Telecommuting, FMLA and COVID-19 Virus: OPM/DAS Guidance Issued

UPDATE (3/9/20):
OPM/DAS had issued guidance to the agencies regarding novel coronavirus.  Over the weekend, OPM/DAS updated their guidance to restrict out-of-state travel by employees and to limit out of state contractors coming into the state (along with the normal “wash your hands” and Lysol your workstation message).

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Employees' Issues Press Conference

The coalition of labor unions representing faculty and professional staff in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) is organizing a press conference to highlight our shared legislative priorities. We need you to help show unity and solidarity in the face of attempts by system leadership and some on the Board of Regents to divide us:

WHAT: CSCU Unions Coalition Press Conference

Regional Legislative Meetings

In addition to the Legislative Conference (held on Feb 29, at the LOB).  AFT-CT also holds a series of Legislative regional meetings throughout the State.  This year's offerings are listed below... these are free events, typically with free food/drink and they offer a nice relaxed atmosphere to sit at a table with legislators.  There is no pressure, no need to engage if you don't wish to engage, just an opportunity to hear one-on-one discussions with legislators.

COVID-19

On February 11, 2020, The World Health Organization announced a new name for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus; COVID-19.  The best way to protect you &  your loved ones is to be informed about COVID-19.

Thank You Jan Bureau!

We proudly announce that Jan Bureau, long-time Treasurer for A&R has retired from state service!  We want to wish Jan well as she heads to Maine for the summer, but we also want to thank her for all she has done for us serving as a union officer and a friend.  Jan is the person who always found humor in life.  She smiled endlessly, and she always had a joke she wanted you to hear...her jokes were almost always corny, but they also made you smile every time (and shake your head).  She is loaded with life and finally decided that she was ready to enjoy something different after a 32 year

February 2020 Member Meeting Summary

The Adjunct Faculty Federation held its spring membership meetings on February 24, at the Main Campus, and February 26 at the West Essex Campus.

We want to thank the members who attended, as we always appreciate your support.  

In fall 2020 we will try a different schedule for our meeting to see if we can accommodate more members’ schedules.

Some of the highlights of the meeting are as follows:

-        Use of the Early Alert System is encouraged to alert students of areas they need to focus on to successfully complete their coursework.

-        The Retention Task Force has been meeting and actively addressing issues related to retaining students.  There is a lot of focus on the Developmental Math and Developmental English classes.  Tutoring services have been ramped-up and there are improvements being noted in those areas.  In addition, there is a restructuring of some of the same Math and English classes.

-        It is important to submit “No-Show” and attendance reporting on time.  It has a direct effect on the College’s funding.

-         Timely mid-term grade and final grade reporting are important, as students need their grades in order to register for classes and/or graduate.   

-        We distributed New Jersey Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 185.  It is an Adjunct Faculty Bill of Rights.  This Resolution acknowledges adjunct faculty in the State of New Jersey.  It is a first step in helping adjunct faculty make legislative progress.  Unemployment Insurance is another issue we are working at improving for adjunct faculty.  

-        The AFTNJ Convention will be April 18, 2020, Saturday, at Rutgers University Cook Campus, 59 Biel Road, East Brunswick, NJ.  Go to http://aftnj.org for details.

-        The national AFT Convention will take place in Houston, Texas from July 27-30, 2020.  As of this meeting, there were no details available.  Go to http://aft.org for details or call (800) 238-1133.

-        Our Chapter scholarship applications are available for students and adjunct faculty who are interested and who qualify.  They are available on this website in the Resources tab.  

-        Members were reminded to use personal contact for John Smith, (973)856-1133, by phone or his email, jlsmith119@yahoo.com, when they need to express concerns or complaints NOT the essex webmail email addresses.  

-        It is important for adjunct faculty to come to the adjunct faculty unit officers with their concerns BEFORE going to the College Administration.  More often than not, we can get answers and reach solutions before things get too serious.  We cannot “fix” everything but we can try, if adjunct faculty work with us.

-        Our 4th quarter financial documents have been completed and certified by our accountant, CPA Natalie Pitts. All of our taxes have been paid for 2019

-        We are transitioning our bank account from TD Bank to Investors Bank.  

-        According to the College Roster, there are a total of 308 adjunct faculty teaching spring 2020.  There was a total of 304 in the fall 2019 semester. 

-        There was an update on the state of our negotiations with ECC Administration.  The process has slowed, since ECC brought in the outside attorney.  

-        We looked at comparisons of pay and a few items contained in contracts of our sister County Colleges.  The comparisons illuminate their differences from ECC.  

-        Discussion of strategies to obtain a contract that is acceptable and reflects our worth. 

We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.  Until then, do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have.

In Unity,

Lynne Peterson Cummins, (973)856-0767, lynnepcummins@aol.com

John L Smith, (973)856-1133, jlsmith119@yahoo.com

Mark Brodsky, (201)341-8811, Mark@csa-nyc.org

Know Your Weingarten Rights!

It is important to know and utilize your rights as a union member.
Did you know that you have the right to Union representation during an investigatory interview? If you think you are going to be interviewed by your supervisors, that it could result in some kind of discipline, you have the right to union representation during interview.
But these" Weingarten rights" should be claimed by you because depending on the terms of your contract, your supervisor may not have an obligation to inform you of your right to Union representation.

What is an Investigatory Interview?

An Investigatory interview is one in which a supervisor questions an employee to obtain information which could be used as a basis for discipline or asks an employee to defend his/her conduct.
If employee has a reasonable belief that discipline or discharge may result from what
sh/he says, the employee has right to request Union representation.

An employee should state to the employer that he/she wants a Union representative present; depending on the terms of the bargaining unit contract, the employer may not have an obligation to ask the employee if she/he wants a representative.

Weingarten Rules

When an Investigatory interview occurs, the following rules apply:
Rule1-You must make a clear request for Union representation before or during interview. You can't be punished for making this request.

Rule 2- After you make the request, your supervisor has 3 options. S/he must either:
a. Grant the request and delay the interview until the Union representative arrives and had a chance to consult privately with the employee: or
b. Deny the request and end the interview immediately; or
c.Give the employee a Choice of: 1) having the interview without representation or
2) ending the interview

Rule 3- If the supervisor denies your request and continues to ask questions, this is an unfair labor practice and you have the right to refuse to answer. You cannot be disciplined for such refusal but are required to sit there until the supervisor terminates the interview. Leaving before this happens may constitute punishable insubordination.

While this is an important right to have, it is not always applicable. An employee has NO right to the presence of a Union representative where:

1. The meeting is merely for the purpose of conveying work instructions, training or communicating needed corrections in the employee's work techniques.

2. The employee is assured by the employer prior to the interview that no discipline or employment consequences can result from the interview.

3. The employer has reached a final decision to impose certain discipline on the employee prior to the interview, and the purpose of the interview is to inform the employee of the discipline or to impose it.

4. Any conversation or discussion about the previously determined discipline which is initiated by the employee and without employer encouragement or instigation after the employee is informed of the action.
Even in the above circumstances, you can still ask for representation. Most employers will permit a representative to attend even when not required to.

Subscribe to Stateweb RSS