From the President’s Desk

Your AFT Local 1828 has been hard at work in September on a variety of projects. As you can see with our new magazine style newsletter, both our Executive Director, Michael Sheetz, and our social media consultant, Nick Norris, have partnered to make this newsletter first class.

​Our Health Benefits team has been engaged with meetings to further explore and confirm options being presented by our new Health Broker. Steve Hall brings his many years of experience to the table and his team is comprised of representatives from all the current “tiers” of health-benefit coverages. I have also witnessed the engagement of Chancellor Gillespie into this process, which indicates that he has made this a priority. In talking with Steve, we will need to present union workshops on the wealth of information surrounding health benefits to ensure faculty gain a clear understanding. Information continues to be vetted and we are planning to be able to start presenting workshops in early 2019.

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In the meantime, you will be receiving a faculty survey this week to get your input on upcoming contract negotiations. Please fill this survey out and have your voice heard. There will be follow-up surveys as contract negotiations commence in the early spring, but this initial survey is an important baseline for your negotiations team and your Executive Council to analyze.
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Another important way to have your voice heard is to attend our Luncheon General Membership Meeting on Oct 26, 11:30 – 2 pm at the Courtyard by Marriott Inn, 600 E. Esplanade Dr, Oxnard. A previous email has been sent advertising this event and we will be preparing a program to send out early next week. Since food is provided, please RSVP our office assistant, Julieanne (OC graduate!) at julieanneflores7@gmail.com Steve Hall will open the floor to your input on contract negotiations to hear your thoughts. We will also have a presentation by Michael Sheetz on the most recent CFT faculty salary survey. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn more about how we are doing.

Lastly, I want to remind you to check your paystubs. I have received calls from several people who had to pay back certain items where overpayments were made. The District has a right to collect these funds, but I clearly empathize with anyone who has to have money taken back that was previously sent. Part-time faculty should match their paycheck with their signed contract and the distribution method indicated on that contract. As a side note, some of our union members also voluntarily contribute to our Committee on Political Education (COPE). Those amounts were not deducted in August and September due to a computer error on the part of the district. However, your Executive Council voted not to retroactively have payroll collect those funds. Starting this month, those contributions will resume. As I said, no one likes to have money already received, forced to be returned.

I look forward to seeing you all on October 26!!!

Doug Thiel
AFT 1828

You can reach Doug for comments at dougthielaft1828@gmail.com