Ten Years After: First Contract Celebration Set for May 10

Help us build a strong AFO and a Better College HFC-AFO News

HFC-AFO News January, 2019

talked about how much Inside This Issue: it was going to cost to repair the parking lots. Scholarship 3 We asked our mem- Board Thanked bers to help. We circulated peti- tions both within the Two Ways to Get 4 College and the wider Involved Dearborn community. We met with student Calling Senior 4 organizations and talked Adjuncts: New to the local press—Mary Beck, the AFO’s first Hire Mentor president, was a guest Training on a WDET program. And, most effectively, we Forecast for the 5 packed Board meetings. Next Ten Years: A dozen of us were at Cloudy Charter members of the AFO met during the fall of the December, 2008 2008 to discuss their top issues: pay and job security Board meeting. Twenty We Need You! 6 of us showed up for the Winter General By Sherry Morgan and fied as the top bargaining January meeting. By Bill Norris priorities during our first March, the adjoining Membership room was opened and This spring the AFO general membership meet- Meeting March additional chairs were will observe the tenth ing that August. 22 needed to accommodate anniversary of our first At the time, there were some 60+ adjuncts and contract. Our plans are 28 Michigan community 10-Year Old Con- 7 supporters. not yet final, but we’re colleges and HFC adjuncts stitution Needs were the lowest paid of all. The combination of asking that you keep the Updating afternoon free on Satur- Instructors with years of the pressure brought by day May 10. We want experience were assigned our membership and you and your family to classes at the whim of ad- friends and our win-win Membership, 7 help us celebrate! ministrators—many of bargaining strategy fi- nally brought us close to “Fair Share” An overwhelming ma- whom were well- an agreement on a Fri- Fees, and Free jority of eligible adjuncts intentioned which isn’t the day afternoon in April. voted to recognize the same as saying they were Riders Explained We were hoping the AFO as our legal bar- always fair. management team gaining agent in an elec- Tom Anderson—our lead And Last but not 8 would budge on the few tion supervised by the negotiator—argued that remaining issues when Least: Michigan Employment there was a correlation Beth Davis, the then HR President’s Relations Commission in between our working con- Director, and Marge May, 2008. Salary and ditions and our students’ Message job security were identi- learning conditions. The College’s bargaining team (See “Tragedy” on Page 3) The Adjunct Faculty Organization News is the official newsletter of the HFC-AFO Adjunct Faculty Organization; American Federation of Teach- ers Local 337. AFL-CIO

AFO Executive Board

• Lynn Boza, President • William (Bill) Norris, Vice President • Edgar Johns, Grievance Officer • Lorena Bencsik, Treasurer • Sherry Morgan, Financial Records Secretary • Margaret Green, Recording Secretary

HFC-AFO, Local 337 Henry Ford College 5101 Evergreen Road, N-006 Dearborn, MI 48128 313.845.9707 www.hfcc-afo.org

You can contact any Executive Board member by office telephone (313.845-9707), email ([email protected]), or by sending a letter through either interoffice or U.S. mail.

AFO Office Hours

The AFO Office is located in Room-N006, on the lower level of Building N, the Cam- pus Safety Building.

Monday: 9:00 to 10:00, 12:00 to 2:00, 3:30 to 6:00 (W. Norris) Tuesday: 10:00 to 3:00 (L. Boza) Wednesday: 9:00 to 10:00, 12:00 to 2:00 (W. Norris) Thursday: Office Closed Friday: 9:00 to 10:00 (W. Norris)

Also by appointment. We may be out of the office for a scheduled, or unscheduled, meeting during posted hours. In such instances or in case of an emergency, you can call or text Bill Norris on his cell phone: 248-977-8897

