ACE Members,
President’s Message
Below are some quick topics that we’ve been working on. Expect additional thoughtful communication next week along with a survey regarding a winter/holiday/end of year event.
Union Position Appointments
Following the election we had a handful of vacant positions in our organization and there were opportunities to do some shuffling:
- @Adriana Garcia has been appointed to De Anza Board Member Seat 2 from Seat 1. Seat 2 was vacated by Angelica Esquivel. Adriana’s elected term runs through the end of 2026.
- @Lisa Ly has been appointed to De Anza Board Member Seat 1. Lisa’s appointment will serve for the duration of Adriana’s remaining term, through the end of 2025.
- @Janie Garcia Cordova has been appointed to Chief Steward for Foothill. The Chief Steward position was vacated by Anthony Caceres. Janie’s elected term runs through the end of 2026.
- @Jeff Dickard has been appointed by Chief Steward Andre Meggerson to Steward for De Anza.
- @Alex Collins has been appointed Negotiator at Large. Negotiators serve for the duration of the Agreement, through 2027.
- @Chris Chavez has been selected as Chair of Negotiations for ACE. Negotiators serve for the duration of the Agreement, through 2027.
Sincere thanks to all who do union work in addition to their daily work. We’re a member-powered organization and grateful to those who participate in advancing our concerns. Being able to seeking out guidance is a key benefit of being an ACE member. We’re all here to help so never hesitate to reach out if something in the workplace feels questionable.
November Dues Forgiveness
The ACE Executive Board approved dues forgiveness for October and November, so you will not see a deduction on your paystub for union dues. As always, we can do this because we control our dues rate and our money that we have set aside as a reserve, strike fund, and for potential litigation – for representing members.
Reclassification Training Recording
If you missed last Thursday’s reclass training, search your inbox for a message I sent last week which included a link to a recording available on our YouTube channel. Once you’ve filled out your draft position description questionnaire reach out to Anthony Booth and myself to schedule a one-on-one meeting for an initial review.
Employee Parking Enforcement
We’ve made an ask with the Vice Chancellor of HR and Business Services to resume enforcement of employee parking. Not being able to find a nearby parking spot is a nuisance. Currently the District is investigating a new solution for identifying employee cars. There is no timeline for a solution to be implement but we can continue to ask.
Did you know the topic of parking is covered under our Agreement? Section 14.5 states, “Use of staff parking lots shall be at no cost to the worker providing the worker’s automobile is properly identified.”
Pension Review Emails
Members have been receiving emails offering “pension review” from outside companies. Before responding to any of these offers, scroll down and look at the fine print. Most will disclose that they are located outside of California and are no associated with our employer. CalPERS is the source of truth for anything pension related or helping you understand your retirement options, free of charge.
Money Minute
- ACE has no official relationship with StarOne Credit Union but it has been recommended amongst colleagues for a long time. Recently there’s been a request to share this more widely. They offer free checking accounts which are interest bearing, meaning they pay out a monthly return. As of today their rewards checking and savings accounts pay 3.25% APY – so if you were to have a balance of 10,000$ for 1-year, you would earn $325 “over the course of that year. Their loan rates are also tend to be lower than for-profit banks.
- If you need help establishing your 403b or 457b account, Fidelity, Vanguard, and CalSTRS Pension2 remain the least costly options. One piece of information you’ll need is your first date of employment, which Scott Olsen can provide. More information is available on the FHDA 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