UFF-USF

Attendance.
There were sixteen people in attendance.

Meeting Rule.
Because of much business, a 3 minute rule for statements was put in place.

Membership.
Discussion of membership growth.

Amendment to the Constitution.
An amendment was proposed.

• Motion to propose an amendment to Article VI made and seconded. To change language FROM “This constitution may be amended as follows: A proposed amendment shall be distributed to all members at least thirty days prior to a vote. A constitutional amendment shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of all those present at the time of the vote.” TO “The Chapter Executive Committee, Chapter Council, 20% of the chapter membership (by petition), or the attending members at any membership meeting may propose an amendment to the constitution, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership thirty days before a paper-ballot or an electronic vote. Ratification requires approval of two-thirds of those voting.” Motion passed by unanimous vote; the amendment will be presented for approval at the August 28 Chapter meeting.

Amendment to the Bylaws.
An amendment was proposed.

• Motion to amend Article VI made and seconded. To change language FROM “A vote of two-thirds of those present and voting at a membership meeting if the members have been notified at least two weeks in advance may amend the Bylaws.” TO “The Chapter Executive Committee, Chapter Council, 20% of the chapter membership (by petition), or the attending members at any membership meeting may propose an amendment to the constitution, whose proposed changes shall then be sent to the membership thirty days before a paper-ballot or an electronic vote. Ratification requires approval of two-thirds of those voting.” Motion passed by unanimous vote; the amendment will be presented for approval at the August 28 Chapter meeting.

Two Motions on Impasse.
Bargaining between AFSCME and USF are now at impasse.

• Motion made and seconded that our local provide AFSCME 3342 with support needed as they conduct impasse hearings. Motion passed.

And another motion.

• Motion made and seconded Be it resolved that the USF Board of Trustees is not the proper legal legislative body to impose impasse resolutions; FURTHERMORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the USF Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida requests assistance from the United Faculty of Florida and its state affiliate, the Florida Education Association, in contesting the USF Board of Trustees as the legislative body for impasse hearings. Motion passed unanimously.

English Language Institute- status report.
There was a report on the English Language Institute.

Treasurer report.
We have money.

Grievance report.
The Grievance chair reported on grievances.

Bargaining report.
The Bargaining chair reported on bargaining.

These minutes respectfully submitted by K. de la Pena McCook on August 10, 2009.

Draft agenda, UFF-USF Chapter membership meeting, July 17, 2009
Noon, CDBs, 5104 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL

1. Agenda and special rule
2. Membership and introductions
3. Proposed language for chapter constitution amendment
4. Proposed language for chapter bylaws amendment
5. AFSCME impasse
6. Affiliate relations
7. Notice of chapter council meeting
8. ELI
9. Reports
10. For the good of the order

Proposed special rule: “For the chapter membership meeting July 17, 2009, all speeches shall be restricted to three minutes.”

Agenda & Introductions.
Ten members were in attendance, with three visitors.

Minutes.
Minutes approved.

Membership.
The chapter continues to get new members.

USF St. Petersburg.
The chapter discussed particular concerns of St. Petersburg.

Constitution & Bylaws.
Discussion of the Constitution & Bylaws. This will be on the agenda of the meeting on July 17.

State Funding.
Discussion of the implications of using stimulus funding to support employees.

English Language Institute.
Discussion of USF’s discussions with the INTO company on June 16.

• Motion that the President of the Chapter request that he present the issue to the Senate Executive Committee. Motion made, seconded, and approved.

The next Senate Executive Committee meeting will be on July 1 at 3 pm in SVC 5012.

Reports.

• Bargaining. The Chief Negotiator described the situation.
• Grievances. Grievances besides those originating from St. Petersburg.

Good of the Order.
We are organizing a reception in fall.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on June 19, 2009.

Draft agenda, June 19 chapter meeting (COQ 220, USFSP), noon

1. Introductions/agenda
2. Membership
3. Minutes from June 5 meeting
4. USF St. Petersburg concerns (open forum)
5. USF Constitution and Bylaws
6. State environment
7. Reports
8. For the good of the order

I have an event on the USF-Tampa campus Friday afternoon, so the priority for the time I am on campus will be the regional-campus concerns. Chapter VP Mark Klisch will preside if I have to leave before the ending of the meeting.

Agenda & Introductions.
Fifteen people were in attendance.

Minutes.
Item on the Constitution & Bylaws Committee corrected; minutes approved as amended.

Support.

• Motion to provide $ 200 to support sending John Perry to Latin America in a peace effort. Motion made, seconded, and passed.

Membership.
Discussion of events the Chapter could organize for expanding membership.

• Motion to pay expenses for UFF members to attend grievance training on the weekend of the UFF Senate meeting. Motion made, seconded, and passed.

Reports.

• Bargaining.
  Discussion of upcoming bargaining.

• Grievances.
  Discussion of outstanding grievances.

• Politics.
  Discussion of 2010 elections.

• Communications.
  Discussion of coverage of grievances and grievance process.

• Senate.
  USF Senate Vice President reported on some issues currently before the Senate Executive Committee.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on June 7, 2009.

