ACE Members,
This is a departure from the usual ACE updates about contract language and current concerns. As time goes on more people are less familiar with my job history, but more importantly the spirit in which I serve in the union president role. After working for a very small tech company in Mountain View for 6 years, I was hired at Foothill-De Anza CCD in November 2007 as a Workstation & System Support Technician I (a mouthful of a job title). In 2008, I was promoted to a Tech II which is essentially the classification I’ve been in ever since. It’s a great job. ETS work requests took me across Foothill, Central Services, De Anza, Middlefield, Sunnyvale, and Hope, so it provided a lot of opportunities to meet people and understand the organization. Computer progress bars used to take quite a while, which allowed time for conversation. As I became more familiar with the available benefits of being a district employee, I made sure new employees I saw also knew about them. Many of the benefits are negotiated:
- Professional Growth Awards – Get at least one.
- Cell Provider Discounts – Ask your carrier.
- 403b/457b Retirement Plans – Get started with a good vendor.
- CollegeBuys.org $20 Internet – If you live in a small space, it’s great.
- Educational reimbursement, cell phone stipend, shoe stipend, travel and conference, staff development leave…
My union-member colleagues encouraged me to pursue a lot of these bullet points. I also leveraged a District computer loan program (no longer available) which enabled me to get my first DSLR camera for taking photography classes in the evenings at Foothill. So, I’m a tech support guy who transitioned to being an employee support guy. In November 2016, I joined ACE as a Central Services board member and have served in a union role ever since.
I grew up in San Jose and attended River Glen Elementary (bilingual), Hoover Middle School, Lincoln High School, (Middle College), San Jose City College and ITT Technical Institute. I met my future wife (Sara) in middle school. She’s an accomplished card player, KJ’s barista, and x-ray technologist with 2 degrees from Foothill College and a BA from PIMA Medical Institute. My brother-in-law is a De Anza graduate, as is my niece earned her BA in English from SJSU. My parents are both lifelong San Jose residents and SJSU graduates. My dad earned his chemistry degree after high school. My mom earned her environmental studies degree in her 40’s while parenting four kids. I certainly see the value of a college degree and that it increases the likelihood of economic stability. Getting an advanced degree during adulthood is an enormous challenge.
One of the most unique experiences which I treasure was that I worked with my mom at Foothill College. In February 2008 she was hired as a Division Administrative Assistant in Fine Arts. It’s not uncommon to have relatives working at the district in different departments. There was a brief period where we were known as “Scott’s Mom” and “Sindy’s Son”. My mom always said it was the most enjoyable job she ever had because of the community we serve and the product of our work. I will admit there was added pressure when people knew they could come to my mom when a work request wasn’t completed, but often she’d get positive feedback about me. Working with me was likely more enjoyable than raising me.
In many ways she would have made a much better union president, but she also passed down valuable skills. Speak up when something is wrong. Hold people accountable. Show people the way. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (terminal brain cancer) in 2010. Following brain surgery and chemotherapy treatments she continued to work. Her goal was to be vested in CalPERS so that she could trigger additional benefits which granted household financial support. Between her time as an adult ed teacher and time with Foothill, she made it. She would have been 71 this year. She passed at age 61.
Wages, working conditions, and benefits are critically important to all of us but especially those experiencing hardships. Employer decisions can completely alter the trajectory of a person’s life and the lives of their loved ones. There are more stories like mine, but outcomes are always better when the union is brought in for consultation. Our independent labor association is a member-operated “people first” organization – members are the priority, and we review our collective bargaining agreements, ed code, and labor law to make sure we all get the best support and representation possible. If there isn’t already contract or legal language, we’ll explore creating it.
Hopefully this message and the way work as president show I have an understanding of workplace issues and the importance of having a union. There were a number of times that the district would have handled my mom’s case incorrectly if not for intervention by ACE. Never feel bad about reaching out and asking questions. We have a fantastic executive board and attorney group who provide services far beyond the value of pizza.
The simplest and most valuable piece of advice I want to leave you with is, it’s about relationships. Union work, workplaces, families, friends – spend quality time with people. My mom would regularly admit that she regretted not getting up from her desk more often when I invited her to the cafeteria or an employee event. My dad turned 75 this month and told me he felt like he shouldn’t have worked such late hours when I was younger. Even I could do better and have regrets about putting a career before fun opportunities with people. Take your lunch breaks, take your vacation leave, use your sick time for preventative care and treatment, enjoy the holidays. The work will always be here, but other opportunities may not.
For anyone interested in how to add a leaf to the Memorial Tree outside Appreciation Hall at Foothill, details are on the Foundation website (LINK).
In Service,
Scott Olsen (he/him) | ACE President
https://acefhda.org | scott.olsen@acefhda.org
650-949-7789 | M-F 8:00am-5:00pm