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Bergen Community College Faculty Association 400 Paramus Road Paramus, NJ 07652 201-447-2484 201-447-7988 |
Minutes of Meeting of November 4, 2003 (Room C-316)
Members Present: Mark Altschuler; Roanne Angiello (BA); Kathleen Bagley; Michael Bodek; Amparo Codding; Joan Cohen; Peter Dlugos; Philip Dolce; Laurie Hodge; William Leonard; Jeanie Payne; P.J. Ricatto; Kevin Sullivan; Natalie Timme; Marjorie Webster (BT); Paul Wolfe
BCCFA Executive Committee Officers Present: Peter Helff, President; Denise Jerman, Vice President; Alan Kaufman, Treasurer; George Cronk, Secretary
Guests: Profs. Gregg Biermann, Ron Mazurek, Paul Mindell, Francis Schmidt
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1. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Kevin Sullivan at 2:40 PM.
2. The minutes of the meeting of October 7, 2003, were reviewed and approved by voice vote.
3. George Cronk gave a report on the BCCFA Constitution, pointing out certain highlights thereof, and emphasizing the importance of following the Constitution. In particular, he pointed out that it is the Representative Assembly, as representative of the general membership, that is charged by the Constitution with the job of formulating the agenda for any particular cycle of contract negotiations. Once the RA has formulated the agenda, the negotiating team is to carry it out as fully as possible.
4. Alan Kaufman gave a report on plans for reviewing and possibly revising the BCCFA dues structure, including the possibility of rebates of surplus funds to high dues payers.
5. Laurie Hodge asked for permission for Gregg Biermann (and other non-RA members of the Arts & Communications Department) to speak, which permission was granted. Biermann presented a proposal calling for a 20% reduction of workload for the teaching faculty. George Cronk (at 2:59 PM) moved that debate be limited on the proposal and that a vote thereon take place no later that 3:20 PM. Said motion was approved by voice vote. Debate ensued. Cronk moved an amendment calling for the deletion of the section in the proposal having to do with Lecturer workload. Said amendment was accepted by Biermann. Debate continued. Kevin Sullivan moved that the preface to the proposal be amended as follows (amendment language underlined):
"Be it resolved that the following revisions to the Bergen Community College faculty contract are to be sought by the BCC faculty's bargaining agent if and only if any other provision of the contract for the present faculty has been opened for negotiation."
Following discussion, said amendment was approved 10-3-6.
George Cronk called the question on the amended proposal at 3:35 PM. The body approved said call. Peter Helff called for a secret ballot, which was conducted. The proposal failed 3-14-3.
6. George Cronk reported on the status of the Association's "agency shop" (representation fee) proposal to the College. Discussions with the Administration are on-going. The BCCFA expects to succeed fully on this issue, either via negotiation with the Administration or via petition to PERC for arbitration.
7. Alan Kaufman reported on the resolution of a recent faculty grievance. A Collegis employee and a BCCFA faculty member had had a dispute last spring. The Collegis employee – and Collegis itself – had made certain charges against the faculty member. The BCCFA leadership represented the faculty member, insisting that the College investigate the matter fully. Following such investigation, the charges against the faculty member were found to be groundless. The faculty member, represented by an NJEA attorney, is now seeking a personal apology from Collegis. The status of the Collegis employee at BCC is currently in question.
8. The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 PM.
Minutes prepared by:
George Cronk
Secretary, BCCFA
Submitted: 11/4/03