You Should Run For Office

Seriously, you should run for office.  Have you thought about it?  Have you spent time thinking over the issues that affect you at work and how you would fix them?

Let me ask you this: do you have good ideas about how to make our union better?  Do you say to yourself, “why doesn’t ACE do something about ______?  Do you want to make a difference?

Too often people wait for someone else to create the change they want. Stop waiting. Officer nominations will be accepted October 17 through October 24 with elections held in November.  The positions open for election, their responsibilities and the requirements to run are listed below.

Running for office is scary.  You’re not sure what to do, how you’re going to add one more responsibility to your plate, and you’re worried you will make mistakes.   It is understandable but holding an elected position can be one of the strongest ways to inspire others and create change within our organization.

As member of the executive board, you’re not alone.  Decisions are made collectively and approved by the membership. Training, release time and elective stipends are offered to officers to support the work they do for ACE. As an independent labor organization, ACE decides what issues are important to us, how we spend our money and, most importantly, how we represent our members. We might not always get it right and the path to change can, at times, be excruciatingly slow but the work we do always comes from a desire to help others. I’m not sure how that desire is ever a mistake, even when outcomes don’t match expectations.

So, what office are you running for in the upcoming election?

In Unity,

Chris White, ACE President
(650) 949-7789, office

ACE Officer Elections

  • President
  • Vice Presidents at De Anza & Central Services
  • Chief Steward Foothill
  • Board Members at De Anza & Foothill

Nominations accepted Oct. 17 – Oct. 24

Submit your nomination at the Oct. 17 & 19 site meetings or send by email to ACE Recorder, Shawna Santiago.

Elections held online Nov. 13-16

Role and Responsibilities of ACE Officers

It takes active participation and commitment from all the members of a union to effectively protect and serve the membership as a whole. We hope you will consider contributing your time and talent and run for office. Elective stipends are provided to officers for their work on behalf of ACE. Terms are two years in length and run from January 1 through Dec. 30.  A member is eligible to be a candidate if he or she is a non-probationary, permanent, classified employee in the District and is a member of ACE in good standing* for one (1) full year. The candidate must maintain good standing as a member if nominated and elected for as long as he or she remains in the elected position.. The following positions are up for election:

  • President
  • Vice President – De Anza
  • Vice President – Central Services
  • Chief Steward – Foothill
  • Board Member – De Anza/Seat 1
  • Board Member – Foothill

All positions require subordination of personal interests to those that represent the highest good of the members.  No officer shall have greater rights than any other member of ACE.  The executive board member is directly responsible for:

  1. The operation of ACE.
  2. Assuring the appropriate expenditure of funds.
  3. Proper and legal administration and implementation of the Constitution.
  4. Any representation of ACE that has been authorized by the Board in order to bind ACE or agree to any issues subject to collective bargaining and EERA.

All executive board members are required to attend ACE board meetings held the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 1-2:30 p.m. They rotate between the two campuses.  Board members are also required to attend the site meeting for the campus they represent. For De Anza, it is held the 1st Tuesday of the month; for Foothill and Central Services, it is held the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Both meetings are from noon – 1 p.m.  Ongoing steward training is provided quarterly and open to all board members.  Board member and negotiator training provided as needed.

President: This position receives 100% release time from their permanent FHDA job.  An elective stipend of $550 per month is provided.

  1. The President shall preside over all meetings of ACE.
  2. The President shall report at General Membership and Executive Board meetings regarding the progress and standing of ACE and the official actions he or she has taken between regular meetings of the Executive Board.
  3. The President, in conjunction with the Executive Board, shall appoint members for all standing and ad hoc committees.
  4. The President shall have authority to represent ACE with such action affecting policies, aims and means of accomplishing ACE’s purpose, subject to approval of the Executive Board.
  5. The President shall serve on the Chancellor’s Advisory and District Budget committees, Benefits committee meetings, any joint labor-management committees, and attend the FHDA Board of Trustee meetings.
  6. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees, including the Negotiations Team.
  7. The President shall, in conjunction with the Treasurer, disperse monies drawn against ACE funds, after expenditures are approved by the ACE board.

Vice President:  This position is done in addition to the incumbents permanent FHDA job. Release time is provided to attend to ACE business and requires a time commitment of approximately 10 hours per month. An elective stipend of $200 per month is provided.

  1. Upon approval of the Board, the Vice Presidents may be authorized to approve expenditures withdrawn on ACE funds in place of either the President or Treasurer, and shall perform such other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board.
  2. The Vice Presidents shall serve on the College Council, PARC, College Budget committees and other District committees as assigned.
  3. The Vice Presidents shall hold and facilitate site meetings each month at their respective sites.
  4. The Vice Presidents shall assign ACE representatives to hiring committees for classified workers in Unit 1 for their respective areas.

Chief Steward:  This position is done in addition to the incumbents permanent FHDA job.  Release time is provided to attend to ACE business and the time commitment varies. An elective stipend of $250 per month is provided.
a. Duties of the Chief Stewards

  1. Chair the Stewards Council and report activities of Stewards to the Executive Board in closed session.
  2. Be responsible for recruiting stewards and presenting candidates to the Executive Board for approval.

b.   Duties of the Chief Stewards and Steward(s)

  1. Represent their respective jurisdiction in all membership meetings in the absence of the members.
  2. Be the first line of contact with administrative or supervisory staff subject to this Constitution.
  3. Be responsible for the enforcement of all applicable collective bargaining agreements in their respective jurisdictions.
  4. Be responsible for holding management accountable for all applicable safety and occupational health laws, rules and regulations, and are responsible for notifying appropriate administrative or supervisory staff of unsafe working conditions.
  5. Shall have copies of the Constitution and all necessary working agreements available at all times.

Board Member: This position is done in addition to the incumbents permanent FHDA job.  Release time is provided to attend to ACE business and requires a time commitment of approximately 8 hours per month.  An elective stipend of $125 per month is provided.

  1. Ensure that the interests and directives of the General Membership are represented at Board Meetings.
  2. Serve on two (2) College or District Committees pertinent to ACE business and report back to the Board. At De Anza , the VP serves on the Finance & College Operations Planning & Budget Team. At Foothill, the VP serves on the Voluntary Employees Benefit Association – VEBA Trust.
  3. Attend the Classified Senate meeting at each location. At least one Board Member from each site should attend, but two (2) members should not serve on the same Senate.
*Member in Good Standing: ACE members who pay the full membership dues and are entitled to all rights and privileges of membership.

Professional Development Opportunities Training

This workshop reviews the ACE PGA (Professional Growth Award) application process, covers eligibility requirements and defines what constitutes professional growth activities for classified professionals. We will also review the ACE Educational Assistance Plan and Travel and Conference Funding. All participants will receive a PGA Organizer binder. Those who already have a binder or folder system from prior workshops should bring them.

  • Tues., Oct. 24: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | FH Student Council Chambers (2018)
  • Fri., Nov. 3: 12 – 1:30 p.m. | DA MLC 246

Staff Development Application Workshop

  • Thurs., Nov. 2: Noon – 1 p.m. | FH Student Council Chambers (2018)
  • Wed., Nov. 15: Noon – 1 p.m. | DA TBD

This workshop will answer these questions:

  • What does the classified ACE Agreement say?
  • What should be included in your application?
  • What is the process for applying?
  • What happens when you return from your leave?
Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
  • Develop a staff development leave plan, understanding the parameters of plan construction and timelines.
  • Prepare a Staff Development Leave application following the ACE-negotiated policies, procedures, and deadlines.

The Booth Law Group

After years of unsatisfactory experience with two national labor unions (CSEA and SEIU), the classified staff of Foothill-De Anza established ACE – an independent labor organization – in 2009.  The dissatisfaction with national organizations were driven by two key factors, a lack of responsiveness and a lack of representation when our members needed it most – during matters of discipline and at the bargaining table.  While ACE is completely run by our members, we contract with the Booth Law Group to represent us on all labor issues. In simplest terms, they show up whenever we need them, but who are they and what specifically do they do for ACE?

Bradley G. Booth, Attorney at Law

Bradley Booth has a long history of standing up for workers’ rights. He began his legal career with the California State Employees’ Association (CSEA). While there he was President of the employees’ union and represented state employees in appellate and trial practice, administrative law, writs, and extensive contract interpretation coupled with discipline and contract arbitration. Prior to opening his private practice, he was chief counsel for the Department of Fair and Employment and Housing (DFEH). At DFEH, he was constantly working to strengthen anti-discrimination statutes in California. Over the past 20 years in private practice, while representing labor unions, he has been able to hone in on and perfect his original passion through an emphasis on labor law and employment discrimination.

Anthony G. Booth, Labor Consultant

Anthony Booth has a background in politics. He spent seven years working on a gubernatorial campaign, which had a major focus on expansion of labor rights. However, his passion for the labor movement began at a very young age when he walked picket lines in support of his father’s union strikes. He has been a labor consultant for the past eight years. Over those years he has represented members in all aspects of labor including individual issues with management and union issues in arbitration and before the state labor board. He recently earned his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law.

What They Do

The Booth Law Group provides ACE representation on all labor issues, which include:

  • Contract negotiations and enforcement.
  • Discipline and discharge.
  • Duty of fair representation claims.
  • Unlawful employment actions.
  • Representation of ACE before administrative agencies and courts of law.

Some specific issues that are covered in the above points include, but are not limited to:

  • 24/7 access to legal support on any and all association labor/legal matters.
  • Representation of members who are being disciplined at any level of the progressive steps.
  • Filing lawsuits in civil court when the District violates the Education Code.
  • Providing legal counsel through the entire process of bargaining each year.
  • Helping members to file grievances and then representing them through each step in the process.
  • Responding to claims made against the union filed with the PERB and filing claims with the PERB against the District.
  • Resolving economic disputes between members and the District.
  • Attendance and legal guidance at all ACE board and site meetings.
  • Providing quarterly training for stewards.
  • Providing training for ACE board members.
  • Working with members and HR to find alternative conflict resolution, when the issue is not covered in the contract or law.

Most importantly, they are here to support ACE, and you, in any way possible.