Category: Uncategorised

This update includes the articles your ACE negotiations team has selected to reopen for the 2015-2016 year and how some of the changes we made to our agreement last year are being implemented.

Agreement
The 2014-2017 ACE Agreement is posted online for your convenience.

2015-2016 Negotiation Reopeners
Per our Agreement, this year ACE & the District may reopen Article 8 (Pay and Allowances) and Article 18 (Benefits) along with two additional articles. We are awaiting a response from the District regarding a meeting date where we will present the specifics of our proposal. After that time, we will send you detailed information regarding our proposals.

The following Articles are reopened:

Per Article 23:
Article 8 – Pay and Allowances
Article 18 – Paid Benefits

ACE:
Article 11 – Layoff

District:
Article 10 – Leaves
Article 13 – Hours and Overtime

As a reminder, Article 18 (Paid Benefits) is bargained collectively through the Joint Labor Management Benefits Committee (JLMBC). ACE met with FA, CSEA, Teamsters and the Police to draft up a benefits proposal, but we are still waiting on some financial information and most likely will not be submitting our proposal with the District until December. It is important to note that the impact of these benefits negotiations will affect all other economic proposals. In other words, until the District knows how much any changes to paid benefits might cost them, if there are any, it would not surprise me if we DO NOT see a response to any of our other economic proposals (like a COLA) until this is resolved. And until you hear from the ACE President or the ACE Chair of Negotiations, anything regarding changes to paid benefits, COLA’s or other negotiated items are speculation.

2014-2015 Negotiations Update

• Joint Labor Management Classification Committee (JLMCC): Established through an MOU (Appendix I), this committee’s role is to establish the need and develop the process for implementing a Classification Study. Our first meeting is this week and members include the ACE President, ACE Chair of Negotiations, ACE Attorney, HR Director, FH administrator and a DA administrator. The HR Classification Specialist will be there for reference and expertise, but has no negotiating authority.
• Classification and Reclassification: Changes were made as to how one applies for classification and reclassification, Article 15.
  • We have eliminated the classification committee. There are NO submission deadlines and reclassification is filed directly to the HR Classification Specialist, Myisha Washington.
  • When you file your paperwork with the District Classification Specialist, make certain that you send a copy to the ACE Recorder at ace2@fhda.edu. We can’t help you if we do not know you’ve filed for a reclass and the district is under no obligation to tell us.
  • Until you hear from ACE, you may file for a reclass as we negotiate the Classification Study process with the District.

Dear Colleagues

I am pleased to announce the final contract changes proposed for Articles 7, 11, 12, 15 and 23 were approved by the ACE membership in last weeks election. Below are the official results.

Number of Eligible Voters: 334
Number Who Voted: 77
Note: This count includes blank or empty ballots. Ballots that were submitted without a vote selection.
Response Rate: 23.1%

1.) Article 7 (Employment Practices)
Yes: you approve — Number of votes: 73
No: you do not approve — Number of votes: 3

2.) Article 11 (Layoff)
Yes: you approve — Number of votes: 75
No: you do not approve — Number of votes: 1

3.) Article 12 (Grievance Procedure)
Yes: you approve — Number of votes: 75
No: you do not approve — Number of votes: 1

4.) Article 15 (Classification and Reclassification)
Yes: you approve — Number of votes: 74
No: you do not approve — Number of votes: 1

5.) Article 23 (Length of Contract)
Yes: you approve — Number of votes: 75
No: you do not approve — Number of votes: 0

This concludes negotiations with the district for the 2014-2015 year. On behalf of your ACE Negotiations team, thank you for your support.

Regards,
Chris White, Chair of Negotiations, ACE

Members:
Chris Dubeau (CS)
David Gillett (CS)
Blanche Monary (ACE)
Cathleen Monsell (DA)
Stephanie Pham (DA)
Al Ruffinelli (FH)

Dear Colleagues:

Much of the proposed changes to our ACE Agreement can have a significant impact on your earnings ability, like the placement process for workers affected by layoff or how classification and reclassification are determined. Our goals with these proposed changes are to give our members more opportunity for growth in their careers and to get the district to invest in it’s current classified professionals.  Perhaps the change with the biggest impact is the MOU (memorandum of understanding) establishing a Joint Labor/Management Classification Committee (JLMCC) to determine the need, requirements, purpose and process for a comprehensive classification study.

