MINUTES FROM UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING 9-12-19

Meeting:           Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee

Date:                September 12, 2019 at 1:00p

In Attendance:  Will Silvio, David Scott, Andrew Shryock, Elizabeth Seitz, Wendy Rolfe, Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Marti Epstein, Paul Masters, Denise Pons-Leone, Utar Artun, Alicia Bower, Peter Cokkinias, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Reich, Vanessa Morris, Nicholas Urie

Call to order: 1:04p

1. INTRODUCTIONS

A) UEC member introductions

B) Ground rules for UEC meetings

SUMMARY: meetings are confidential; UEC should speak with unified voice and public statements should go through President’s office.

2. SUMMER ISSUES

A) Implementation of College Intellectual Property (IP) Policy

SUMMARY: College enforces its new IP policy for staff and students; faculty removed following Union-issued demand to bargain.

ALEXANDER: speaking as member of Committee that drafted policy: committee charged with creating policy that empowers creative process at Berklee and clarifies College’s ownership of intellectual property created by students, staff, and faculty; American Federation of Teachers lawyer (i.e., David Strom) reviewed the policy draft circulated for public comment; raised concerns about “faculty exception,” which excepts faculty from some “work for hire” stipulations.

SCOTT: review of draft, and further research, revealed a lack of clarity on IP ownership; instructional videos produced to inform faculty and these will be published shortly.

B) Revisions to Criteria for Promotion and Reappointment

SUMMARY: document and procedures updated over Summer 2019; these will go into effect Sep. 1, 2020; principal updates concern integration of Conservatory faculty.

C) [confidential topic redacted]

3. NEW BUSINESS

A) Sick Leave Policy

SUMMARY: on Sep. 17, 2019, the Union will meet with management regarding recently-distributed Sick Leave Policy, specifically discussing problematic, concerning, and illegal procedures in the new policy.

B) Engaging consultant

SUMMARY: Will Silvio introduced proposal to engage Mike Scott as consultant to President for first year of his term; proposal distributed (attached); summary of content and motivation for proposal.

Discussion followed.

MOTION: “To approve proposal and employ Mike Scott as consultant to President.” (CECERE)

SECOND: EPSTEIN

VOTE: Unanimous approval; motion carried.

Discussion followed concerning consultant salary.

MOTION: “To employ Mike Scott as consultant at rate of $20,000 per year.” (EPSTEIN)

SECOND: PONS-LEONE

VOTE: 16 for, 1 opposed; motion carried.

Meeting adjourned 1:50p

Union notes from Union / Management Meeting

Present –Prince Charles Alexander, Dennis Cecere, Peter Cokkinias, Marti Epstein, Danny Harrington, Helen Lewis, Jeff Perry, Wendy Rolfe, Jackson Schultz, David Scott, Elizabeth Seitz, Will Silvio, Denise Pons, Andrew Shryock, and Jeri Sykes. Guest: Michael Johnson.

Management – Jay Kennedy, Joe Bennett, Michael Shinn, Tommy Neblett, Matthew Nicholl, Ron Savage, Darla Hanley Guests: Chris Kandus-Fisher, Bill Whitney, Rich Vigdor, Eileen Alviti, Scott Runkle

1. Jay opened the meeting.
   

2. We discussed the Counseling Center space. Former EPD space in 161 on the 4thfloor is the targeted location of the new Counseling and Health and Wellness Centers. Best case is moving in October or perhaps pushed back to the spring semester.
   

3. Faculty absences – sub payment policy/process. Management is aware that there are inconsistencies throughout the college and will be putting together a statement to address them and get out to all the chairs and faculty.

   Eileen Alviti introduced Scott Runkle as the Interim Director of Benefits. The Mass Earned Sick Time Law was discussed in relation to faculty and process/etc. You earn 1 hour for every 30 that is worked up to 40 hours for the year. The Berklee program is better. If you are going to be sick for more than 5 days – HR suggests short-term disability up to 90 days, if longer, we have long-term disability (66% of your pay). All of this information is on the Benefits website.

   Eileen also clarified that the Mass law and these policies also apply to faculty who have to take care of immediate family members.

   Jay – In terms of shorter absences – faculty can work with chair to get subs and everyone gets paid. There should be no exchanging of money between faculty members. There is a co-responsibility between faculty and chair – the sub must be Berklee of Conservatory faculty member – no one from the outside. If the faculty member goes out on tour, the faculty member won’t get paid but the sub would be paid by the college through payroll.

   If a faculty member misses a day due to illness – content must be made up but the class does not need to be made up. A lot of private lesson teachers do make-up lessons but it is not required. The chair and faculty member can work together to find a sub. The law states that if you are sick you should be able to call in sick and the onus is on the chair to find a sub.

   We are trying to get chairs and faculty on the same page in regards to this policy. There are huge inconsistencies throughout the college and conservatory that we are trying to address. The reality of faculty canceling on a regular basis may lead to students not signing up for specific teachers.

Minutes from Union Executive Committee Meeting

Present – Michael Abraham, Prince Charles Alexander,Dennis Cecere, Peggy Codding, Peter Cokkinias, Marti Epstein, Danny Harrington, Helen Lewis, Margaret McAllister, Jeff Perry, Stephanie Reich, Wendy Rolfe, Jackson Schultz, David Scott, Will Silvio, Tom Stein, and Jeri Sykes, guest: Michael Johnson.

1. Peggy made a motion to accept the minutes from the previous meeting. Stephanie seconded and the vote was unanimous to accept the minutes.

2. We have made a formal information request to Management for all salary re-negotiations in relation to the Equity Pay Act.

3. We have reached out to our lawyer regarding the new IP language and will discuss further as we have a demand to bargain over this topic.

4. The new Paid Family Medical Leave Act was discussed. It goes into effect July 1, 2019. Management’s proposal is a 60/40 split of .63% of the salary/wage. We are looking into this and will discuss with management at length very soon. Our benefits package includes short-term and long-term disability. We are contacting our lawyer and will discuss with Management hopefully next week.

5. Jackson will be meeting with Larry on Monday to discuss various topics.

6. We are meeting with Management next week and hope to discuss the Massachusetts Earned Sick Leave Law and Berklee’s sick leave policy. We discussed both at length.

7. Evaluations of chairs and deans by faculty were discussed at length. We are looking at changing the survey this fall and get it out to all faculty either late fall or early spring.