requires approval A vote of two-thirds of those present and voting.

UFF-USF Bylaws Proposed Amendment

Article VI. Amendments.

The Chapter Executive Committee, Chapter Council, 10% of the chapter membership (by petition), or a majority of the attending members at any membership meeting may propose an amendment to the by-laws, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership thirty days before a paper-ballot or an electronic vote. Ratification of the proposed change(s) requires approval vote of two-thirds of a majority of those present and voting. at a membership meeting if the members have been notified at least two weeks in advance may amend the Bylaws.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were fourteen people in attendance.

Agenda.
The agenda was approved.

Attendance.
There were fourteen people in attendance.

Special rule for the debate of amendments and new business items.

• Special rule proposed: For the purposes of debate on governance amendments and new business items at the August 28, 2009, chapter membership meeting, debate shall be limited to 20 minutes for each governance amendment and 10 minutes for each new business item. If time for debate has elapsed without a vote on the main motion, the body shall vote on any motion currently before the body and the main motion. Each speech shall be restricted to one tenth of the time alloted for the debate on the main motion (i.e., 2 minutes for speeches on the governance amendments and 1 minute for new business items). The wording of resolutions and amendments shall be presented in writing to the chair at the time the motion is made. Special rule defeated.

Debate and vote on proposed amendment to Chapter Constitution.

• Amendment proposed:Proposal to change Article VI of the constitution to read: “The Chapter Executive Committee, Chapter Council, 20 % of the chapter membership (by petition), or the attending members at any membership meeting may propose an amendment to the constitution, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership thirty days before a paper-ballot or an electronic vote. Ratification requires approval of two-thirds of those voting.” (Tracked changes displayed at http://faculty.ourusf.org/2009/07/26/text-of-constitution-and-by-laws-amendment-proposals-to-be-voted-on-august-28/ ). Amendment defeated.
• Motion made and seconded:To proposed the above amendment, for approval on October 9, with the following two modifications: that “20 % of the chapter” be changed to “10 % of the chapter” and that “the attending members” be changed to “a majority of the attending members”.
  • Motion to amend the above motion made and seconded: To strike the modification from 20 % to 10 %. Motion to amend the amendment defeated.
  • Motion to amend approved.
• Main motion approved. The amendment as amended shall be presented to the Chapter for approval for presentation to the Membership for approval.

Debate and vote on proposed amendment to Chapter Bylaws.

• Amendment proposed:Proposal to change Article VI of the bylaws to read: “The Chapter Executive Committee, Chapter Council, 20% of the chapter membership (by petition), or the attending members at any membership meeting may propose an amendment to the by-laws, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership two weeks before a paper-ballot or an electronic vote. Ratification of the proposed change(s) requires approval of two-thirds of those voting.” (Tracked changes displayed at http://faculty.ourusf.org/2009/07/26/text-of-constitution-and-by-laws-amendment-proposals-to-be-voted-on-august-28/ ). Amendment defeated.
• Motion made and seconded:To proposed the above amendment, for approval on October 9, with the following two modifications: that “20 % of the chapter” be changed to “10 % of the chapter” and that “the attending members” be changed to “a majority of the attending members”.
• Motion made and seconded:To proposed the above amendment, for approval by October 9, with the following two modifications: that “20 % of the chapter” be changed to “10 % of the chapter” and that “the attending members” be changed to “a majority of the attending members”.
  • Motion to amend the above motion made and seconded: To add to the changes the replacement of “two weeks” by “thirty days” and the replacement of “two-thirds” by “a majority”. Motion to amend the amendment approved.
  • Motion to amend approved.
• Main motion approved. The amendment as amended shall be presented to the Chapter for approval for presentation to the Membership for approval

Dues rebate for new members.

• Motion made by the Executive Committee: RESOLVED, that the UFF-USF chapter shall provide $ 250 new-member rebates for all first-time UFF members who join through payroll deductions between August 1 and September 30 of each year, beginning with 2009. The rebates shall be paid at the end of the fall semester by checks from the chapter’s account(s) and distributed by campus mail, or by U.S. mail if a self-addressed stamped envelope is provided by the new member.
  • Motion made and seconded to amend above motion: That the amount be raised to $ 300. Motion to amend approved.
  • Motion made and seconded to amend above motion: That this policy be announced in a Biweekly Extra and in fliers. Motion to amend approved.
  • Motion made and seconded to amend above motion: That “a self-addressed stamped envelope is provided” be replaced by “requested”. Motion to amend approved.
• Main motion approved as amended.

Stipends policy.

