Berklee Faculty Union: Home

Minutes from Union Executive Committee Meeting
April 30, 2009
Present – Charles Cassara, Suzanne Dean, Beth Denisch, Marti Epstein, Rich Grudzinski, Danny Harrington, Michael Heyman, Jonathan Holland, Jeff Perry, Diane Richardson, Wendy Rolfe, Jackson Schultz, Mike Scott, Will Silvio.

1. Jeff made a motion to accept the minutes from the previous meetings and update the website, Danny seconded, and the vote was unanimous.

2. Contract re-appointment or promotion is the opportunity for faculty to re-negotiate pay. This is the ONE opportunity to increase the base rate and has NOTHING to do with the contract negotiations. AA has declared that we must wait until after the faculty contract has been negotiated. This is incorrect, unless they change this approach, we will file an unfair labor charge or a grievance, this is a violation of the current contract. This is a false benefit, a unilateral change without cause. We have 15 days from now to file a grievance, and three months to file an ULP. We are in a good position to put pressure on AA to communicate in a timely fashion and to keep with past practice. If there is an ULP during bargaining we can have a free strike, management cannot hire replacements … more on that later. There may be a precedent based on the last contract and individual faculty re-negotiation in 2004-6.

3. No meeting next week.

4. Meeting in the first week of classes for negotiating team, maybe Tuesday May 26, 8 am – 10 am?

5. Marti motioned to adjourn, Mike seconded, and the vote was unanimous.

Minutes from Union All-Faculty Meeting
April 23, 2009

Mike opened the meeting with an opening statement regarding the upcoming bargain and the important issues that we face. Two items that need faculty attention, the AFT-MA conference is next week, with two very important issues, a vote on dues increase and Charles Cassara service award.

Delegates: Mike Scott, Marti Epstein, Danny Harrington, Beth Denisch, Rick Applin, alternates: Peter C, Jackson Schultz and Jeff Perry. The motion was seconded and the vote was unanimous.

Bargaining team: Mike Scott, Beth Denisch, Rick Applin, Marti Epstein, Jackson Schultz, Jonathan Holland, Will Silvio, and Jeff Perry: Danny Harrington and Prince Charles Alexander will be alternates, and Wendy Rolfe will be special counsel for part-time. The motion was seconded and the vote was unanimous.

Contract negotiation begins Monday June 8, from 3-6; caucuses will be in the fishbowl, 150 Mass. We will also have the option for observers. Jeff Jacobsen will be our counsel; he has done all our contracts since 1986. Jeff spoke about this as a very important time for the bargain, tough economic times, they may want to withhold things because they can in this tough time. Their team will consist of Larry Simpson, several vice presidents and deans.

For a complete set of minutes from this meeting, contact the communications committee at baftunion@berklee.edu

Minutes from Union Executive Committee Meeting
April 16, 2009
Present – Prince Charles Alexander, Charles Cassara, Peter Cokkinias, Suzanne Dean, Beth Denisch, Marti Epstein, Rich Grudzinski, Danny Harrington, Michael Heyman, Jonathan Holland, Jeff Perry, Diane Richardson, Jackson Schultz, Mike Scott, Will Silvio.

1. Danny made a motion to accept the minutes from the previous meeting and update the website, Beth seconded, and the vote was unanimous.

2. Grievance updates – gender discrimination hearing had its second day of arbitration and things went fairly well, there will be more to come at a later date TBD, at least two more days of arbitration. Three-year contract hearing has been moved back to a later date TBD, at least two more days of arbitration.

3. Negotiating issues and the upcoming bargain. All-faculty meeting next week. Negotiating team up for approval, delegates and alternates up for approval, and a presentation of our survey results.