CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

We are just beginning the contract negotiation process. I have proposed to the BOR team ten dates in the next few months to meet.  I have proposed meeting on Saturdays in the Chamberlain area.

As you can imagine, they did not respond favorably to this suggestion.  I indicated we did not want to cancel our classes and harm our students to undertake this process.  I thought the BOR and COHE could offer a united front to the political system.  We could say we understand times are tough and we are willing to give up our Saturdays so as not to harm the mission of the universities.  I think they will eventually agree to this plan.

Their side appears eager to begin, but as you know, we are still gathering ideas.  I have a list and will be preparing a survey of COHE and non-COHE members to rank their preferences.  You should see this survey message shortly.   The entire state COHE Board will review these data and other feedback on November 5.   We will report these decisions back to you.

The BOR negotiators have sent us a document with their proposals.   However, we have not met with them yet and do not anticipate meeting with them until November 20 at the earliest.  I attach the proposals for your review here.   To be honest, I have yet to read them.  However, I hear from state Board members that there are some very onerous proposals. 

Download BOR Contract Proposals

I am circulating these proposals to COHE members only!  This is one of the benefits of paying your dues.   I prefer if we do not share a copy with non-members.   I understand that it is nearly impossible to contain digitized versions, but we should try to ensure our dues-paying members receive their benefits.  

If there are potential members you are trying to woo, you may wish to discuss the proposals verbally or perhaps via a printed copy.

Also, if particular faculty have expertise or insight that would help us, you could share that particular proposal with them in print.   I know some disagree, but to me, what is the point of paying your dues, if non-members receive the same information at the same time as dues-paying members.

After we have met with BOR negotiators and heard their explanation/rationale and after we have arrived at an understanding of these proposals among ourselves, then, of course, we will share them with all faculty.

However, this should occur in a controlled environment, where we can explain our concerns.  It is my intent that we inform all bargaining unit members and gather their perspectives at the appropriate time.  However, I will defend the privileges of COHE membership!

While each campus/university can only send one official bargaining representative, others may be designated as alternate representatives or observers.  I urge you to make plans to attend, whether or not you are an official bargaining representative. 

It is very important that we show an active and engaged membership.  (For now, please keep these dates reserved for travel to the Chamberlain area. In 2010, Nov. 20 and Dec. 4.  In 2011, Jan. 22 and 29, Feb. 5 and 12, March 19 and 26, April 9 and 16.

I have heard only positive feedback on using this Constant Contact system, so I intend to continue to use it to communicate with COHE members and the bargaining unit.   This system will keep you and them informed about contract negotiations, campus meetings, and other important news.

For your information, we created the initial email list in Summer 2009 via a spider that harvested faculty's BOR email addresses.  We pruned it of administrators. However, we recognized that it contained less than 90% of all bargaining unit members.  As the list ages, it gets less accurate.  I strongly urge you to ask any new faculty who have arrived in the last couple of years to subscribe via our website: sdcohe.org.  In particular, make sure your new COHE members provide us with their email addressses.

However, I am VERY, VERY, VERY worried about using your BOR email addresses for carrying on these communications.  It is only reasonable to assume that BOR snoopers are reading our email messages.  I would strongly prefer if to discuss COHE matters via my personal email address: garyaguiar1@gmail.com. 

Furthermore, I strongly suggest you subscribe to the Constant Contact system via your personal email address.  Then, unsubscribe your BOR email address.

Regardless, you will continue to receive the same messages via the Constant Contact system as both a COHE member and a member of the bargaining unit via whichever address you use.  However, I strongly urge you use personal email address when discussing COHE business.