Moving Forward with a New Contract |
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Congratulations to Guild members for having just reached a tentative agreement in negotiations with no takebacks and gains we can be proud of. Watch for your ratification ballot in the mail. We were successful because management knew our faculty were watching and engaged. Thanks to all who joined us virtually to observe the negotiating sessions and Board of Trustee meetings.
As the fall 2020 semester begins, we are facing challenges we never could have expected a year ago. Absent a vaccine for the Coronavirus, it is likely that we will continue working remotely through this academic year. While some have wholeheartedly embraced working remotely, it has posed a challenge for others. Help is available on your campuses, from your colleagues, professional development, and trainers. Our National AFT offers lessons that can be adapted for the community college level. Another challenge we face is declining enrollment. Some students are choosing not to take classes in the fall. Seven days out, LACCD enrollment is down districtwide by about 11%.
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In Unity,
Joanne Waddell
AFT 1521 President
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New Contract Reached - What's Next? |
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LACCD Board of Trustees - A Winning Slate for November
Meet Andra Hoffman - Seat #1
A board president’s work is never done. Just ask Andra Hoffman, who after five years on the LACCD Board of Trustees still feels as if she is still “just sort of getting my feet wet.”
“I put together a task force on addressing administrative regulations and policies related to sexual harassment and I want to continue that work in terms of bullying in the workplace as well,” said Hoffman.” I feel we’ve made great progress supporting our undocumented students and I’m really proud of that work. I’m excited to continue serving. There’s still a lot of work to be done.”
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Meet David Vela - Seat #3
David Vela “hit the ground running” when he joined the LACCD Board of Trustees in 2018. Two years later, as he seeks reelection, the Montebello native, public affairs expert, and former school board member marvels at how quickly the time has flown by while also affirming that there is much work still to be done.
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Meet Nichelle Henderson - Seat #5
Experience, both in the classroom and at the bargaining table, is a hallmark of what Nichelle Henderson offers in her candidacy for seat #5 on the Board of Trustees. A faculty advisor and lecturer at Cal State University, Los Angeles, and a member of her faculty rights team, Henderson understands what it means to be a teacher during challenging times.
“I want to be a representative and a voice for faculty, staff, and students alike,” said Henderson. “It’s very important to me to ensure that your voices are heard.”
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Meet Mike Fong - Seat #7
In a certain way, Mike Fong owes his very existence to the Los Angeles Community College District. His parents met while they were students at Los Angeles City College, and Fong himself took classes at City College and East L.A. College before transferring to UCLA.
“I recognize the importance of public education and of the community college district in providing for a lot of immigrant families as well as to nontraditional students and to people who are coming out of high school,” said Fong. “We must be ready to serve our students wherever they are in terms of their goals and aspirations. That drives me each and every day.”
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In November, Vote Yes on Prop 15 and Prop 16 |
AFT 1521 urges you to vote for two important ballot measures in November – one that will boost greatly-needed funding for education and the other that provides for affirmative action.
Proposition 15 will place a tax on commercial and industrial properties, based on their market value, which will be spent for education and local government initiatives.
Here’s why these are important to those of us in the field of education.
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Finishing the Climb: Trade Tech Class Resumes |
It took some reconfiguring and plenty of patience, but ultimately, even a global pandemic couldn’t stop a class of pole-climbing electrical workers at Los Angeles Trade Tech College from reaching their summit.
Back in March, the popular power lineman training class, Electric 601, was interrupted mid-semester when the university shut down in-person operations due to COVID-19. The 600-hour class teaches students pole framing and electrical theory as well as plenty of hands-on skills. At the end of the class, students receive their pole climbing certification and – in many cases – they immediately get hired by agencies such as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power or the City of Glendale, according to instructor Anthony Sylvers.
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Health & Financial Awareness Conference 2020
The Guild’s Health & Financial Awareness Conference 2020 goes digital!
Part-time and Full-time faculty and invited to join us for two days, Sept. 18 and 25, for online workshops to learn how to secure your financial future. Whether you’re newly hired, retired or somewhere in between, these workshops are for you: full-time and part-time faculty who are AFT 1521 members.
Come learn about our union-negotiated healthcare options and how your retirement is calculated so you can best plan for your financial future. Representatives from LACCD, CalSTRS, Social Security and others will be conducting workshops throughout each day and there will be time for questions.
Registration information will be coming soon.
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Beware of Scams!
You may have received emails sent to your college email addresses offering to answer questions about your retirement benefits or provide you with options for long term care.
One of our faculty members at Valley College recently received an email that said, “You are eligible to schedule a phone call, teleconference, or in-person meeting off campus with a representative for answers to your specific state, federal and individual retirement benefit questions. At your consultation, you will be provided with information that will tell you what your potential income can be when you retire, and how much longer you may have to work. That, along with advice on the best ways to utilize your 401(a)/403(b) options with your state retirement and/or Social Security benefits.”
Although there’s a disclaimer that “licensed representatives are not employees of the college or state retirement system,” some faculty may be taken in by the second line which reads, “All representatives are licensed by the state department of insurance and are appointed with college-approved vendors.”
Some of these private agents try to get faculty to sign up for programs that charge high fees or have hidden costs.
Consider the source and proceed with caution! Reputable consultants are available to help you with retirement options at CalSTRS or Social Security.
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Motion Passed at the July 21 Executive Board Meeting
To contribute $1,500 to Assemblymember Miguel Santiago’s re-election campaign.
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