NEGOTIATIONS
On Wednesday February 27 the negotiation teams met once again (the President’s Board Room). The CCA (California Community College Association) was represented by Roger Marheine, Suzanne Anderson, Mabel Duncan, Rod Foster, Gil Ramos, Cheryl Beard, and Alan Frye (CCA Budget Expert) and the District was represented by Ernestine Moore, Jackie Jacobs, Robert Navarro, Jeanie Nishime, Amy Ulmer and Stuart Wilcox. Vice President of Administrative Services, Peter Hardash was present to give the District’s explanation of the Budget.

INSULTING OFFER REQUIRES URGENT ACTION
The Union Team was insulted and angered by the District’s salary counterproposal of 4.87% (the same amount the District put on the table almost two years ago. We are mobilizing as a whole to demonstrate our unity. On Tuesday March 13 at 12:00 noon faculty, staff, and students will meet in the sculpture garden to rally against the District’s insulting offer of 4.87% (COLA plus 1%). You can bring your own sign or one will be provided by the Union. WE ARE WORTH MORE THAN THE BUILDINGS! Your presence will show a unified voice.
* Go to www.pro-faculty.net to read the documentation for the District’s offer. You can also e-mail the Board of Trustees and Dr. Kossler expressing your anger at their insulting bargaining techniques.

YAWN! DISTRICT CFO ATTEMPTS TO WEAR NEGOTIATORS OUT WITH MINUTIA!!
Peter Hardash, Vice President of Administrative Services, made over an hour presentation that tried to explain why the District was in dire financial straits despite last year’s surplus of $9,000,000.00. Hardash pointed out that part of last year’s surplus was due to facilities discovering that the school was being overcharged for utilities because the wrong formula was being used. He declared this savings to be “one-time money” and could not be counted on for future years. (He neglected to point out that the District would continue to receive the benefit of the corrected formula from now on.)
During the rather long-winded presentation, it was revealed that the District still maintains a “Self Insurance Fund”, despite the fact that the school now pays premiums on insurance policies. When asked why the District felt the need to maintain this fund, Hardash claimed it was to cover some “tail end” cases. But when asked what those cases might be, he was unable to answer.
*Go to the PCC/CCA website (www.pro-faculty.net) to view the District’s documentation. You can also e-mail VP Hardash or stop by his office with any comments you have.

NEGOTIATING TEAM EXPRESSES ANGER
The Union Negotiating Team is outraged and angered that after meeting for over six weeks, the District waited to make an offer. In the end it was no offer at all. It was the same number the District put on the table almost two years ago. When asked why it had taken so long to get to this point, the District replied that they had to spend too much time negotiating whether or not to allow observers at the sessions. The Union Negotiating Team has spent many hours in preparing their proposals. It is unfair and disrespectful for the District to not do the same.
Ernestine Moore admitted that they were not authorized to make an offer before this meeting, saying “We had to get the authorization from the Board at the last Trustees meeting.” It is now apparent that the District has not sent a negotiating team to the sessions, but only messengers, who are only authorized to engage in “surface bargaining.” It is time for the District to make an honest effort to come to a resolution that places faculty as the number one priority in this “premier institution”.

Highlights from Meetings
Throughout the negotiated sessions the District has treated the Union Negotiating Team with disrespect bordering on contempt as evidenced by the following exchanges:
Rod Foster: Before we go any further, in all our previous meetings, you’ve said that you haven’t been prepared to make us an offer. Are you now prepared to make an offer?
Ernestine Moore: I think we’re going to talk about salary.
Roger Marheine: But, are you going to make an offer?
Ernestine Moore: We’re going to talk about salary.
Roger Marheine: Does that mean you’re prepared to make an offer?
Ernestine Moore: We’re going to talk about salary.
Roger Marheine: Does that mean you’re prepared to make an offer?
Ernestine Moore: We’re prepared to talk about the proposal you’ve presented.
Roger Marheine: Are you going to keep up in suspense?
Ernestine Moore: I’m going to keep you in suspense.

Suzanne Anderson (question to Peter Hardash): Where is the money from the property PCC owns East of the College?
Peter Hardash: (surprised) Property? It’s with the County. ( WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?)

When the team challenged Peter Hardash’s budget figures as inconsistent with the C311 legal budget statements:
Peter Hardash: The 311 is a very crude reporting tool.
Suzanne Anderson: Are the numbers accurate?
Peter Hardash (emphatically): Yes!

Peter Hardash: PFE (Partnership for Excellence) funds are restricted and cannot be used for faculty salaries.
Alan Frye (CCA Budget Expert): The state does not require such restrictions on PFE funds.
Peter Hardash: We restrict them here.

Rod Foster: Could you explain the Self-Insurance Fund?
Peter Hardash: (After minutes – seemingly hours – of a confusing explanation) The Self-Insurance Fund is $12,309, 548.00.
Rod Foster: Why is it so large?
Peter Hardash: I am new to the college. I am not quite sure.

In Response to our argument that Faculty should be the number one priority using the C311s to illustrate that the money is there:
Jeanie Nishime: We felt we had to respond to the Negotiating Team’s rather flawed rationale for such a large increase.

Roger Marheine: This document lists the 4.87% the same figure the District placed on the table almost two years ago. Is this your offer?
Ernestine Moore (reluctantly): Yes.

The negotiating team briefly caucused. Upon return:

Ernestine Moore: With regards to the part-time augmentation funds, it would be too difficult for staff to place the funds directly on the salary schedule for this past year.

Call to Action
March 13 is the next negotiation’s session. Attend the rally on Tuesday March 12 to show the Administration our anger at their insults. Go to the website www.pro-faculty.net and e-mail Dr. Kossler and the Board of Trustees with your response to the District continuously putting faculty on the back burner. You can voice your concerns as well at the Board of Trustees Meeting on March 12 at 7:00 pm in the Circadian.