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02.01.2022 Site Meeting Debrief & Updates

Written by ACE

ACE Members,

For now, I’ll be concise – here are the latest updates on the most pertinent issues:

Remote Work Stipend

I received confirmation that this stipend will be included in our end of February paycheck.You will receive $153.35 for each of the 15 months you worked on active status from March ‘20 thru June ’21.

The full text of the MOU is available on our website (LINK).

I will be speaking at the February 14th Board of Trustees meeting to share the collective disappointment many of us have with how this was handled and ask that we move to a system capable of issuing payments in a timely+equitable manner. (I’ll craft the full message in the coming weeks, to be posted at a later date.) Thank you to those who participated during our most recent site meeting – I hear you.

Classification Study Retroactive Pay

I received confirmation that roughly 180 members will receive their retroactive pay as a result of the classification study in the end of February paycheck. The remaining members should receive their retroactive pay in the end of March paycheck.

This first group was identified solely by Human Resources. You are most likely in this group if you have been in the same position at the same step during the entirety of the study. I am waiting to receive a list from Human Resources and I will notify the individuals who are affected.

I have repeatedly been very clear with Human Resources that there are members who need the opportunity to make changes to their payroll withholdings, contributions, and direct deposit allocations in anticipation of receiving a lump sum of money. I have also been very clear that I do not like surprises (even good ones) – it was not my choice to have the remote work stipend and retroactive pay arrive in the same paycheck for some and it was not my choice to split the retroactive pay into two groups.

Most importantly I want to thank those who negotiated over the years on the study and worked on its implementation to bring it to fruition. The results uphold the dignity of workers. This was an initiative that was pushed forward by ACE. It is a significant achievement with a widespread impact. Again, thank you to all who contributed.

ACE COVID Winter Quarter Survey

210 responses have been received so far. Please fill out the Google form if you have not done so already.

I will close the survey this Friday (2/4) and be taking the results to Chancellor’s Advisory Cabinet for further discussion. I am responding to individual concerns as they come to my attention.

Guidance for those who’ve tested positive is updated regularly on the Human Resources COVID-19 page (LINK). To all of those who’ve tested positive in our community, I wish a speedy recovery.

PGA Supplemental Application Deadline – June 30, 2022

A comprehensive update on this was sent out in December, also available on our website (LINK).

Professional Growth Award Training (TODAY!)

A.C.E.: Professional Growth Award (PGA) / Education Assistant Reimbursement Workshop
Thursday, February 3, 2022 1:00 PM-2:00 PM

Welcome New Members!

Blaine Agustin (De Anza)
Joey Zhou (Central Services)
Shane Jones (Foothill)

Take Care,

Scott Olsen | ACE President

ACE News, Classification Study 2017

01.26.2022 “It’s January, Where’s My $2,300?”

Written by ACE

ACE Members,

Last week at the combined ACE site meeting I began to spread the news that the district had not completed everything required to calculate and gain Board of Trustees approval to disperse the funds that we had expected “barring significant implementation challenges” in our January paychecks.

  • Currently Human Resources is “aiming” for the pro-rated $2,300 payment to be included in your end of February paycheck.
  • I am making all the noise I can to have this included on the February 14th Board of Trustees agenda.
  • I am communicating that we need to know specifically when these payments will arrive and advance notice to plan how to handle them.

“Pro-rated” means you will receive $153.35 for each of the 15 months you worked from March ‘20 thru June ’21.
“Aiming” means this is not a guarantee.

The entire memorandum of understanding (MOU) is on our website: https://acefhda.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ACE-MOU-Remote-Pay-signed12_09_2021.pdf
along with all of our MOUs: https://acefhda.org/agreement-2/mous/

ACE News, Negotiations

01.07.2022 Happy New Year and Short Update

Written by ACE

Hello Union Siblings,

Happy New Year! 🥳

This is a reminder to celebrate writing “2022” instead of “2021” on documents.

District Pandemic Response 🦠

Myisha Washington from Human Resources posted a message on December 31, 2021 to https://hr.fhda.edu/_covid-19/ , but it was not sent via email – here are the highlights:

… we (the district) will continue to follow the COVID-19 guidance of the Santa Clara County Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control CDC, as well as any requirements and standards of CalOSHA.

… whether you are working on campus or working remotely from your home or other location, please follow the prescribed preventive measures including, social distancing protocols, washing your hands frequently, and wearing a face covering when away from your home, around others who are not members of your household, or caring for someone who may be experiencing symptoms.  

… contact your supervisor or manager if you are experiencing COVID19 related symptoms or have tested positive for COVID19, even if you are working remotely. The District is required to assist in reporting cases and may need to conduct contact tracing and notification to help reduce the spread of the virus. In addition, if you or someone you had contact with has symptoms or has tested positive, we can assist by providing information about the follow up steps you or others may need to take, and to discuss leave options if you are unable to work (on campus or remotely) for a period of time. 

In order to be able to contact you in the event of potential exposure, please ensure your home contact information is current by updating your information via MyPortal and by clicking the “My Profile” link. In the event of potential exposure we want to be able to notify you as quickly as possible. 

Facilities also updates their message regarding district building Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) concerns: https://facilities.fhda.edu/_tile-facilities-safety/index.html

… the district has met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) requirements by enhancing ventilation, air flow, and filtration in the buildings.

If your concerns are not being addressed by the district, reach out to your steward or me directly. Our contact information is always kept up to date on the ACE website, linked to in my signature below.

Welcome New Members! 👏

Crystal Chen – Senior Administrative Assistant at Foothill

Michelle Lapitan – Accommodations Coordinator at Foothill

If you forward ACE emails to employees who aren’t receiving them, they are either not a member or we need to add them to our email listserv.

Please encourage your colleagues to recognize the value of ACE and join. The strength of our union is in its membership and it sends a strong message when we are united together. Banner is currently being pinpointed for the inability to produce complete member rosters, so I could use your help introducing ACE to new hires until a fix is developed.

Quick President’s Update ⛅

This (first) week I have been working remotely to respond to member concerns and handle ACE business, but hope to be on campus following recovery from a recent surgery over the holiday break – it was an expensive Christmas gift to myself.

I will begin sending out regular messages in the established format and posting them to the ACE website soon. Hopefully as the days get longer and sunnier, so will the updates I provide.

ACE News