Put out by the GCFA Executive Board, September 14, 2008
1) When will we vote? What are we voting on?
The vote will happen in October. The question on the ballot will be the following:
I would like the GCFA and the District to change the contract language to include all part-time faculty in the bargaining unit and have all part-time faculty covered by the contract.
___ Yes
___ No
2) Who gets to vote in this election?
All faculty currently covered by the contract. This includes all full-time faculty. The part-time faculty who are included are those who have taught between 41 and 59% of a load for three consecutive semesters and also pay dues. At the same time, there will be a non-binding vote of all the rest of the faculty to determine if they want to be covered by the GCFA.
3) Who is currently a member of the GCFA and covered by the contract?
All full-time faculty are members of the GCFA and covered by the contract. Part-time faculty who teach between 41% and 59% load for three consecutive semesters are required to pay dues and are covered by the contract. Other part-time faculty can become GCFA members by paying dues. However, they are not covered by the contract.
4) What does “Wall-to-Wall” mean?
Currently, GCFA is a wall-to-wall unit. This means that all full-time faculty are covered by the contract.. All members are required to pay dues. Members benefit from collective bargaining representation, grievance services, voting rights, liability insurance, and have the opportunity to take advantage of other optional membership benefits.
5) How many part-time and full-time faculty members are there?
Currently, there are about 80 full-time faculty. Part-time faculty numbers fluctuate each semester. Last semester, there were around 230 part-time faculty.
6) Would all part-time faculty members have to join the GCFA? What are the definitions of and “Agency Fee” and “Fair share”?
Yes, since all faculty benefit from the contract and the work the negotiators do to support us, all faculty have to join. However, if a unit member would like to opt out of full GCFA membership, the member can file for a refund on a percentage of the dues payment. In this case, since we are an agency fee local, the unit member benefits from collective bargaining representation and pays for the “fair share” of the dues but not voting rights, liability insurance, and membership perks such as special rates on loans and insurance.
7) What are the current union dues? Could members opt out of paying dues to the union?
There are three portions of the dues and full-time and part-time faculty pay different amounts.
This year, the portion paid by full-time faculty to the national organization is $158 per year, to the state organization $698, and to our local (including upkeep for the Mayock House) $145 for a total of $1001 or $100.10 per month for 10 months. This is $17 dollars LESS than last year’s total and includes a voluntary $20 dues contribution to support advocacy of the state organization.
The portion paid by part-time faculty to the national organization is $47.25 per year, to the state organization $127.40, and to our local (including upkeep for the Mayock House) $36 for a total of $210.65 or $21.07 per month for 10 months. This is $17.05 dollars MORE than last year’s total and also includes a voluntary $20 dues contribution to support advocacy of the state organization.
Members can opt out of paying any dues to the unions if they are standing members a religious group that prohibits the joining of unions. However, they do need to pay an equivalent amount of money to non-profit organizations selected and approved by the GCFA. Members can opt out of paying the portion of the dues that goes to political action by filing a form with the union.
8) Does a faculty member who belongs to a teacher’s union at a different school also have to pay dues to the GCFA/CCA/CTA/NEA?
If the union is a CCA/CTA/NEA union, the faculty member would not have to pay the state and national dues a second time. However, our local portion of the GCFA dues would have to be paid. If it is a different teacher’s union, then the full dues would be required.
9) How would part-time faculty be represented in the GCFA leadership? What are some other important issues?
Answers to this question will be determined when the new GCFA membership votes on new by-laws and all members will have a vote. Other questions to be answered at a later time include part-time representation on the Executive Committee, part-time representation on the negotiating team, and other issues that will arise as the membership is expanded.
10) If a part-time faculty member is in the leadership and is not given a teaching assignment for the next semester, would she be eligible to stay in a leadership position?
This, too, will be addressed in the new by-laws.
11) Would part-time faculty members automatically get health and retirement benefits if included in the bargaining unit?
No. Just by becoming a member of the bargaining unit, part-time faculty will not get health and retirement benefits. As soon as the membership is expanded, our negotiators, directed by the GCFA Executive Board, will start meeting with the District negotiators to rewrite contract language so it is clear which benefits all members of the bargaining unit receive, which benefits only full-time members will receive, and which benefits only part-time members will receive. It will take time to complete this work and the results will have to be approved by the District and the GCFA.
12) Will rewriting the contract language due to the inclusion of all part-time faculty count as one or more of our contract openers for the coming year?
No. The administration is willing to work with the changes as a separate issue and not count it as an opener.
