The Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges

The Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges President’s Report: December 1, 2009 Steven E. Cohen

The following list highlights the primary issues that have arisen, and those important activities that have transpired, since our November 2009 Delegate Assembly meeting:

1. Distance Learning A conference call will be held with our arbitrator on December 17 to deal with the single outstanding issue: retroactivity in the form of prospective Additional Responsibilities credit. It is hoped that this conference call will substitute successfully for in-person hearings.

2. MOA Ratification Voting Results Minority Fellows (transfer of dollars to cover ARP disability insurance costs): Yes = 639 No = 103 “Super Overload” (allow two courses overload for extra pay, if all agree): Yes = 471 No = 275

3. Merit and Educational Excellence Awards The Chancellor sent a letter to the three affected bargaining units (AFSCME, AFT, 4C’s) indicating Merit Awards would not be given for 2008-09 or 2009-10, but Educational Excellence Awards would be given for both years. The coalition contacted an attorney we have agreed to use, and a letter has been sent to the BOT demanding bargaining in this realm. If the BOT fails to bargain, a prohibited practice complaint will be filed with the State Board of Labor Relations. Both letters will appear shortly on the 4C’s website.

4. Campaign Finance Reform It appears the new law will not be amended to allow it to be judged Constitutional. Former campaign funding practices will then be reinstituted, so we will need to again have members donate to our PAC. It will again contribute directly to political campaigns.

5. ARP A committee of ARP members, mostly from ECSU, but also including folks from other CSU campuses and UCONN has approached the CSU-AAUP, AFSCME/SUOAF, and UCPEA SEBAC bargaining units to offer their concerns for all state employee ARP participants. In brief, they are concerned that ARP participants may never be able to retire. SEBAC is exploring the issue, but this is different from the Steering Grievance SEBAC has filed. (Steering, in its most basic version, means new hires were forced into the ARP.)