• Motion made by the Executive Committee: Whereas the UFF is a volunteer member organization that is run by volunteers, RESOLVED that the chapter may from time to time pay a stipend to a member who is neither the chapter president nor chapter vice president, where the member has specific responsibilities associated with a specific event or events. The chapter’s president and vice president shall authorize all stipends not received by themselves for purposes approved by the chapter, which shall include the following: attendance or presentations at trainings for grievances, bargaining, and other union duties of responsibility approved by the statewide local or the state affiliate; organizing the political activities of the chapter for a single semester as chair of the Political Action Committee; being responsible for the logistics of informal meetings for a single semester of tenure-track faculty through the Junior Faculty Group or a similar organization. Without prior chapter approval for a specific stipend to be received by a named member, such stipends shall not exceed $299.50 per semester nor $559 per year, and they shall be reported at the general membership meeting following their authorization and recorded in the meeting minutes.
  • Motion to amend the above motion made and seconded: To replace “chapter’s president and vice president shall authorize all stipends not received by themselves” by “chapter’s president and vice president shall authorize all stipends not received by members of the Executive Committee”. Motion approved.
• Main motion approved as amended.

Ad hoc committee on chapter governance documents.
The committee outlined proposed changes to the constitution and bylaws.

• Motion made and seconded: That the proposals be broadcast via the Biweekly. Motion to amend approved.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on August 30, 2009.

UFF-USF chapter meeting agenda
August 28, 2009, 12 noon
SOC 258

1. Agenda approval
2. Special rule for debate of amendments and new business items
3. Debate and vote on proposed amendment to Chapter Constitution (20 minutes)
4. Debate and vote on proposed amendment to Chapter By-laws (20 minutes)
5. New business
   1. Dues rebate for new members (10 minutes)
   2. Stipends for member volunteers for specific tasks (10 minutes)
6. Reports
   1. Ad hoc committee on chapter governance documents
   2. Treasurer
   3. Grievances
   4. Communications
   5. Bargaining
   6. Faculty Senate
7. For the good of the order

Proposed special rule: “For the purposes of debate on governance amendments and new business items at the August 28, 2009, chapter membership meeting, debate shall be limited to 20 minutes for each governance amendment and 10 minutes for each new business item. If time for debate has elapsed without a vote on the main motion, the body shall vote on any motion currently before the body and the main motion. Each speech shall be restricted to one tenth of the time alloted for the debate on the main motion (i.e., 2 minutes for speeches on the governance amendments and 1 minute for new business items). The wording of resolutions and amendments shall be presented in writing to the chair at the time the motion is made.” Note: time limits on individual speeches and debate may be extended by unanimous consent; this special rule would not eliminate that flexibility.

A few more faculty responded over the weekend to the survey, for a final total of 112 responses. There were no additional comments, and here is the final tally. The question: Are you intending to modify your class attendance policies to accommodate the possibility of severe H1N1?
Yes: 31
No: 36
Not sure yet: 45
You can also read the digest of comments.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were sixteen people in attendance.

Meeting Rule.
Because of much business, a 3 minute rule for statements was put in place.

Membership.
Discussion of membership growth.

Amendment to the Constitution.
An amendment was proposed.

• Motion to propose an amendment to Article VI made and seconded. To change language FROM “This constitution may be amended as follows: A proposed amendment shall be distributed to all members at least thirty days prior to a vote. A constitutional amendment shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of all those present at the time of the vote.” TO “The Chapter Executive Committee, Chapter Council, 20% of the chapter membership (by petition), or the attending members at any membership meeting may propose an amendment to the constitution, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership thirty days before a paper-ballot or an electronic vote. Ratification requires approval of two-thirds of those voting.” Motion passed by unanimous vote; the amendment will be presented for approval at the August 28 Chapter meeting.

Amendment to the Bylaws.
An amendment was proposed.

• Motion to amend Article VI made and seconded. To change language FROM “A vote of two-thirds of those present and voting at a membership meeting if the members have been notified at least two weeks in advance may amend the Bylaws.” TO “The Chapter Executive Committee, Chapter Council, 20% of the chapter membership (by petition), or the attending members at any membership meeting may propose an amendment to the constitution, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership thirty days before a paper-ballot or an electronic vote. Ratification requires approval of two-thirds of those voting.” Motion passed by unanimous vote; the amendment will be presented for approval at the August 28 Chapter meeting.

Two Motions on Impasse.
Bargaining between AFSCME and USF are now at impasse.

• Motion made and seconded that our local provide AFSCME 3342 with support needed as they conduct impasse hearings. Motion passed.

And another motion.

• Motion made and seconded Be it resolved that the USF Board of Trustees is not the proper legal legislative body to impose impasse resolutions; FURTHERMORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the USF Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida requests assistance from the United Faculty of Florida and its state affiliate, the Florida Education Association, in contesting the USF Board of Trustees as the legislative body for impasse hearings. Motion passed unanimously.

English Language Institute- status report.
There was a report on the English Language Institute.

Treasurer report.
We have money.

Grievance report.
The Grievance chair reported on grievances.

Bargaining report.
The Bargaining chair reported on bargaining.

These minutes respectfully submitted by K. de la Pena McCook on August 10, 2009.