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1.07% COLA, COLA w/Retro in October Paystubs, Dues Forgiveness

Written by ACE

ACE Members,

Thank you to our colleagues for working on implementation of the negotiated 1.07% COLA. Thank you to the District administration for prioritizing timely payment of wages. From September our regular pay for October increased by 1.07% and we all should have received retroactive payment (COLA w/R) for months worked since July 1st, 2024 (July, August, September).

Let me know if you have any questions about your most recent paystub. The COLA increased line items that make up your regular pay (Per Lv, SL-EE, Holiday, Vacation, Comp Tk, etc.) but not special compensation (LG Award, PG Award, Weekend Pay, Bilingual Pay, etc.).

Reminder: The ACE Executive Board voted to approve dues forgiveness for October and November.

Always check your paystub. ACE is here if you experience an overpayment or underpayment.

In Solidarity,

Scott Olsen (he/him) | ACE President
https://acefhda.org | scott.olsen@acefhda.org  
650-949-7789 | M-F 8:00am-5:00pm

ACE News

2024.10.24 Update – Election Results, Negotiator Open Position, COVID Teleworking/Paid Leave, Upcoming Trainings: PGA, SDL, Reclass

Written by ACE

ACE Members,

Elections Results & Negotiator at Large Open Appointment
Thank you to @Shawna Santiago for operating the election. Results were sent Monday at 8am and we’re all looking forward to getting things done.

  • New Executive Board Members begin their terms on Jan 1, 2025.
  • New Negotiatiors begin their terms on Nov 1, 2024.

We have a vacancy for a Negotiator at Large position. This negotiator seat can be filled by any member.
Please submit a statement of interest to @Scott Olsen by Oct 30th if you would like to serve on the negotiations team.

Return to In-Person Work MOU (LINK)
If you or your child are sick with covid and able to work:

  1. Stay Home & get tested for covid.
  2. Ask about teleworking (remote work) in writing:
    • If you are approved, you can work from home.
    • If you are denied, you can receive paid administrative leave.
  3. If you are too sick to work, use you would use your accrued sick leave.

Reminder: Sick leave cannot be denied for treatment or preventative care.
If your manager/supervisor asks you to cancel your medical appointment or requests a doctor note for using leave, contact @Scott Olsen .

Upcoming Trainings/Events

  • Oct 31st Scary Forms Drop-In Event at De Anza
    • Bring a partially complete form or a completely empty one downloaded from our website (LINK). Ask questions, eat pizza, costumes encouraged (optional).
    • In-Person event.
    • Details are on Outlook calendar’s for De Anza and Central Services ACE members.

      Want to help plan festivities? Contact @Lidia Burlanescu .

  • Nov 5th Site Meeting Topic: Staff Development Leave
    • Have you been with the District for 7 consecutive years or has it been 7 years since your last SDL? You’re likely eligible to take up to 10 months of leave at 85% pay for retraining. Attend the site meeting to learn more.
    • See 10.10 Staff Development Leave under our Agreement for contract language (LINK).
    • Expect additional training sessions on the topic. Applications are due by December 15th,2024; however, all signatures must be received by January 31st, 2025.
    • Hybrid event.
    • Details are on ACE member’s Outlook calendars.

  • Nov 7th Reclassification Training
    • Conducted by Anthony Booth of the Booth Law Group. Anthony has been a part of multiple classification studies at community colleges and assisted members in submitting a clear message that merits a higher classification.
    • ACE members will takeaway best practices for filing a successful position description questionnaire (PDQ) along with a better understanding of the process.
    • Note: This training was moved from Wednesday to Thursday. Zoom link TBA.
    • Details are on ACE member’s Outlook calendars.

In Solidarity,

Scott Olsen (he/him) | ACE President
https://acefhda.org | scott.olsen@acefhda.org  
650-949-7789 | M-F 8:00am-5:00pm

ACE News

2024.10.03 Update – Nominations Due by Tomorrow at 2pm, Dues Forgiveness Oct, COVID-19 & Teleworking, Minutes Repaired

Written by ACE

ACE Members,

Nominations Reminder
Please search your inbox for a message from “electionrunner.com” asking to submit nominees for board and negotiator positions open for election. The email will include a unique voter id and voter key. If you have difficulty logging or issues with the process contact @Shawna Santiago.

  • You can nominate yourself for a position or encourage someone you trust to serve.
  • Nominations are due by tomorrow at 2pm.

Chair of Negotiations and Past-President Chris White wrote a superb article on why you should run for office which is posted on our website (LINK):

“Running for ACE office is a chance to lead, innovate, and drive positive change.  Whether you’re motivated by a desire to amplify voices, address critical issues, or build community, your participation can have a lasting impact.”

Our independent labor organization is member operated by employees like you. None of us are perfect but we do our best to meet the challenges that come before us. We need you to continue to build on our accomplishments (LINK).

If you have questions about the positions or would like to know more about their demands, call or text me.

Dues Forgiveness October
When our organization doesn’t need money for operations and representation we return it to you. The ACE Executive Board approved dues forgiveness for this month. We can do this because we control our money and budget. Cheers to our treasurer Kathy Nguyen for taking advantage of high interest rates on accounts we have set aside in our strike fund, for potential litigation, and operating expenses. Since its inception ACE has regularly forgiven dues twice a year and we review the dues rate regularly. During the COVID-19 pandemic we were also able to forgive dues for an entire year.

COVID-19 & Teleworking
Our MOU (LINK) which allows members to work remotely if you or your child test positive for covid-19 is still in effect. If you are willing, ask your supervisor/manager for a list of projects or outline your own list of tasks which you can complete while working from home. Requests for telecommuting should be made in writing and written denials can be appealed.

Note: Personal cell phones are NOT required for work purposes. Doing District/College business on a personal cell phone subjects your personal device to a public records request, meaning that your entire phone would have to be turned over and searched for substantive information related to a CPRA (California Public Records Act) request. Jabber can be installed on your work computer or the district will provide a phone or stipend for a separate phone if required for your work.

Continue to self-report covid-19 exposures online (HERE).

Agendas & Minutes Repaired
Following a WordPress website plugin crash I was able to rebuild the “Agendas & Minutes” page on our website (LINK).

In Solidarity,

Scott Olsen (he/him) | ACE President
https://acefhda.org | scott.olsen@acefhda.org  
650-949-7789 | M-F 8:00am-5:00pm

ACE News, Elections