Archive for February, 2010

Chapter election ballots in the mail

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

The ballots are in the mail to chapter members for the chapter elections. You can read the UFF-USF chapter candidate statements (PDF) here. Note: due to a printer’s error, the ballot itself was not printed on blue paper but on white paper. Please complete both sides and return! (Put in the smaller envelope, seal without marking, and then put the unmarked small envelope into the addressed #10 envelope. Seal, print and sign your name on the front, and mail in.)

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Minutes February 19, 2010

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting


Attendance.
There were ten people in attendance, including eight of the Chapter Council, insufficient for a quorum of the Council.


Agenda & Minutes.
The Agenda and the minutes for February 5 were approved.


Membership.
We have new members.


Elections.
Because of a delay in receiving information from the FEA, packet assembly is postponed to noon on Friday, February 26, in a room TBA.


Meetings.
Three issues were discussed:

  • Motion moved and seconded that the default meeting time for summer Chapter meetings be on alternating Fridays, starting 12:30 pm, at CDBs.
    • Amendment moved and seconded that the Chapter meet on payday Fridays as needed.
    • Amendment approved, and main motion approved.
    • Thus the summer meeting dates penciled in are on May 21, June 4, June 18, July 2, July 16, July 30, and August 13.
  • Motion moved and seconded that the default meeting time for Chapter meetings be on alternating Fridays, at a place TBA.
    • Amendment moved and seconded that the Chapter meet on Friday, August 27, at noon, to set the time, place, and schedule for chapter meeting times for the remainder of the semester.
    • Amendment approved, amendment substitutes language for the main motion, and the main motion is approved.
  • Motion made and seconded that the Chapter President explore the possibility of holding our fall and spring semester chapter meetings in SOC 351, the Mitch Silverman Memorial Conference room. Without objection, motion approved.


Report on Grievances.
Discussion of outstanding grievances.


Report on Bargaining.
Discussion of Bargaining issues.


Report on Communications.
We will soon present nominations to the Council.


Report on Treasury.
We are solvent.


Report on Political Action.
Report on upcoming elections.


Report on Services.
We will soon present nominations to the Council. Making plans for fall activities.


Report of the Chapter President.
The Council made no objections to nominations to the Bargaining or Grievance Committee, so the nominees are approved.


Good of the Order.
Discussion of problems with Administration communications to faculty.


These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on February 20, 2010.

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UFF-USF chapter meeting draft agenda

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Draft agenda, February 19, noon, SOC 384:

1. Minutes
2. Membership
3. Meeting schedule for fall
4. Ballot preparation/compilation (may be delayed)
5. Reports
6. New business (nothing currently as a new business item)
7. For the good of the order

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Domestic partnership benefits documents

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

The following documents on domestic partner health insurance stipend benefits were downloaded this month from the main USF HR website:

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AFSCME-USF impasse

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

In Monday morning’s student newspaper, the USF Oracle, there was an article about the university’s rejection of the neutral special magistrate’s recommendation in the current impasse in bargaining between the university Board of Trustees and the staff union, local 3342 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME. The university sent an e-mail out to staff on Friday, and in response AFSMCE has distributed an e-mail from its president, Bill McClelland, available now on AFSCME 3342′s blog.

The special magistrate’s recommendations are non-binding, and the USF Board of Trustees is legally required to eliminate all contact with its bargaining team until a public hearing on impasse, so that it can legally remain neutral … but the BOT’s bargaining committee is likely to impose what management recommends. Florida’s law gives the advantage to management in impasse because in many cases, the governing board that supervises the bargaining team also has the authority to impose a settlement at the end of the impasse procedure. (My personal view is that this is a structural conflict of interest.) When management does not think it needs a waiver from the union on a mandatory term of bargaining, the primary power of the union is to organize against ratification of the impasse resolution, so that bargaining on non-salary issues has to start from square one at the beginning of the next fiscal year. For the gory details of impasse procedures, read beyond the jump. (more…)

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USF had $290 million in reserves at the end of June 2009

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

The state of Florida has just released the audited financial statement of USF for 2008-09, and it has confirmed what the unaudited statements released several months ago indicated: USF is in decent financial shape, and it’s especially decent given the drop in state appropriations.

Audited financial report for USF 2008-09, released February 2010

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Additional information about the Early Retirement Incentive program

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

The Provost’s office in Tampa has just released a Early Retirement Incentive Program supplementary FAQ that provides additional information, including news that there will be an e-mail option for submitting applications and that auxiliary organization funds will be considered state funds for the purposes of the program.

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Minutes February 5, 2010

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting


Attendance.
There were ten people in attendance, including nine of the Chapter Council, insufficient for a quorum of the Council.


Agenda & Minutes.
The Agenda and the minutes for January 22 were approved.


Standing Rules.
Standing rules adapted from those of the UFF Senate were proposed.

  • Motion made and seconded: to adapt the following standing rules for chapter meetings:
    1. All motions shall be submitted to the Secretary or presiding officer in writing at the time the motion is presented on the floor.
    2. Each speaker during debate will be permitted two minutes of floor time.
    3. No one may speak twice on the debate item unless all who wish to speak have spoken at least once.
    4. At the close of debate on the item, if only one side has been heard, if a person wishes to speak on the other side, he/she will be recognized by the chair.

    Motion to amend made and seconded: to strike items # 2, 3, 4. Motion to amend defeated. Then main motion approved.

In discussion the President observed that with unanimous consent, the standing rules can be waived, and lacking unanimous consent – with or without support of the chair – a participant can request a vote on a waive by the body.



Membership.
Report on membership.


Elections.
At the next meeting, we will be stuffing envelopes


Report on Grievances.
Discussion of outstanding grievances. Also a discussion of USF’s feral cat policy.


Report on Bargaining.
We are waiting on the BOT team.


Report on Treasury.
We are solvent.


Report on Communications.
We are working on the site.


Report on Political Action.
Discussion.


Report of the Chapter President.
Discussion.


Good of the Order.
Discussion of the tenure clock.


These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on February 6, 2010.

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