Re: Covid-19 updates
April 13, 2020
RE: COVID-19 updates
Dear CFAC member,
We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and that the first week’s transition to remote learning has been going well. We know that this experience has been challenging on many levels, for all of us. The extreme and unprecedented nature of the situation has made it necessary for the union to negotiate with the college to protect the concerns and interests of our membership, resulting in the crafting of 3 MOUs.
On March 26, 2020, CFAC leadership negotiated our first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide the protections and resources needed during this Pandemic and to best support the transition to remote learning. This MOU was sent to you in a previous message and can be found through this link CFAC/CCC-Phase1MOU-3/26/20
Over the last 10 days, CFAC bargained two additional MOUs. The pandemic is a dynamic situation and further MOUs are anticipated. The second MOU was finalized on April 6th, 2020. This MOU addresses additional compensation among other issues and states in part:
“In recognition of the part-time nature of their employment and the additional work …. the College shall provide an additional week’s compensation in return for that transition work and the ongoing transition work for the spring 2020 semester… with the April 30, 2020 payroll.”
In addition, we were able to rollover the unused funds from the Faculty Development Grant, for use in the next grant cycle. A portion of the unused funds supplemented the additional compensation to our members. Attached is the fully executed MOU Phase 2.
On April 8, 2020 the Union and the Administration reached agreement for a 3rdMOU MOU Canvas_Access. This MOU responds to changes in access to our Canvas pages, which raised concerns of surveillance. The administration confirmed the increased canvas access was implemented on March 11, 2020. The administration in the past granted this type of access to chairs when needed. The difference is the chairs had to identify the reason for the limited access which had to be approved by the Provost office.
Several things were disturbing about the college’s decision to give Department Chairs “teacher-level” access to our Canvas pages. To begin with, this change was made without any notice to the union. This was a top-down, unilateral decision, which constitutes a change in working conditions, and so is subject to bargaining. However, CFAC leadership was only made aware of this change through calls and emails from alarmed faculty. Secondly, surveillance by administration reveals a lack of trust in part time faculty as professionals. It undermines academic freedom and circumvents evaluations. In addition, this surveillance threatens our intellectual property rights.
The administration agreed to bargaining the impact of this change. This “full access” to ALL canvas material includes access to videos, communication to students, and access to Zoom meetings. It would be as if an invisible administrator could show up to your classroom and make changes to your coursework without your knowledge. All this intrusion made possible without notice to the students or faculty. While some faculty may welcome help from administrators, the way this was unilaterally implemented violates basic labor-employer relations.
It is especially alarming and disappointing that this surveillance/change took place when we were in bargaining during the pandemic. Both parties made a commitment to put differences aside, agreeing not to waive any rights but to bargain changes during this time. The members of the labor relations committee worked long hours, every day and into many nights. In all that time, never was this subject raised. When the union brought members’ concerns to the attention of the college representatives on the committee, it became clear that they were not aware of the change being implemented, either.
Since the pandemic, CCC has used only top down decision-making with VPs having the only voices at the decision-making table. On March 10, 2020 Diana Vallera, CFAC President sent an email to the administration requesting that the stakeholders be part of any decision-making bodies during the possible transition to remote learning, and advocated for CFAC and faculty Senate to have a seat at the table.
“…With regard to task forces and committees being formed for the planning of possible school closures etc... we ask that union leadership be invited to participate in these decisions. If senate representatives are not included, they too should be.….The safety of students, faculty and staff during the coronavirus is one shared by all of us and decisions regarding short-term and possible long-term responses and impact should include adequate faculty involvement from the representative bodies. With regard to faculty, this would include faculty Senate and the Union (CFAC). “
It is crucial that the stakeholders that represent the Faculty are involved in these decisions. An inclusive environment is strongly recommended by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and many others. Our students deserve to have the voice of faculty in the decision-making that impacts their classroom and curricular experience at CCC.
As you may recall from the first MOU, dated March 26, 2020, a joint commitment was made and signed by the college and CFAC:
“The parties acknowledge their commitment to the mission of the college and the indispensable role that part-time faculty play in fulfilling that mission, and the commitment that the part-time faculty have to serving the students at the college. Neither party is attempting to use the COVID 19 pandemic as a way to leverage any advantage. This MOU helps to provide the security, protection and resources to help ensure that our students receive the instruction needed to advance in their program. “
In that spirit, we are pleased that we have reached an agreement that limits Canvas access and protects our members and students. The Union and the administration worked long hours to commit to addressing our concerns within this MOU. The MOU can be found through this link MOU Canvas_Access. As a Union we had to make sure the same protections you have while in the classroom in person teaching are assured when you are teaching through remote learning. Throughout this process we have met with our department reps who can assist in answering your questions.
We have set up two zoom meeting times to help answer any questions you may have during this time. Please rsvp to info@pfac.org by April 16, 2020 and let us know which meeting you are able to attend:
Friday, April 17th12p.m. – 1p.m.
Friday, April 24th, 1p.m. – 2p.m.
In solidarity,
Diana Vallera, CFAC President, Photography
Andrea J. Dymond, CFAC Vice President, Theatre
Lisa Formosa-Parmigiano, CFAC Secretary, CTVA
Susan Van Veen, CFAC Treasurer, Business