MCCC NEWSThe Official Publication of the Massachusetts Community College Council / Volume 6, Issue 17 / May 2006

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StrategicAction Committee

MCCC History1990 Strike

DCECommittee News

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Delegate Assembly

Carolyn Tetrault is presented the RaymondC. Lemieux Award by MCCC Treasurer

Phil Mahler.

Gail Stuart presents Peter Flynn with theButler award at the Delegate Assembly.

The 2006 MCCC Delegate Assemblyon Apr. 29 was a great success.Approximately 102 members at-

tended, representing all 15 chapters.The new venue at the Worcester Crowne

Plaza was a significant improvement overthe previous one in Marlborough. Therewas ample space with two function rooms,one for the meeting and another for dining.The luncheon buffet provided a variety ofquality choices that were well appreciatedby the attendees.

The first part of the program consistedof reports by the president and other offic-ers. This was followed by the presentation

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LATE BREAKINGNEWS:

03 Creditable Service,Adjunct Health BillsMove On Beacon Hill

More than 35 MCCC grassroots ac-tivists couldn’t have picked a better timeto visit the State House. At a union-sponsored 03 creditable service lobbyday on May 23, members learned thatHouse Ways and Means Committee hadjust reported out SB2462 favorably. Thebill was next referred to the Committeeon House Steering, Policy and Schedul-ing where it was given a second readingand ordered to the House Committee onBills in the Third Reading.

The Senate engrossed (passed) thebill in late March. Lobbyists and unionleaders are following the bill closely andmembers are urged to continue to contacttheir state representatives to lobby fortheir support as the bill moves closer tobecoming law.

MCCC adjuncts also received goodnews about SB1535, a bill to provideadjuncts teaching four courses or moreper year with a GIC health insuranceplan. On May 23, the Joint committee onHealth Care Financing released the billwith a favorable recommendation andreferred the bill to Senate Ways andMeans. MCCC lobbying and survey dataprovided much-needed support for thebill, and Vice President Joe LeBlanc as-sisted the committee in preparing thebill’s fiscal note.

Continued on Page 4

of awards, principally the RaymondLemieux and Jon G. Butler awards.

Carolyn Tetrault was presented theaward by MCCC Treasurer, Phil Mahler. Inmaking the presentation Mahler said, “Thepurpose of this award is ‘To recognize anindividual whose service, leadership, anddedication have contributed significantlyto the Massachusetts Community CollegeCouncil’. Anyone who has had the privi-lege of working with Carolyn knows thatno one has done more.”

Mahler went on to say that Tetrault,“Was one of the pioneers of the unionmovement in the state’s public higher edu-cation system. She was chapter president atSTCC before the MCCC was formed andthen became active in organizing the com-munity colleges. She was part of the core ofactivists who founded the MCCC and wroteits bylaws. She became the first vice presi-dent of the MCCC, and two years later, shebecame the first woman president of theMCCC.”

After elaborating the many contribu-tions Tetrault has made to the MCCC,Mahler singled out her work on the Opera-tional Audit Committee that mapped outthe current structure of the Union, includ-ing a full-time office staff and ultimatelythe ownership of the office condominiumin Worcester.

Finally, he noted that the very firstrecipient of the Raymond C. Lemieux awardwas Carolyn’s husband, Ernest Therrien.

Peter Flynn, President of the NorthernEssex Chapter, was presented the Jon G.Butler award for outstanding chapter presi-dent by Gail Stuart, NECC Director. Inpresenting the award Stuart noted that Flynnis in his second stint as chapter president.Stuart recounted how, in his fist presi-

dency, Flynn demonstrated creativity andresourcefulness that was exemplified in1996 by his hiring an airplane towing abanner that said “Celebrate Public Educa-tion: Privatize Weld” over the NECC gradu-ation when then governor William Weldwas speaking.

