In This Issue:

• Murphy Honored
• Complaint Issued
• Thinking About Retirement

Joseph Murphy To Be Honored Joseph Murphy

The Sixth Annual Jon G. Butler Memorial Award for outstanding chapter president was awarded at the fifteenth MCCC Delegate Assembly on Saturday, April 21, 1990. This award was established in the Fall of 1984 in honor of Jon Butler, former chapter president at North Shore Community College, former MCCC Research Coordinator, and an active and outspoken advocate for unit members' rights. This year's recipient is Joseph Murphy chapter president at Bristol Community College. Joe is a professor of English and is completing his twenty-second year teaching at the college. "For my first 18 years at the college, I was never one of those people who became actively involved in the chapter. Though I was always supportive and thought the union was a good thing, I felt it was even better when someone else was doing the work. About four years ago, however, the chapter was looking for a president, and after two weeks of encouragement, I relented, and I have never regretted my decision. My deciding to run for chapter president was ultimately the result of feeling that I owed the union something as it had done good things for my colleagues as well as myself. I thought 'what's two years?'. That was four years ago, and I have just been elected to my third, two-year term as chapter president." During Joe's first four years, there have been some major issues which have dominated his presidency. The organization and subsequent certification of the DCE faculty and part-time day faculty and professional staff, similar to any successful effort, took a lot of time and energy. "Now that the MCCC has prevailed in the DCE effort and has brought forth an excellent fact finder's report, it is very important to turn that into a contract. This success not only affects Bristol but everyone in the system." The most important gains specific to Bristol, Murphy believes, "was getting our teaching aides recognized as unit members and getting them a decent wage as well as correcting a number of payroll discrepancies collegewide." With any job, but especially a voluntary one, frustrations are prevalent and difficult at times to resolve. What helps, says Murphy, are the people who get involved and contribute to the chapter. Murphy compliments his leadership team for making his job more enjoyable and easier. "I have been lucky to have officers and coordinators who have provided support and labor willingly." The other aspect which has helped Murphy in his presidency is the statewide leadership. "Getting to know the people within the MCCC has been very rewarding, especially seeing the talented, hard working people who have a strong commitment to the faculty and professional staff. A real eye opener was meeting and working with statewide and chapter officers and coordinators and realizing how much work goes on that an uninvolved, quiet unit member does not see. This has made me aware what a dynamic organization the MCCC and the other 14 colleges are, and it has also made me see how critical it is to have constant communications between the campuses. This information makes the chapter president's job somewhat easier when he or she realizes how other chapters handle day-to-day concerns." Murphy believes, however, that all chapter presidents should be getting together more often throughout the year and hopes to see an increase in meetings next year. One reason that Bristol has a strong chapter leadership, according to Murphy, is the maintenance of the quality of communications with the membership and administration. "We try to keep the members informed, and a lot of grievances have been resolved without having to go through the entire process." Though there is a healthy working relationship with management, there is the recognition of the fundamental differences and priorities between the two. "Over the past four years, better than half of the membership has been in contact with the chapter president. As a result there are a large number of unit members who are aware of the importance of the union." The organization, subsequent certification, and attempt to negotiate a contract for DCE employees over the past two years has been most disconcerting, according to Murphy. "The finalization of a contract which would result in a professional agreement has been frustrated by a hundred small delays orchestrated by the presidents and deans. The obstructionist attitude and refusal to accept the fact finder's report is the final insult in a long struggle to provide these people with decent wages and working conditions." Margaret Ryckebusch, former chapter president and vice president and presently the director to the MCCC Board states, "Joe is never afraid to confront administration, no matter how thorny the issue. He was courageous in notifying full-time unit members not to do work for DCE students knowing it would be controversial with administration. He also worked relentlessly for two years and ultimately succeeded in bringing the teaching aides into the unit, nearly tripling their salaries. Joe has been an excellent advocate for our membership, and he is always fair and clear headed in his deliberations. As a result there is mutual respect between administration and the chapter leadership without compromise to his or our principles. His important battle these days is to have the DCE fact finder's report accepted by the presidents. Joe approaches difficult situations calmly and rationally, and his leprechaun charm and his droll sense of humor has helped this chapter stay strong and unified." As Joe looks to the next two years as chapter president, he realizes that times will be difficult. "People are discouraged which produces insecurity, especially for the newly hired unit members. But, I look forward to the resolution of both DCE and day contracts and to the Commonwealth coming to terms with the budget crises. I would hope that in the near future we can increase the hiring of faculty and staff and get on with the business of providing quality education. Strange as it may sound, however, I really do enjoy this job and look forward to confronting the next two years."