Page 2 HFC-AFO News Tragedy Interrupted First Contract Talks

(Continued from front page) A packed audience lis- tens as Glenn O’Kray, Swan, then the CFO—were the AFO’s first vice pres- suddenly called out of the ident, addresses the room. The next thing we HFCC Board of Trustees knew, we were in lock- in February, 2009. Pres- down. sure brought by adjuncts That was April 10, and our supporters, in- 2009, the day of a murder- cluding our full-time col- suicide in the Fine Arts leagues, combined with Building. A distraught the AFO’s win-win bar- male student had taken his gaining strategy, led to own life and that of anoth- our first contract in er student who had May, 2009. spurned his advances. As tense as the situation was for those of us on the bargaining team, it was much Scholarship Board Thanked more intense for those adjuncts who were among the tary. Other scholarship board mem- only staff at work in the The Executive Board has approved a motion to dissolve the Founders bers include Bill Breger (Business), Fine Arts building on that Tim Egan (Business) Bill Norris Friday afternoon. Scholarship Fund and thanks the scholarship fund board members for (Sociology), Greg Osowski (Criminal The tragedy necessitated their service. Justice) Donna Palmer, (Psychology), a two-week pause in our and Maria Sepulveda (Psychology). contract talks as the Col- The scholarship fund was estab- lished to honor the memory of found- In recent years, a number of Board lege mourned the loss and ing member Joe Sorokac, a psycholo- members have retired and fund- began a review of security gy adjunct, who passed away soon raising has been less successful. Last procedures and vulnerabil- after the AFO was recognized. A year winter, the Board decided to award all ity. When we sat down later, another founding member, remaining funds and recommended again, it wasn’t long before trades and apprentice adjunct Pete that the AFO Executive Board pass we reached an agreement. Grant, passed away and after that the motion to dissolve. On April 27, 2009, we scholarships were awarded in his During its nine years of operation reached across the table to memory as well. the Scholarship Board awarded a total shake hands with the Throughout its existence, the schol- of $31,000 to 25 scholarship winners. Board’s bargaining team arship board was chaired by Joe’s While the AFO donated some funds, and posed for pictures. widow, Dottie Pelton, another found- most of the funding came from volun- Our first contract made ing member who teaches political sci- tary individual contributions. Dottie substantial headway to- ence. Mary Beck, the AFO’s first presi- and Mary and other contributors de- ward securing pay equity dent, was an enthusiastic supporter serve praise because the work they did and job security for our and scholarship board member secre- made a difference in the lives of so members. many adjuncts and their dependents. We knew at the time that we had a lot more work to do and we know now that Dottie Pelton, Chair of the Found- today’s challenges threaten er’s Scholarship Board, selling our future as an organiza- tickets at the 2012 Joe Sorokac tion. We believe that the Chili Bowl Cookoff. The Cookoff AFO’s future is worth boosted morale and raised funds fighting for and that our for the HFCC-AFO Founders Schol- past is worth celebrating. arship fund. We hope you will join us to do so on the second Satur- day in May.

HFC-AFO News Page 3 Two Ways to Get Involved!