After serving as MCCC Communica-tions Coordinator, Flynn returned to thechapter presidency in 2003 when no oneelse would take the position. Stuart notedthat Northern Essex has perhaps the mostcontentious management of any college inthe system. Flynn has continuously dem-onstrated dogged bravery in facing downan administration that attempts to intimi-date faculty and staff and that has a veryhigh level of grievances.

President Rick Doud presented a plaqueto parliamentarian, Pat LeGault, to showthe MCCC’s appreciation for her 20 yearsof service at the Delegate Assembly. Henoted that she made a special trip fromFlorida to attend this meeting and ensurethat everything ran smoothly.

And MCCC Treasurer presented out-going President Doud with a plaque inappreciation of his service as president,vice president, director, and chapter presi-dent.

The assembly’s afternoon session dealtwith new business–primarily the 2006-2007MCCC Budget. The budget proposed bythe Finance Committee and recommendedby the Board of Directors called for anincrease of $9 per year for full-time mem-bers and $2.75 for part-time members to theMCCC portions of dues. MTA and NEAportion of the total dues are set by thoseorganizations.

The dues increase itself did not causeContinued on Page 4

When Aziza Hina was hired in August2005 as an Instructor of Mathematics atMassasoit Community College, she wascompleting the first stage of a journey andembarking on the second stage.

Her journey began more than 6 yearsago in Morocco, when she decided to pur-sue her education in the United States. Shereceived her BS in Computer Science, BAin Mathematics, and Masters Degree inMathematics at the State University of NewYork at Buffalo. As an International stu-dent, in order to gain experience in her fieldof study, she was allowed to work in herfield for one year upon graduation.

So, when Aziza was hired to teachMathematics at Massasoit CommunityCollege, she was on a one-year workvisa. In order to stay in the United States,Aziza needed to be granted an H-1 Visa.The college told her she would need animmigration attorney and that she shouldexpect to pay about $4000 for legal ser-

MTA Aids Membervices. Her department chair, Lois Mar-tin, the MCCC Director from MassasoitCommunity College, asked MTA Con-sultant Katie D’Urso if legal serviceswere available through MTA. Katie re-quested an immigration lawyer to repre-sent Aziza, and the request was granted.

After working with the immigrationlawyer for several months, Aziza learnedrecently that she has been granted an H-1 Visa, one that allows her to stay andwork in the United States. For the nextthree years, per visa guidelines, she willbe allowed to teach at Massasoit Com-munity College. The mathematics de-partment is thrilled with the news, asAziza has quickly become a popular col-league and instructor.

Aziza says that her career began incomputers and ended up in mathematics,and that she could not be happier. She says,“I found the best environment and the bestpeople. Special thanks to the MTA.” ■

Parliamentarian Patricia LeGault waspresented with an award for her 20 years of

service at the MCCC Delegate Assembly.(Photo by Phyllis Barrett)

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Strategic Action

Uniting for Springfield and Beyond

Donnie McGee,SAC Co-chair& Incoming

MCCC Vice President

S t r a t e g i caction: What’s itall about?W e b s t e r ’ svariations on“strategic” fo-cus largely onmilitary tacticsand plans to de-feat the enemylest the enemycrush the oppo-nent. The appli-cation of thisbattlefield slantto the current

strategic action of the MCCC is certainlyappropriate. Across the state and through-out the nation, unions are under siege. Thechallenges to our association are prohibi-tive and pervasive.

Economically, difficult battle lines aredrawn. Rising property taxes and diminishedstate support to cities, towns, and collegesforce every funding bill to become a turf war.Every campus is struggling with dwindlingresources, rising health insurance costs, and

pressures to do far more with far less. Ourprofessional lives are being closely scruti-nized in a public arena where state institu-tions all need greater support to be effective.And we are forced to fight for public dollarswith those whose mission we support.

Politically, education unions, in par-ticular, are being attacked, with demandsfor increased oversight, reduced benefits,and more accountability. The Springfieldteacher’s crisis highlights the challengesour unions and our members face. Atten-tion should be paid.

Given that city’s financial woes, theRomney/Healey Administration appointeda Fiscal Control Board that has turned col-lective bargaining upside down and broughtabout the exodus of 700 teachers from thepublic schools. No raises have been givenand no contracts awarded in four years.This board is now demanding more testing,merit pay based on student performance,and the implementation of a 7 year contractat an unacceptable wage level. Chargesagainst unfair labor practices have beenfiled, yet the crisis continues. A clear needfor impartial, binding arbitration exists, but

appropriate legislation has yet to be imple-mented.

Springfield needs our empathy and ourhelp. Unless we get involved, we could benext. It is a bit ironic to ask each of you tosupport Springfield actively when I knowhow difficult it is for members to engage inMCCC battles closer to home. Some of youbelieve such involvement doesn’t matter;others are just tired of the onslaught. But ifwe don’t respond, who will?

A statewide response for Springfield isnecessary. It is crucial to them, and suchresponse, crucial for us. The MCCC needsunity and active participation - not only toaddress the Springfield crisis, but also topromote its own agenda effectively. In thisclimate, the stakes are high. Ultimately, wemust actively engage in political action toensure the very existence of our own associa-tion.

Recently, in the fight to hold the line onhealth insurance contributions, I saw howstrategically effective this union can be.Your numerous messages and your thanksto legislators made a significant difference.If we are to safeguard our professional

lives, we need to cultivate and maintainpartnerships with our Senators and Repre-sentatives, especially in this climate. Yourvoices speak for our students, our colleges,and our communities as well.

Please, if you don’t know your legisla-tors, get to know your legislators. Talk tothem about Springfield. To learn more aboutthis education crisis, go to the MTA websiteand click on the “Unite for Springfield”link: www.massteacher.org/Springfield/index.cfm. Ask your legislators to supportimpartial and binding arbitration to resolvethis bargaining impasse.

The MCCC must stand strong to defendagainst the current backlash against unions.All of us must work together for our com-mon good and the well-being of our com-munities. Let’s speak out for Springfieldtoday and continue such unified action forour own initiatives in the months ahead.Strategic action means not only that weplan well, but also that we unite to fightwhatever political battles we must wage.Together, we can make a difference.

In solidarity,Donnie McGee

The union needs the participation ofits most talented members if it is to meetthe challenges it faces. Please give spe-cial thought to volunteering your ser-vices to the MCCC.

The following are three key MCCCcommittees. All MCCC committee ap-pointments are for two years and startSeptember 1. Committee members mustbe approved by the Board of Directors.

Personnel Committee:Five members

• Develop and periodically reviewjob descriptions and annual performanceevaluations for MCCC Coordinators andother employees and present its recom-mendations to the Executive Committeeand the Board of Directors.

• Review periodically rates of com-pensation for MCCC Officers, Coordi-nators, and other employees and presentits recommendations to the ExecutiveCommittee and the Board of Directors.

• Develop, maintain, and recommendrevisions of the personnel policies of theorganization.

Finance Committee:Treasurer and

five additional members• Prepare a balanced budget which

reflects the program objectives and goals

VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDFor MCCC

Standing Committeesof the organization and identifies allrevenue and expenses.

• Recommend the amount of an-nual dues.

• Administer, maintain, and rec-ommend revisions of the financialpolicies of the organization.

• Monitor the fiscal affairs of theorganization to maintain awarenessof trends or patterns in financial mat-ters and to advise the Board of Direc-tors on courses of action.

• Review capital expenditures andeither approve them or recommendtheir approval to the Board of Direc-tors, as consistent with organizationalpolicies and practices.

Bylaws and Rules:Five

• Make a report at the March meet-ing of the Board of Directors and subse-quently make recommendations to theDelegate Assembly for action by thedelegates.

• Receive proposed amendments tothe Bylaws and Rules of the Council.

Contact Joe LeBlanc, MCCC toapply or if you have any questions978-556-3391; email: President@mccc-union. org; mail: CommitteeMCCC 27 Mechanic Street, Worces-ter, MA 01608. ■

Comparison Data Based on the DMG Classification Study, 1999

The table below shows faculty salary 75th percentiles for 04-05 using IPEDS data as benchmarks. The DMG method was used tocalculate the percentiles for the 10 comparison states. It should be noted that the average salaries for Massachusetts reflect the payraise of the current contract up to the pay period of February 24, 2006.

When compared with the average 75 percentile, the average salaries for faculty members in Massachusetts have been going downwardsince year 2002. As of February, 2006, faculty salaries in Massachusetts were $7,164 below the 75th percentile. In order to bridge thisgap, Massachusetts faculty salaries would require an increase of thirteen percent (13.14%).

AAUP

97-98

IPEDS

97-98

IPEDS

01-02

IPEDS

02-03

IPEDS

03-04

IPEDS

04-05

California 63,700 62,950 76,800 69,925 77,989 75,026

Florida 41,600 46,350 52,600 54,300 54,300 54,300

Illinois 57,100 57,850 60,900 61,250 64,520 67,314

Michigan 63,100 64,200 54,175 64,200 72,587 70,182

New Jersey 57,700 57,450 59,225 60,650 62,441 63,425

New York 56,500 57,825 52,125 63,300 63,938 66,533

Ohio 48,300 48,150 53,925 57,025 58,404 61,723

Pennsylvania 51,300 50,200 54,300 55,175 56,673 57,405

Texas 40,000 40,150 51,175 48,125 48,479 50,612

Washington 42,000 42,000 46,000 50,500 50,970 50,458

Average 52,130 52,713 56,123 58,445 61,030 61,698 average 75th percentile

Massachusetts

Average Salary 42,211 42,311 57,064 56,222 55,679 54,534

Know Your Day ContractJune 1 Professional Staff summary evaluations due

June 15 Sabbatical requests to committee

June 15 Student evaluation data tabulation reported

June 30 Last day for Professional staff pre-evaluation conferences

June 30 Evaluation of Part-time faculty in third appointment

N.B. Dates may vary depending on the first day of classes. Most of these dates are “last date”standards. In many instances the action can be accomplished before the date indicated. ■

Bunker Hill’s Legislative Breakfast brought Sen. Pat Jehlen D, (standing, left) andRep. Paul Donato D (standing, center) to speak with chapter members as

Chapter SAC Coordinator Michael D’Entremont (standing, right) looks on.

MCCC Meetings Calendar 2006-2007YEAR MONTH EXECUTIVE BOARD OF

COMMITTEE OTHER DIRECTORS2006 JULY 7* NEA 1-5 15*2006 AUGUST 4 Will’town 6-10 252006 SEPTEMBER 8 152006 OCTOBER 6 202006 NOVEMBER 3 172006 DECEMBER 1 15*2007 JANUARY 5 192007 FEBRUARY 2 162007 MARCH 2 232007 APRIL 6 202007 APRIL Del. Assy. 282007 MAY MTA 11-122007 MAY 4 18*2007 JUNE 1 15* meeting will be held if necessaryFall Leadership night Monday, September 25

Page 3

Delegate Assembly April 29, 2006…President’s Message

CentralOfficeThe MCCC

Central Officecontinues toprovide greatservice to theMCCC mem-bership. Manythanks for thehard work anddedication ofTreasurer PhilMahler and ourthree office em-

ployees. A great addition to out office staffis Meg Kennedy, who has quickly learnedthe intricacies of the MCCC office opera-tions. Membership lists and dues collec-tions are vastly improved. Most MCCCcommittees (BOD, Executive, SAC, Dayand DCE Grievance) hold all their meet-ings at the central office. Also, specialthanks to Treasurer Mahler for his out-standing work on the MCCC website. Ifyou have not already done so, please checkout the MCCC website: HtmlResAnchorwww.mccc-union.org.

Day Contract Extension I ‘m happy to report that after four

years of waiting, MCCC Day unit membersfinally received long overdue salary in-creases. The original one-year contract ex-tension was signed it August of 2002. TheAgreement that eventually led to our pointsbeing paid for the four-year period 2003-2006 was executed on September 12, 2005.Although we were not able to achieve retro-active salary increases, all full-time unitmembers received salary increases for eachof the last four years. Thanks to all ourmembers who participated wrote legisla-tors, made phone calls, and visited the statehouse since 2003 just to get a salary in-crease that we know is less than we deserve.Although many members do not like theconcept of work-to-rule, that job action did

in fact hasten the funding of our contractthis past year. We continue to pursue a morelong run strategy to try to amend chapter150e. At a minimum we hope to tighten thetime lines necessary to fund future payincreases.

SuccessorThe Day Bargaining Team, chaired by

Joe LeBlanc, was formed in the fall of2005. The Team has developed an initialdemand package based on the responses tothe on-line survey developed by the DayNegotiations Committee. The MCCC pre-sented its demand package to managementon April 12, 2006. The BHE is expected topresent their initial proposal to the MCCCat the next bargaining session scheduled forMay 3, 2006. More details on bargainingwill be presented in the Vice-President’sDay Bargaining Report later today.

AppealsThanks to the work of the joint labor/

management appeals committee we haveagreed to a new protocol for all futurefaculty and professional staff appeals. Allnew hires will now be notified of how theirinitial salaries were calculated and be givenan immediate chance to appeal their initialsalary placement. In addition new formshave been adopted that allow professionalstaff members to request an audit of theirposition from their campus HR director ifsubstantial changes have occurred in theirjob. The college has 90 days to conduct thejob audit and render a decision. The deci-sion of the HR office could then be ap-pealed to the appeals committee. In addi-tion, the Global Issues Committee hasagreed upon four new classification titlesthat have provided some professional staffimproved pay grades. It is my hope that thiscommittee can come to agreement on othernew titles that would create “job ladders”for many current professional staff job titles,allowing as many professional staff unitmembers as possible to move up at least onpay grade as their seniority increases.

Rick Doud, OutgoingMCCC President

DCE ContractOne year ago a new DCE three-year

contract was ratified by a vote of 912 yes 85no. The Agreement calls for 3% salaryincreases for three years, with an MOA foranother 3% in the outside year. In additiona moratorium on changing the minimumnumber of students for under-enrolledcourses was agree to for one year while astudy committee examines the issue. Thiscommittee is still working on this verycomplex issue. The Electronic Communi-cations Committee has also been active,working on language that would allow forimproved electronic communication to ourDCE unit members, as well as improvingthe collection of information the MCCCoffice needs from the colleges. John Palmer(QU) is the DCE Team chair and continuesto work with both of these committees.

Part-Time/DCE IssuesThe MCCC and the MTA both con-

tinue to work on getting legislation passedto provide health insurance and pensionbenefits to part-time employees. I am some-what optimistic that this might be the yearto get at lest one piece of this legislationpassed. On May 23 the MCCC is sponsor-ing a rally at the state house to supportlegislation that has been filed to providepension benefits and health insurance ben-efits for part-time members. The over reli-ance on both part-time professional staffand part-time faculty continues to be aconcern for all of our higher educationunions.

Senate Task Force ReportLast March, the Senate Task Force on

Public Higher Education released a verypromising report. The Task Force reporttitled “Investing in Our Future” would sig-nificantly increasing state spending on pub-lic higher education over the next five toseven years. The Task Force, co-chaired bySenators Panagiotakos and Rosenberg, haslaid out a plan that calls for:

1. Full “formula”funding, which willrequire an increase of $400 million dollarsin state spending on public higher educa-tion.

2. The use of general obligation bondsin order to increase capital spending at thestate and community colleges by 1.2 billiondollars.

3. An immediate increase in needs-based financial aid of 7 million dollars forstudents attending public higher educationinstitutions in the state.

4. An increase in funding directly re-lated to hiring new faculty and professionalstaff.

5. The establishment of a general policyof retained tuition, and establish a plan forcommunity colleges to phase out the differ-ence between Day and DCE unit work.

I am very optimistic that this legisla-tion will pass in the very near future.There continues to be concern over twoissues. First is how both of our bargain-ing units will be affected by the elimina-tion of DCE as we have come to know it.Second is the concern over who has theauthority to control the setting of tuitionand fees. The MCCC strongly supportsthe college presidents in their desire tokeep control of tuition and fees withlocal Boards of Trustees, rather than theBHE.

ThanksThanks to all of you for your sup-

port during my four years as Presidentof the MCCC. Special thanks goes tothe MCCC Board of Directors, theExecutive Committee, and the officersfor their unwavering support. In addi-tion, I want to especially thank MTAconsultant Katie D’Urso. I have talkedto Katie almost every day for the lastfour years. I don’t know how I wouldhave survived without her counsel andsupport. It has been an honor and apleasure to be MCCC President. Thankyou for giving me the opportunity tohelp serve all of you. ■

MCCC History: 1990 DCE Strike

Ernest Therrien, center, leads picketers at Springfield Tech during the 1990 strike for a DCE contract.(Photo used with permission of Republican Company all rights reserved)

With nearly one-third of MCCC mem-bers having less than five years in the sys-tem, it is worthwhile to take a look back atwhere this union has come from, and how itgot to where it is today.

Many members are not aware that theMCCC engaged in a strike to achieve thefirst contract for part-time instructors. Continued on Page 4

Strikes by public employees, illegal bystatute, are rare in Massachusetts and havebeen especially rare for higher educationunits. But on Tuesday, April 24, 1990 theMCCC DCE Bargaining Team called for astrike of evening classes. The strike contin-ued at thirteen campuses for two-weeks.

Both full-time and part-time faculty

and professional staff who worked duringthe day had been unionized since 1974, butthere had been no union coverage for fac-ulty teaching at night. Because of still ex-isting state law, evening classes were to beoffered “at no cost to the commonwealth,”and were financially under the control ofthe individual colleges. After years of work

to get DCE faculty certified as a bargainingunit in 1989, the college presidents stone-walled the MCCC on the first contract.Depending on the college, DCE faculty hadnot had any pay increase between six to nineyears.

At that time community college facultywere paid in a 3-step system that rangedbetween $260 and $350 per credit ($780-$1050 per 3-credit course) while their peersat the 4-year colleges were being paid sig-nificantly more. Furthermore, there werefew rights for DCE faculty with no clearprovisions for evaluation, workload, or re-appointment.

After months of negotiation the partiesturned to a Fact-Finder. His recommenda-tions included a number of contract provi-sions: one statewide salary schedule; reap-pointment language, including arbitrabilityof non-reappointment; workload provision;and evaluation provision. Salaries were rec-ommended to increase each step to $550,$584 and $617 respectively ($1,800, $1,952and $2051 per 3-credit course) retroactiveto September, 1989.

The college presidents rejected the FactFinder’s recommendations and counteredwith a salary offer that comprised of a 35percent raise for year one ($1,012–1,417for a 3-credit course), no raise for year two,and a 10 percent increase for year 3 ($1,113–1,500 for a 3-credit course). The Unionrejected this offer, and countered with anoffer to preserve the Fact Finder’s lan-guage, but with a two-year, non-retroac-tive, salary provision that would make thetop-step for a 3-credit course $1,423 in thefirst year and $1,768 in the second.

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The MCCC News is a publi-cation of the Massachusetts Com-munity College Council. TheNewsletter is intended to be aninformation source for the mem-bers of the MCCC and for otherinterested parties. The materialin this publication may be re-printed with the acknowledg-ment of its source. For furtherinformation on issues discussedin this publication, contact DonaldWilliams, North Shore Commu-nity College, One Ferncroft Road,Danvers, MA 01923. e-mail:C o m m u n i c a t i o n s @ m c c c -union.org

MCCC Newshttp://www.mccc-union.org

Editor:Donald R. Williams, Jr.

