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January 18, 2008

Call to Order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 7:04 a.m., Ford Fieldhouse.

Approval of Agenda:  Approved as written.

President’s report / negotiations and discussion about the 2007-2010 Contract: 

• J. Spoelman, the lead negotiator, has put a lot of time and energy into the contract. 
• The negotiation team is working on strike-out version of the contract to send out at least one week before the contract vote.
• Internal and external interest in the contract still exists.  The Grand Rapids Press is waiting outside the meeting.
• A thank you was extended to the entire bargaining team, including J. Spoelman, N. Alexander, J. Doane, L. Burris, R. Montes-Sutton, and D. Godfrey
• The bulk of the contract is the Administrative position.
• A summary of contract changes was distributed. 
• This contract puts GRCC in line with what other community colleges are getting.  This is not the best contract, but the best possible considering the situation.

Questions and Answers

• Q – If an instructor is teaching during the summer, sick day application does not follow the same as the normal part of the year.  Has this been addressed in negotiations?  A – There is no change in this contract.  Sick days reimburse your salary, and summer work is overload pay.  Overload has always been outside of those sick days.  One week of absences is available for overload classes in summer.
• Q – If an adjunct teaches 9 or more credits a semester, does the pay still include the extra rate?  A – Yes.
• Q – What is the faculty association release time?  A – The Association has 15 hours of release time that can be distributed at the Association’s discretion.  This increased from 10 hours to 15 hours. 
• Q – Is the amount of overload cap the same as the previous contract?  A – The limit has not changed, but there are still questions on what the contract language means.  There is an outstanding grievance, and the Association and administration are waiting on the decision from the arbitrator.  Faculty members who are denied 13 or 13.5 credits of overload this semester should notify the Association.   
• Q – How has coach pay been affected?  A – Appendix E rates will go up by the same rates as the salary schedule.
• Q – Can you explain retirement pay on sick days?  A – You are paid for unused sick days at retirement.  This is not considered salary, but it is still wages, so it is subject to FICA taxes.  We have an MOU to allow money to be paid to a retirement account and not you directly, so FICA will not be withheld.  That money can be withdrawn directly by the faculty member. 
• Q – Can C-3 funds still be accumulated for three years?  A – Yes, the mechanics of the C-3 funds will remain the same. 
• Q – Did anything change with medical?  A – There is no change in the monthly insurance premium co-pays. 
• Q – How will job training schedule change?  A – They will move to the 42 week salary schedule.  Employer Research Association will perform a salary survey to see what average pay is.  Job training non-degree scale did not change because it would cause some to lose pay, but Masters and Bachelors pay increased. 
• Q – Can you clarify the FMLA sick day policy?  A – A faculty member can now use banked sick days to care for a family member.
• Q – Can you explain how the flexible spending accounts (FSA) will work?  A – Informational meetings will be held with a special open enrollment period.  FSA’s can be set up for medical or dependent care expenses.  There are pre-taxed deductions from your paycheck.  Medical cap will likely be $2,000 and dependent cap $5,000.

Additional information

• Ratification vote will be Monday, January 28, 2008, at 7 a.m.  Proxy ballots can be obtained from K. Danko.   

Next Meeting: 

• Next Meeting:  Monday, January 28, 2008 at the Music Building Auditorium at 7:00 a.m. for recommended ratification of 2007 – 2010 contract

Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary.