MCCC/DHE Contract Negotiations

The Negotiations Process

• BHE and MCCC appoint their bargaining teams, comprised of representatives from the 15 Community Colleges.

• Exchange of proposals includes:• Language items that impact our working conditions

(and student learning conditions).

• Economic changes regarding our pay and benefits. Economics are established through parameters put out by the Governor’s Office.

The Negotiations Process• After we have agreement on all items, we enter into a

tentative agreement. This tentative agreement must be ratified by MCCC members through a vote.

• After the contract is ratified, the Governor must approve and submit it to the legislature for funding under Chapter 150e.

• The legislature must then vote to appropriate funding for the agreement.

• Language changes and salary increases are implemented.

MCCC’s Proposals Promote theLong-term Health of the Colleges.

• Honor the professionalism that faculty and professional staff bring to their work so we can best determine how to meet students’ needs.

• Promote parity between faculty and professional staff, part-time and full-time unit members, Community College educators and other Massachusetts Higher Education employees, as well as comparable Community College systems in other states.

• Respect the value that MCCC faculty and staff bring to the Community Colleges, our students, and the Commonwealth through fair salaries and other compensation.

Our Concerns• Negotiations has dragged on for 11 months.

• Financial package was seriously delayed and we didn’t receive it until September 30th – 3 months after our contract expired.

• Management’s language proposals have included significant take-backs. That, combined with an inadequate financial offer, we feel demonstrates a lack of respect for the important work we do.

Concessions made in recently negotiated contracts

• Past                                           Current •  4 classes                                      5 classes• ~$1100 rank change             $Zero •  ~$500+ tenure                    $Zero • ~$500+ post tenure $Zero • 75th percentile salary no parity• Professor status with Masters discretionary• 3 personal days 2 • 3 year probationary period 4 year• 4 weeks off between Fall/Spring discretionary

Concessions made in recently negotiated contracts

• Bunker Hill & Evacuation Day• Two zero years• Delay increase for 364 days• Two year delay for rank change compensation• Seniority points

Work-to-Rule• Those participating agree to keep their campus and off-

campus activities within their contractual obligations. • do only what is required in the strictest description of one’s job as it

is listed in the contract and/or in an E-7  

• Do all duties specified in the contract.• Do not do anything “extra”.

Work-to-Rule • Faculty MUST:• Prepare and teach classes and labs• Hold office hours• Meet with advisees• Attend department and division meetings• Do work for which they have received reassigned time• Attend committee meetings • Professional Staff MUST:• Perform all, and only, the duties specified in their E-7 – the

Professional Staff Position Description. You should have a copy of that form on hand and abide by it.

•  

Work-to-Rule• Faculty and Professional Staff SHOULD:• Insist on all benefits, even tiny benefits, provided by the

contract (comp time, mileage, personal days, etc.)• Faculty should limit themselves to the 18 advisees

required by contract• Faculty should enforce the contract by not taking

overloads in course preps

 

Work-to-Rule• Standard Work-to-Rule Practices:• No volunteering for additional duties and extra projects• Attend meetings but then vote to adjourn them• No attending celebrations• No activities supporting the administration• No volunteer search committees• No volunteer recruiting• No volunteer tutoring• No volunteer orientation work• No college service work after hours

 

Work-to-Rule• If your supervisor directs you to perform duties in

violation of Work-to-Rule:• You must comply.• But, report this immediately to the Chapter Grievance

Coordinator to determine whether a grievance should be filed.

• In general, whenever your supervisor issues a directive—even one you feel violates the contract—you should follow it and then explore whether a grievance is appropriate afterwards. (“Work now, grieve later”)

 

Work-to-Rule• If your supervisor directs you to perform duties in

violation of Work-to-Rule:• You must comply.• But, report this immediately to the Chapter Grievance

Coordinator to determine whether a grievance should be filed.

• In general, whenever your supervisor issues a directive—even one you feel violates the contract—you should follow it and then explore whether a grievance is appropriate afterwards. (“Work now, grieve later”)

 

Work-to-Rule FAQ’s• Stipend• Course Release• Sabbatical• Extra compensation• College Events/Volunteering• Miscellaneous

• Note: the following slides offer guidelines for work to rule. They are intended as recommendations to members rather than requirements.

Stipend• If you receive a stipend for work, you must complete

the work to the best of your ability.• Departments or committees may delay completion of your

work if their meetings are adjourned.

• It is recommended that no new commitments be made while on work to rule.

Course Release• If you receive a course release for work, you must

complete/continue the work.• While on Work to Rule, it is recommended that no

new assignments be accepted.

Sabbatical• If you are on sabbatical, you must complete the work

to the best of your ability.• If work is dependent on committees or departments reviewing

the work, some aspects may be delayed.

• While on work to rule, you may apply for sabbatical

Extra Compensation• If you currently receive extra compensation for work

that you do, you should complete the assignment.• While on Work to Rule, it is recommended that no

new assignments be accepted.

College Events/Volunteering• While on Work to Rule, it is recommended that faculty

and professional staff not volunteer for or attend college events.

• If the event or volunteering fulfills your College Service requirement, you may attend. Keep college service to the contractual minimum, however.

• Faculty and staff are free to make their own decisions here.

• It is suggested that faculty and professional staff hold informational picketing sessions at the school during such public events.

Miscellaneous• Grant funded – if currently underway, continue• Department/Program review – do not participate• Hiring committee – decline• New initiatives – do not begin