STCC PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION

General Membership Meeting

September 15, 2010

Minutes

I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 12:31 pm.

Location: Building 13, Room 114

Attendance: 37 members

Minutes of the April 28, 2010 meeting were accepted.

Motion was accepted to change the order of the agenda.

II. New Business:

·  Nick Camerota introduced Joan Quinn who is the newly elected SCE Day Representative to our local chapter. Joan expressed that it is an honor to serve in the union. Nick reported that Steve Grossman prevailed and won the Democratic primary for State Treasurer and hopes to get him back on campus before the general election. Nick would also like to see the Springfield City Council (and Western Mass Legislative Delegation) pass a resolution to see STCC as a local economic engine.

·  Deval Patrick has been endorsed by the MTA and MCCC

·  Rob Rodgers stated that we have to look out for our own self interest and those of our students and their needs—50% of our budget comes from students. Is this a public community college? We are balancing our budgets on the backs of students, adjuncts and full and part time MCCC and AFSCME members.

·  Roberta Albano reported that the MTA Strategic Plan includes:

1.  Declaring as its top priority to re-elect Deval Patrick and Tim Murray

2.  Defeat Question 3

3.  Elect pro education members to Congress

Roberta reported that the MTA which includes k-12 and public higher ed. has 107,000 members statewide. MTA has been able to get bills passed. ORP is an example—it may take years but bills get passed. Thirty five unions have endorsed Deval Patrick for governor. Some candidates refuse to participate---are not interested in union support. Charlie Baker wants to reduce the state payroll by 5,000-6,000 state employees. He does not favor our benefits program---health and retirement.

·  Roberta encouraged members to vote NO on Question 3—reduce state taxes to 3%. Our college budget is discretionary---the budget that is cut first is public higher education. But since Question One was overridden and more people have lost their jobs—more people may be in support of Question 3.

III. Report from the Treasurer: Eric Brown

Current Balance: $5891.44

IV. Report from the President: Rob Rodgers

·  Spring 2010 semester---some classes were over-enrolled because of the new statewide DCE contract that was signed with a reduction in the maximum # of students that can be enrolled. One division did not make the change in capping the enrollment. A grievance was filed when the Board said no to paying instructors for additional students in the classroom. Grievance was denied and an appeal was filed. Mediation will be in mid October. Joe Rizzo will file an unfair labor practice file against the Board’s attorney.

·  Parking on campus: (As of Sept. 15) No notice was given to the union on parking regulations that are now being enforced. All reserved parking signs are down in front of academic buildings. Many problems were voiced by faculty in dental hygiene and cosmetology as clients/patients are not allowed to park on campus. Rob met with Ira, Eric Ness and Wendy Masiuk. Eric Ness has said it is not a change in policy—just enforcing the current parking regulations. Eric will send the policy to Shared Governance. A future grievance may be filed. Members were asked to briefly highlight and send to Rob any problems with the current parking policy. As of September 15, the Shared Governance Parking Committee was not informed of the proposed draft policy which has been implemented. Doug Buckley brought forth a motion that the union send an email to Eric Ness with its concerns over the enforcement of parking regulations and to stop this enforcement until it goes through proper committees and procedures. If email is not responded to in five days a grievance will be filed. Motion was passed unanimously.

·  Fall Leadership Conference—September 27, 4:00pm in Marlboro, MA.

Other business: September 29 Testimonial Memorial for Ernest Therrien and Bobby Nichols will be held at 12:15pm, 7th floor Bldg 2

Meeting adjourned at 1:30pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Lynn McDonald

STCC PA Secretary

October 18, 2010

http://stccpa.org