By Bill Norris, AFO VP activities that Henry Ford extends to get adjunct voices recognized was adjuncts. long and hard. Adjuncts are heterogeneous—we Adjunct representatives to the Fac- The reasons the college constitu- have different needs, different priori- ulty Senate, the various councils, tion was changed were many and ties, and different stories. Not every and some standing committees are complex, but the biggest reason it adjunct is able and willing to “get elected at-large or by specific constit- was changed to give adjuncts a voice involved,” but there are good reasons uencies. However, some standing was because Mary Beck, Tom Ander- for doing so if you are able. committees welcome walk-on mem- son, and the rest of us in the AFO If you’re at the beginning of your bers and professional development refused to take no for an answer. career and especially if you are hop- opportunities are likewise open to all And the only reason we’re paid for ing to escape the adjunct army by faculty. our voices and professional develop- landing a full-time position, getting Thanks to the AFO, adjuncts are ment activities is because of the per- involved might equate to a couple of compensated for participation in sistence of several AFO bargaining lines on your C.V. Describing your governance and professional devel- committees. experience and service on, say, the opment activities. The compensation We weren’t just looking for a few Scholastics Policy Committee will isn’t enough and varies depending extra dollars in our paychecks. What look impressive and might spell the on the assignment and is subject to we were looking for was spelled out difference between a job offer and a certain limits. in Aretha Franklin’s great song: R-E- rejection letter especially if you can S-P-E-C-T. talk about the process intelligently Few colleges give adjuncts the voice during an interview. in college governance that we enjoy So it has been a little disappointing here. This fact and the fact that we when we’ve heard whispers that On the other hand, if you’re at the are compensated for governance and some adjuncts sit on committees end of your career, like me, the rea- professional development activities just to collect some extra pay. If you sons for getting involved are less did not happen by accident. are elected to represent adjuncts or “extrinsic” and more “intrinsic.” In- if you walk on to a committee, take trinsic reasons for wanting to get Our “Statement of Principles” — your responsibility seriously and involved would include something originally crafted during our first remember that you represent other like “wanting to make a difference.” contract negotiations and un- changed since— says “adjunct facul- adjuncts, not just yourself. One way that every adjunct—even ty and professionals should be invit- A Second Way to Get Involved: free riders—can get involved is by ed to participate in departmental taking advantage of the unique op- Help Us Build a Stronger Union meetings and other committees with portunities to participate in govern- Becoming an AFO member is one voting privileges and should be com- ance and professional development of the best things you can do for pensated for doing so.” The fight to yourself and your fellow adjuncts. The more of us who choose membership, the stronger we are. And the Mentor Training more active our members are, the Calling all senior adjuncts! stronger we are. We need members who show up for We will be training senior adjuncts to become mentors for new meetings and who are willing to hire adjuncts. Give a helping hand to new adjuncts and earn a serve on our important committees little extra cash by mentoring them and showing them how to including the election committee, be successful at HFC! financial review committee, bargaining committee. and our executive board. The AFO is, of course, a vol- The mentor training is offered in a single four-hour session or two untary organization and committee two-hour sessions. Four trainings are scheduled. Per our contract, assignments are uncompensated. senior adjuncts are compensated for attending this training. The AFO does, however, provide 1. February 19 and 21 at 10-12p some compensation to officers who regularly perform administrative and 2. March 1 at 10-2p organizing duties. Payroll costs are 3. March 19 and 21 at 10-12p approved by the membership as part of the budget process. 4. March 29 at 10-2p. e-mail Edgar Johns at [email protected] and let him know which training you will attend.

Page 4 HFC-AFO News Forecast for Next Ten Years: Cloudy

Imagine where you want the AFO to be ten years from now. Now, identify three things that we are going to need if we hope to get there.

By the AFO Executive are part of the College Board community. We need to recognize that the whole We all agree that the community needs to first thing we’re going to swim together or we’re need to do is get more all going to sink togeth- people involved. We need er. The College needs more adjuncts to choose money to operate.” membership. HFC has three primary We don’t just need sources of revenue— more members. We need state appropriations, more members who will student tuition, and the come to meetings. And millage paid by Dear- we need more members born property owners AFO President Lynn Boza and psychology adjunct to step up and volunteer (and a few in Dearborn Susan Weldon (third and fourth from left) cele- for committee and lead- Heights). Last winter, a brate on election night with College President ership positions. “super-majority” of AFO Russell Kavalhuna and Local 1650 President John Organizing is a job that members voted to con- MacDonald. We’re going to have to team with the is never done. Laws tribute $10,000 to the entire college community if we hope to achieve passed by Michigan’s HFC Millage Renewal our short and long-term goals. Republican government Fund. district student tuition dol- and recent court deci- Other employee The third thing we’re go- lars. And, as a result, de- sions have made it hard- groups, including our ing to have to maintain is a clining enrollment which is er for us to do so. No full-time colleagues in win-win relationships with a problem for all of Michi- matter where you want Local 1650, also made President Kavalhuna and gan’s community colleges is the AFO to be ten years significant contributions the Board. more of a problem for us from now, we won’t get to the millage fund. Our When the AFO started than most of the other there if our membership collective contributions organizing a decade ago, guys. is weak. were an investment in pay levels at HFC were at What’s the next most the College’s future. Reversing the trend is the bottom of a list of Mich- going to require teamwork igan’s 28 community colleg- important thing? “Team- President Kavalhuna and the win-win bargaining es. Today we are closer to work” according to AFO acknowledged that his strategy that has character- the middle. President Lynn Boza. “We stomach was in knots ized the AFO from its in- If our goal is to be at or on election night. This ception. near the top ten years from may have been especial- now, we will need to make ly so because there was Lynn meets regularly with President Kavalhuna and sure President Kavalhuna an active “vote no” cam- and the Board recognize the other College leaders, in- paign. value we bring to the Col- cluding Local 1650 Presi- While the college is lege community. dent John MacDonald who Dearborn’s and we do You can help by continu- has long been a supporter depend on Dearborn ing to work hard for your of and mentor to the AFO. students and Dearborn students’ success, by taking tax payers, HFC is Declining enrollment isn’t an extra step to save an at- unique among Michi- just a problem for ad- risk student, and making gan’s 28 community col- juncts:. It’s a problem for sure your friends and those leges. We rely less on all of us in the College com- in your social network know you’re proud to work for the millage and state appro- munity: full– and part-time College and of what the Col- priations (which have faculty and support staff, administrators, property lege does. You can help by been declining for years) helping us build a strong and more on out-of- owners, employers, and our students. AFO and a better College!