President:Rick Doud

Vice President:Joseph LeBlanc

Secretary:Phyllis Barrett

Treasurer:Phil Mahler

At North Shore, President GeorgeTraicoff told a faculty staff meeting that thepresidents felt that DCE faculty “deserveda raise,” and this sentiment was expressedby other presidents. Faculty viewed this asdisingenuous and too little, too late. OnApril 20th the presidents declared an im-passe and imposed their “last best offer.”

ing covered by the Boston Globe and Bos-ton Herald, but the more significant cover-age came at the smaller city papers. As thestrike progressed, management becamemore aggressive by taking down the namesof people, especially Union leaders, on thepicket lines and barring strikers from enter-ing buildings. Dennis Fitzgerald, who wasthe negotiating team chair, was served pa-pers at his home by uniformed police atmidnight.

ElectronicCommunicationsfor DCE FacultyPhilip Mahler

Electronic communications arechanging our world, and that includesour professional work environment. Moreand more business is being conductedelectronically in daily operations. Thenew DCE contract recognizes this trendin several specific ways.

The DCE contract creates a joint imple-mentation committee “to promote informa-tion exchange through electronic commu-nications.” A commitment is made to reachcertain goals by year three of the contract –April, 2008. The contract states “The Imple-mentation Committee will oversee the pro-cess, work with and approve schedules ofimplementation for each College.” “Allnotices, recommendations, reports and of-ficial communications required by thisAgreement” … “may be deemed to givenby electronic communication, provided unitmembers have been assigned email ad-dresses and have been provided access to acomputer…”. “Information between theUnion, the College, and unit members in-cluding lists, dues deductions, forms andother information will be conducted throughelectronic communication…”

This committee is functioning. It isthe “DCE Contract Joint Electronic Com-munications Information Committee”.Members are, for management, HaideeMorris of the Community CollegeCounsel’s office, Gloria DiFillipo,Holyoke, Stephen Fabbrucci, NorthernEssex, Nancy Sherwood, North Shore,and Carolyn Young, Middlesex; for theMCCC, Michelle Gallagher, MTA, PhilipMahler, MCCC Treasurer, John Palmer,DCE Team Chair.

DCE members will be seeing changesin the way we do business. Colleges aremoving at different rates, but our adjunctcolleagues will be getting college emailaccounts (this is all but universally donenow), and have access to computers andemail. Soon they may be receiving avail-ability forms, tentative course assign-ments, and even contracts, electronically.

The MCCC is moving in the direc-tion of providing electronic methods ofenrolling for dues or agency fee deduc-tions or payments. Beginning this fall,the most up-to-date information for ouradjunct colleagues will be exclusivelyonline and not sent out with the dues/feesenrollment form. And eventually eventhis form will disappear, replaced by aweb page.

It is our goal to provide the sameinformation available today, in an easy,electronically accessible format. Thisshould allow the MCCC to keep infor-mation even more current than it cur-rently does. And it is our hope that all ourcolleagues, day and DCE, will be usingthe MCCC web site for all their MCCCneeds. ■

1990 Strike…Continued from Page 1

The union felt there was no alternative butto strike.

Then MCCC President, Jim Rice ofQuinsigamond, sent out the message to allcampuses that the Union had authorized astrike of evening classes beginning Tues-day, the 24th. There had been little publicdiscussion of the action to avoid any pre-emptive action by the colleges. This leftvery little time for organizing, particularlygiven that at this time there was almost noemail and limited voice mail.

Thirteen chapters participated in thestrike, with Greenfield and MountWachusett not taking part for various rea-sons. Overwhelmingly the strike partici-pants were full-time MCCC members. Atsome campuses most of the adjunct facultycrossed the picket lines, at others there weremany adjunct faculty standing on the lines.Full-time members crossed the lines aswell, and this caused considerable frictionat some campuses. Many full-time mem-bers who did not teach DCE classes joinedthe picket lines in solidarity.