Because some of the chapter documents (constitution and bylaws) date from the old Board of Regents, including when there was statewide bargaining, I’ve asked an ad hoc committee to look at a few specific substantive issues that might need changing. The following is the charge in an e-mail sent to the members of the ad hoc committee appointed in May 2009:

Thank you all for being willing to serve on the ad hoc committee, and for being patient while I drafted this hopefully short and well-defined scope for the committee:

1. Your committee is to look at the following issues in the constitution and bylaws and recommend changes as appropriate to the chapter membership:

a) Updating terminology as necessary (e.g., from Board of Regents to BOG/BOT).
b) Adding material to reflect the chapter’s obligation to bargain locally. There needs to be a section, probably in the bylaws (where committees are described), on appointment of a bargaining team and chief negotiator — this is *not* the same as the bargaining committee, which was written to funnel information up to the no-longer-existing state bargaining team.
c) Considering whether the chapter should revise the bylaws-mandated committee structure. The bylaws describe a bargaining committee from a statewide-bargaining context as well as a stewards and membership committee, and none of those are currently operating as described in the by-laws. Would it make sense to create a single “department/college reps” committee for those functions, or try to fill out the currently-listed committees?
d) Drafting written elections procedures, which are all conducted by past practice, none written in the bylaws. An issue to consider explicitly, among others: whether offices can be filled by acclamation when the number of nominations equals the number of seats. I felt silly in the last two years sitting on my hands instead of counting ballots when I was unopposed for chapter president. But that may be my guilt speaking instead of common sense.

2. To have anything in place for the next round of chapter elections, it would be necessary to ratify changes by the mid- to late fall, so if proposed language is available to consider by the beginning of the fall, that would be perfect. While you should feel free to draft specific language, you can call on at least me for any scutwork of that sort.

3. If there are other issues that pop up in discussion, feel free to perform triage on it, addressing those you think can be addressed in the summer or recommending that others be considered during the academic year.

If you have any questions or need technical assistance, please let me know.

The first meeting of the ad hoc committee is this Friday, June 5, in CIS 2020, after the regular chapter meeting at CDBs.

The next chapter meeting will be noon, June 5, 2009, in CDBs on Fowler Avenue in Tampa. The tentative agenda:

1. Introductions/agenda
2. Membership
3. Minutes
4. Chapter budget discussion for 2009-10 (this is about the UFF chapter budget, not the USF budget)
5. Reports
6. For the good of the order

Agenda & Introductions.
Fourteen people were in attendance.

Membership.
We continue to attract new members. Discussion of possibilities for a membership campaign.

Bargaining.
The Chief Negotiator discussed upcoming bargaining.

Grievances.
Discussion of outstanding grievances, including arbitrations.

• Motion to recommend that the Grievance Committee look closely at the situation of assigning lab courses without compensation. Motion made, seconded, and approved unanimously.

Constitution.
An ad hoc committee is formed to study possible revisions of the Chapter constitution and bylaws.

• This committee will propose revisions for consideration during fall; said proposals due at the August 28 meeting.

This committee consists of Greg McColm, Kathleen de la Pena McCook, and Steve Tauber.

Calendar.
The remaining summer meetings are: June 5 & 19, July 3 will be skipped, and July 17. The subsequent meetings in fall will be on August 28, September 11 & 25, October 9 & 23, November 6 & 20, and December 3.

Treasury.
We have money.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on May 26, 2009.

Attendance.
There were 12 people in attendance.

Agenda & Introductions
Agenda was approved and introductions made.

Membership.

• There will be a presentation to new faculty.
• The 3-for-3 program appears to be working.

Bargaining.
Last session, the Administration gave us ten proposals; Administration has told UFF-USF that it will give us a new salary proposal at today’s bargaining session.

Grievances.
Details confidential, but…

• Successes: one employee layoff rescinded; Chapter grievance on layoff notice resolved in our favor; one employee evaluation overturned; one employee grievance on academic freedom.
• Proceeding to Step 2: one grievance on non-reappointment; individual and Chapter grievances on mandatory annual leave, multiple individual grievances and Chapter grievance on academic reorganization.

Next Chapter Meeting.
The next chapter meeting will be on August 22 at a location TBA.

Reclassification.
Lines are being moved out of unit in the reorganization.

Instructors are being moved out of unit.
Discussion on how to proceed.

Survey on Regional Campuses.
President Dorn gave a progress report on the survey.

Relationship with the Faculty Senate.
Discussion on developing a relationship with the incoming Senate.

Meeting adjourned.
These minutes respectfully submitted by Mark Klisch on August 3, 2008.

Agenda & Introductions.
Sixteen people were in attendance.

Report on the Legislature.
UFF Executive Director Ed Mitchell reported on the Legislature.

Reports.

• Grievances.
  Discussion of grievances and potential grievances.

• Treasury.
  We have money.

• Communications.
  Under review this summer.

• Senate.
  USF Senate Vice President reported on some issues currently before the Senate Executive Committee.

• Bargaining.
  Discussion of the bargaining situation around the state.

Good of the Order.
There was a discussion of the climate at USF, and of the need to seek new members.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on May 17, 2009.