HFC-AFO News Page 5 We need you! Winter General Membership Meeting March 22

When and Where Does the AFO Tentative Agenda Conduct Its Most Important Winter General Membership Meeting business? Friday, March 22 @ 3:00 PM in K-11 At our General Membership Meetings which are held twice a • Call to Order/Welcome year—once in the fall and again in • Approval of Agenda the winter. • Approval of Fall 2018 Meeting Minutes Who Needs to be There? • President’s Message You do. These meetings are used • 10-Year Anniversary Celebration to nominate officers and discuss • Contract Enforcement/Contract Planning and pass motions related to budg- • Treasurer’s and Financial Records Secretary ets, contractual enforcement and • Current year-to-date actual to budget comparison planning, and other important issues. The more of us who attend • Upcoming year budget proposal these meetings, the stronger we • Nominations and Approval of 2019-20 Elections Commit- will be; the stronger we are, the tee more we can do. • Proposed Revisions to the Constitution What’s the Best Meeting Time? • New Business Scheduling a membership meet- The General Membership Meeting is the legislative body of the AFO. Make ing is a little like herding cats. Try your voice heard by attending this important meeting! Contact an Execu- as you might, it is impossible to tive Board member if you would like to see something added to the agenda. get everyone in the room at the same time. While there is no “good time” to have a membership meeting, there are a lot of “bad times.” The AFO, almost from its inception, “Ten Years After” has held membership meetings on Friday afternoons. Friday afternoons are NOT the best time for The AFO’s Ten-Year anybody but, like Sunday afternoons, it is one of the few times Anniversary Celebration that can be made to work for almost everybody. Do you have any ideas? Contact any executive board member. SAVE THE DATE: MAY 10, 2019 So, What Can You Do if Friday Afternoons Simply Won’t Work? Any ideas you have here are wel- DETAILS BY MARCH come as well. Should we use “Go- to-meeting” type software to allow MEMBERSHIP MEETING remote access? Should we record meetings? Other ideas? Do you want to help? Join the social committee by In the mean time, the best thing emailing [email protected] to do is read the agenda, contact an executive board member re- garding issues of particular im- portance to you, and send in your proxy vote.