Students were confused as to what todo. Some striking faculty held impromptugatherings with their students just to letthem know what was going on. Many of theevening students were themselves mem-bers of unions, and they refused to cross thelines.

The strike garnered press attention, be-

The strike successfully ended two weeksafter it started with both parties returning tothe table and the resulting contract agree-ment closely matched the fact finder’s rec-ommendations. Although it took some timefor the tensions to recede, the benefitsachieved, particularly for adjunct faculty,have been extensive. Adjunct faculty aretreated equally with full-time faculty in theassignment of DCE courses, and salarieshave grown consistently.

Reports estimated that there were about1500 DCE faculty at the time, which in-cluded full-time faculty and staff teachingat night. Compare that with the fact that inacademic year 2006 approximately 4300people have taught courses part-time atMassachusetts community colleges, andthis does not include full-time faculty andstaff who teach additional courses.

Occurring just as the increasing useof part-time faculty began, a similar ac-tion today would be much more difficultto pull off successfully. Current adjunctfaculty owe a debt of gratitude to theMCCC members who fought hard tounionize DCE and gain a favorable firstcontract. While there are many benefitspart-time faculty would like to have, andmembers would always like a better sal-ary, without the 1990 strike it is likelythat things would be much worse thanthey are today. ■

Picketers line the entrance to Holyoke Community College during the 1990 strike for aDCE contract. (Photo used with permission of Republican Company all rights reserved)

much discussion. But Mass Bay ChapterPresident, Tom Parsons, moved to cut thebudget for the MCCC lobbyist and use thatamount to fund a additional section of reas-signed time for each chapter. Several mem-bers pointed out the important service pro-vided by lobbyist Charles Flaherty, and themotion was voted down. Joe Nardoni ofMiddlesex then moved to raise dues furtherin order to fund additional reassigned time.This was also voted down. The budget waspassed as proposed.

A proposed Bylaw was another impor-tant discussion topic. The proposal wouldchange the weight of part-time members’votes in MCCC elections from 1/4 to a fullvote. Proponents argued that it is discrimi-natory to treat members differently, andthat giving part-time members a full votewould increase their participation in MCCCactivities. Opponents of the proposal notedthat part-time members pay significantlyless in dues than full-time members andthat the majority of them have very differ-ent interests and do not have the commit-ment to community colleges as a career.

The Bylaw change was voted down, butproponents did vow to come back next yearwith another proposal next year.

MCCC Political Action Committee(MCCC-PAC) Treasurer Phil Kennedy andPAC Co-chairs Frank Leary and ThelmaHalberstadt had made an appeal for dona-tions to the PAC early in the meeting. Theynoted that, this being an election year, it isvery important to have a well-funded politi-cal action endeavor.

During the meeting Betsy Smith, andadjunct member from Cape Cod announcedthat she could not afford to make a cashdonation, but she was willing to auction offthe educationally themed T-shirt she waswearing. Many people had commented onthe shirt earlier, and the auction fetched anadditional $50 for the PAC. At the end ofthe meeting it was announced that the PAChad raised $1083. ■

Delegate Assembly…Continued from Page 1

Phil Mahler presents outgoing MCCC President, Rick Doud,with a plaque of appreciation.

“Major praise should go to the JointChairs Rep. Patricia Walrath, D-Stowe,and Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge,for reporting the bill favorably,” LeBlancsaid. “Thanks are also due to their staff-ers Sarah Nolan and Brian Cournoyer.Public Service Committee Co-chairs Rep.Jay Kaufman, D-Lexington, and Sen.Patricia Jehlen, D-Somerville, also de-serve much credit for getting the bill onthe right track earlier this year.”

Watch for email updates and morecoverage in the next issue of the MCCCNews. ■

Adjunct Health Bill…Continued from Page 1

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