'Twas the week before Christmas, but our negotiating session on Tuesday wasn't all that merry.
The Federation and the District agreed to an MOU providing counselors 10 additional per diem days for 2016-17. We also agreed to an MOU paying nurses for required hospital orientations from 2017 through 2019.
So that was good. But on the sticking point of faculty salary, the District and the Federation remain far apart.
The District upped its offer of a first-year salary increase to 3%, which left us feeling slightly less disrespected, which – if you close your eyes real tight and imagine real hard and try not to think about faculty salaries at comparable community colleges – feels almost like being respected. But not quite.
At this point, of course, we shouldn't be surprised at another lowball offer disguised as a concession. Grinches gonna grinch.
All we can do is hope, and continue to fight, for fairness, respect, and parity in 2017.
Speaking of which: Negotiations will resume on January 25th, after the District team meets with the Board of Trustees on the 23rd. In the meantime, winter session will have begun. Several of you have suggested refusing to add students to winter classes. This would provide some leverage during a period in which the District desperately needs FTES.
Since we're still engaged in negotiations, the Federation team is willing to give the District yet another chance to make an acceptable salary offer. With this in mind we are not officially calling for a refusal to add students during winter. But for those of you frustrated by the District's intransigence and determined to send a message to President Maloney and the Board, we have attached an announcement written by one of your fellow instructors explaining to students why they will not be added.
If there is no agreement at our January meeting, the process is likely to move to impasse. If and when that happens, the Federation will call for work actions.
Spring semester begins February 13th. We'll have lots of leverage then.
Meanwhile, happy holidays.