Page 6 HFC-AFO News 10 Year-Old Constitution Needs Updating

A review of the AFO Constitution that began in the fall will likely re- Membership, “Fair Share” Fees, and sult in the Executive Board propos- ing a major revision to our Local’s Free-Riders Explained governing document. Our Constitu- Until relatively recently, the AFO tion was originally drafted in 2008 collected “agency fees” from ad- by a “committee of one” - Joe So- juncts who chose not to be mem- rokac. Joe was one of our founding bers of the union. members and his memory was hon- ored by the scholarships awarded in Michigan’s right-to-work-for-less his name. law and last year’s Janus Supreme During the first few years, the Court decision changed all of that. Constitution was tweaked several The good news is that our treasurer times, but it hasn’t changed since it no longer has to go through the pro- was last amended during the Winter cess of distinguishing between 2014 General Membership Meeting. “chargeable” and “non-chargeable” The Executive Board review is expenses. seen as an opportunity to correct Agency fees were determined by any problems and to clarify any am- distinguishing these two types of biguities. We also see it as a good expenses. Costs related to negotiat- time to make a few technical changing and enforcing our contract were es such as changing our name from considered “chargeable” to both the “Henry Ford Community College members and non-members. Other Adjunct Faculty Organization” to expenses such as the contribution So, what do you do, if you are the “Henry Ford College Adjunct we made to the millage-renewal someone who sees the value of Faculty Organization.” campaign were considered non- our contract, but for some philo- chargeable and could not be passed A copy of the proposed revised sophical (or political) reason you on to fee payers. AFO Constitution will be posted on do not want to become a member? our Web Page prior to our March 22 Creating an annual chargea- That’s where “fair share” fees General Membership Meeting. ble/non-chargeable report was a come in. Under a recent agree- labor-intensive process and we’re It takes two General Membership ment with the College, new hires glad to no longer have to do it. meetings to amend our Constitu- and current employees have three tion. During the March 22 meeting, The bad news is that adjuncts can choices: (1) membership – which members will be provided with an now choose to be “free riders.” A means that you have a voice in overview of the proposed revisions “free rider,” of course, is someone shaping and approving our con- and an opportunity to ask questions who takes advantage of our union tract; (2) free-riding; or (3( paying and to discuss the merits of the contract without helping to pay for voluntary “fair share” fees. Fair proposed changes. At the end of the it. share fees are set at two-thirds of day, the membership may accept membership dues. Currently dues the proposed revisions, reject the payments for members are 2.05 revisions, or make changes to the percent and voluntary “fair share” proposed new language. fees are 1.4 percent.. From there, the membership will Our future as an organization is decide whether the revisions should dependent on the strength of our be approved by a referendum of all organizing efforts. We need to members or by a voice vote of all convince every new-hire and the members present at (or who send most senior of senior adjuncts proxies to) the Fall (2019) General that it is in her or his best interest Membership Meeting. to choose membership. Member- Whether approved by referendum ship gives you a voice in our deci- or by voice vote, the changes (if ac- sion-making process and means cepted by the membership) will go that you will have the opportunity into affect after our Fall 2019 Gen- to help shape our next contract. eral Membership Meeting.

HFC-AFO News Page 7 And Last, but Not Least … President’s Message

As you can see, this edition of our newsletter featured the background and history of the Adjunct Faculty Organization (AFO), Local 337, Henry Ford College. I hope you will mark Find us on your calendars and save time Facebook: to celebrate our 10-year anni- HFCC-AFO versary this coming May 10, 2019. Looking around, I want to present a vision for the future, based Help us build a on many things I have heard from adjuncts at Henry Ford College strong AFO and a (HFC) and ideas from unions around the nation. This vision in- better College! cludes: • Parity in pay with full-timers. We deserve this, based on our commitment and dedication to our students’ success. • Ability to achieve full-time status. We want HFC to seriously look within our ranks before looking outside for instructors to fill full-time positons. • Increase in Professional Development funding. Along with con- ference registration costs, we need travel/lodging reimbursement. • Benefits: We need access to employer-sponsored affordable health care and flexible spending accounts for childcare and medical expenses. • Repeal of “Right to Work” and other legislation that restricts Key Dates union growth and collective bargaining ability. March 22—General • Grow our student body. As our student body grows, so do our class offerings. Membership Meet- ing Our short term goals for 2019 are: • Complete evaluation of the pilot class assignment process. May 10—”Ten • Revise the AFO Constitution. Years After” - Cele- brating the tenth • Overhaul the AFO Home Page. anniversary of our • Enforce the Collective Bargaining Agreement (see hfcc-afo.org) first contract for the entire agreement. • Include probationary Adjuncts in governance by allowing them November 3, to receive reimbursement for participating in School and de- 2020—Election partment meetings and walk-on committees. Day • Celebrate our unity and ability to stand together as a driving force at HFC.

Page 8 HFC-AFO News