Come find out more about these changes at one of these general meetings.  Lunch will be provided. Find the full Tentative Agreements Here: Proposed_ACE_AgreementChanges_092415

Ratification Vote

An online ratification vote is scheduled for ACE Full Dues Paying Members ONLY beginning at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6 through Friday, Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. A separate email with your unique voting credentials will be emailed to you next week.

Proposed Changes

Article 7 – Transfers

7.4 -Transfer:  Adds a process for members to voluntarily request a transfer; clarifies the process for an administrative reassignment.

7.6 – Reorganization:  Clarifies language that the district must notify the Union in writing prior to implementation of a reorganization to provide for an opportunity to meet and confer.

7.10 – Evaluation of Performance: Clarifies that performance appraisals must be prepared by the worker’s immediate supervisor; any negative documentation must be presented prior to inclusion in any performance evaluation; and any worker who has their step advancement withheld due to their performance evaluation may request a review by the Director of Human Resources.

7.16 – Classified Hourly Positions:  Clarifies the maximum hours for a position as identified by the job description.

Article 11 – Layoffs

11.3 – Notice and Consultation with the Union:  Changes notification to the Union in writing of a layoff by the district from 60 days to 75 days prior to the date of the layoff. The notice can’t be less than 70 days prior to the date of layoff, up from 55 days. 

11.4 – Notice of Layoff:  Increases notice to a laid off worker from 45 to 60 days.  Clarifies when a notice is issued in person, the Union representative shall be invited to attend.

11.4.1 – Placement of Employees Affected by Layoff:  This is a new process to help facilitate placement of ACE members who positions have been identified to be eliminated.  It’s goal it to provide ACE members who do not have bumping rights an opportunity to be considered in an internal placement process prior to positions being opened to outside recruitment.

Article 12 – Grievance Procedure

12.5 – Filing a Formal Grievance:  Adds a process where if the nature of the complaint involves an immediate supervisor, the employee may initiate the grievance at the second level of review.

Article 15 – Classification and Reclassification

15.2 – Request for Classification or Reclassification:  Changes how new classifications are reviewed from a committee process to the District Classification Specialist, and clarifies that no supervisor or the worker’s appropriate vice president will be allowed to change any of the worker’s comments on their reclassification request.

15.3 – Classification Specialist:  Clarifies that the Classification Specialist shall prepare a report and analysis of the position within 30 days of the request (changed from 60 days) and a copy of the report will be sent to all interested parties prior to a  holding a meeting to discuss the findings.

15.4 – Classified Specialist Determination Report and Meeting:  This reestablishes a members voice at the beginning of the classification process, which was eliminated under the committee review process.  It mandates that the Classification Specialist must schedule a meeting to discuss findings withing ten (10) workdays after sending out the determination report and included in this meeting will be the Director of Human Resources, the Classification Specialist, an appropriate administrator(s) and the worker(s) and his/her ACE representative(s).  Under the review committee process, members typically didn’t have a say in the outcome until it was under appeal.

15.5 – Appeal:  Renames the decision to the final determination report.

15.6 – Final Appeal: Adds language that the appeal packet shall go to the neutral party immediately upon mutual agreement of the appointment to avoid delays.

Article 23 – Duration

23.1 – Length of Agreement:  Establishes that this ACE Agreement will continue in effect through October 31, 2017. 

On behalf of your negotiations team, we would like to thank you for entrusting us to negotiate on your behalf.  We hope to see you at the meetings and as always, if you have any comments, questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact any of us.

Respectfully,

Chris White, Chair of Negotiations

Team Members:
Chris Dubeau
David Gillett
Blanche Monary
Cathleen Monsell
Stephanie Pham
Al Rufenilli