Western Union

The Newsletter of the American Association of University Professors at WCSU

Volume 29, Issue 7                                                                                                         May 2004

Tiffany and Fido at Work

On Friday, March 26, CSU-AAUP President Dave Walsh and WCSU-AAUP President Katy Wiss met with Chuck Spiridon and David Johnson to discuss the electronic memo Mr. Spiridon circulated on March 18 entitled "Children & Pets at Work." 

 As a result of that discussion the parties have reached agreement on the following principles: 

1. The parties recognize the principle that children should not be a disruption to the parent or others at the University.

2. This policy has been, and will continue to be, administered with some degree of supervisory discretion and judgment.

3. The electronic memorandum was intended as a reminder to all employees of the University's concerns about potential problems that may arise when employees bring children or pets to work, but was not intended to suggest that this has been a significant problem with respect to faculty members.  To the contrary, it is recognized that faculty are professionals and conduct themselves in accordance with their roles at the University.

4. The parties recognize that there are circumstances when a child can be present at work and not be disruptive or interfere with their parent’s duties.

If you have any questions about this agreement, feel free to contact me. -- Katy Wiss v

Sabbatical Leave Applications Protected

Recently, a faculty member requested access to the Sabbatical Leave Applications for 2004-2005 under the Freedom of Information Act.  As a result of his request, he was permitted access.  At that time, AAUP and Management became aware that the applications had not been handled according to the rules in the Faculty Handbook and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  As a result, AAUP and the University have agreed to the following:

1. The University agrees to place the sabbatical application material into the personnel files of the applicable faculty members in accordance with the Academic Leave Procedures of the Faculty Handbook.

2.  

3. The University shall only disclose sabbatical application material and/or any other material in the personnel file in accordance with Article 4.14.2.10. 

4.  

5. Any sabbatical application material that was improperly disclosed prior to the filing of this grievance shall not be used in any proceeding by the parties to the CSU AAUP-BOT collective bargaining agreement.

 If you have any questions about this agreement feel free to contact me. -- Katy Wiss v

A Chance to Get Involved in AAUP

If you’d like to learn more about the union, consider attending the Summer Institute of the Collective Bargaining Congress.  The AAUP, like many of us, has two arms:  the Collective Bargaining Congress (which serves faculty at schools where there is collective bargaining) and the Assembly of State Conferences (for those schools without collective bargaining).

 The Summer Institute is the best place to get training and share information about running a faculty union.  It's run workshop style--with lots of experiential learning.  The topics to choose from are listed below.  It's lots of good-hearted faculty sharing their expertise.  The sessions are quite beneficial.

This year the Summer Institute is from July 29 - August 1 at the University of Scranton.  Our AAUP Chapter usually sends two or three delegates, as funding permits.  Housing is simple--usually in a dormitory.  Meals are included.  AAUP picks up all of your expenses.  The registration deadline isn't for several weeks, but let Katy Wiss know if you are interested in attending.

Possible Topics:

Collective Bargaining Chapter Management

Contract and Grievance Administration

Contract Negotiations

Data on Faculty: Compensation

Data on Faculty: Gender Equity

Data on Faculty: Institutional Priorities

Data on Faculty: Trends in Faculty Status

Developing Shared Governance: Key Committees

Developing Shared Governance: The Effective Faculty Senate

Lobbying: Communication with Policymakers

Negotiating Contingency

Negotiating Health and Welfare Benefits

Organizing for Campus Equity Week

Planning a Collective Bargaining Campaign

Roundtable: Why Collective Bargaining?

The Effective Faculty Handbook

Working with Health and Welfare Benefits

--Katy Wiss v  

Council Member Elected

On April 29, 2004, Russell Gladstone received the most votes for WCSU-AAUP Council Member.  Our thanks go to the other three candidates who made this a competitive election, and to every faculty member who voted. v

Summer Conference for Part-Time Faculty

The Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor, or COCAL, is hosting their sixth conference in Chicago from August 6-8, 2004.

COCAL describes itself as a floating conference and a network of North American activists working to improve higher education through the collective achievement of job security, livable wages, academic freedom, and time and resources for academic research and professional development for contingent academic laborers.

AAUP distributed a brochure about the conference to Part-Time faculty through campus mail.  Additional information about the conference is available at www.chicagococal.org

Western Union would welcome an article for a future issue written by any WCSU Part-Time faculty member who attends the conference.

COCAL, like AAUP, is also one of the sponsors of Campus Equity Week, held annually during the last week in October.  Campus Equity Week is a North American-wide event that educates the public about the overuse of poorly compensated part-time faculty in higher education. 

Last year for Campus Equity Week, AAUP sponsored a display in the Student Center, and sent press releases to the student Echo, and the Danbury News-Times.  The Echo ran a front-page story.  We look forward to participating in CEW again next October, and welcome ideas and volunteers.  v

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