Complaint Issued Against Mass. Bay President

In the Spring, 1989, the MCCC learned that Mass. Bay Community College had entered into an agreement with South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School District Committee (Committee) to provide, among other things, instruction to Mass. Bay students at the Joseph P. Keefe Regional Vocational Technical School in an automotive technician program. The students are eligible for an Associate in Science and receive instruction from individuals not from the unit. The instruction of the Mass. Bay students in the automotive technician program at Keefe constitutes work that is ordinarily performed by members of the unit. When the Union realized that the college had entered into an agreement, unilaterally, without providing prior notice and an opportunity to bargain, a prohibited practice charge was filed with the Mass. Labor Relations Commission. The decision to transfer or contract out bargaining unit work and the impact such a decision has on the terms and conditions of employment constitute mandatory subjects of bargaining. After hearing arguments from management and union, the Commission has issued a complaint against Mass. Bay stating that the "College has failed to bargain in good faith by unilaterally transferring or contracting out bargaining unit work without providing the Union with prior notice and opportunity to bargain in violation of Section 1O(a)(5) of the Law. By the conduct alleged above, the College has interfered with, restrained, and coerced its employees in the exercise of their rights guaranteed under the Law in violation of Section 10(a)(1) of the Law." A hearing will be scheduled for a full trial.

Arbitrator Overturns Professional Judgement

In March, 1988, 33 unit members were recommended for promotion at Holyoke Community College. Oskar Sassian, a Professor in the Division of Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Technology was one of ten faculty in the division who was eligible but not recommended. Sassian filed a grievance arguing that another unit member in the division who was promoted had nine years less seniority and was less qualified than he. The Union argued that the Employer did not accurately assess the student evaluation scores and that Sassian's classroom observations were better overall compared to another unit member who was promoted over Sassian. The arbitrator ruled that the performance records of both individuals "were substantially similar," and "that these evaluations do not support the employer's professional judgment that the performance... was significantly better than the grievant's performance." Based on clear and convincing evidence, it was the arbitrator's determination that the decision to promote another unit member ahead of Professor Sassian was unreasonable. As a result, the matter is to be remanded for reassessment by the college president or designee with a decision due within 30 days.

Thinking About Retirement

The MTA conducts retirement consultations throughout the state to assist members. The locations, consultants, and dates of this service through June, 1990 are as follows: Auburn - George J. Black; first and second Saturdays of each month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; MTA Central Office, 48 Sword St., Auburn (791-2121); or, at home (632-0442). Boston - Dacre W. Kent; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; MTA building, 20 Ashburton Place, Boston (742-7950, ext. 240) or, at home (631-3579). Cape Cod - John C. Linehan; second Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Barnstable High School, 744 West Main St., Hyannis (775-2600 on Saturday only); or, at home (428-6545). Gardner - George J. Black; third Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Gardner Jr. H.S. (632-1603); or, at home (632-0442). Northampton - Reta P. Watson, second Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 38 Gothic St., Northampton (413-584-8313); or, at home (413-253-7716). Peabody - Dacre W. Kent; second, third, and fourth Saturdays of each month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; MTA Northeast Office, Peabody Office Building, rear of Holiday Inn, on Route 1 near Route 128, Peabody (535-5660); or at home (631-3579). Pittsfield - Edward F. Johnson; second Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; MTA Berkshire Office, 100 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield (499-0257); or at home (443-2776). Randolph - Louise E. Gaskins; second Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; MTA Metropolitan Office, 1395 North Main St., Randolph (961-1006); or, at home (448-5351). Raynham - Sydney C. Roberts; third Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; MTA Southeast Office, 534 New State Highway (Rte. 44), Raynham (822-5371); or, at home (823-0298). West Springfield - Reta P. Watson; third Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; MTA Western Office, 1111 Elm St., West Springfield (413-733-2284); or, at home (413-253-7716). In the event of inclement weather, it is advisable to call consultants in advance for their availability. Proof of membership must be submitted when requesting retirement services. If you have any questions, contact Dacre W. Kent, Coordinator of Retirement Services, 1-800-392-6175.

Know Your Contract

Apr. 26	Faculty submit preferred class schedule
Apr. 28	Faculty receive notice of tentative courses
May 1	Recommendations for tenure or one-year appointments to Trustees
May 9	Student Advisement and College Service forms due from members
May 21	President gives notice of tenure or one-year appointments

N.B. Dates may vary depending on first day of classes. Also, most of these dates are "last date" standards.
In many instances, the action can he accomplished before the date indicated.