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After three months and nine meetings including an all-day retreat, the MCCC DCE Negotiating Team has determined its demand package. Now the team is waiting for dates to meet with the Management Team and begin actual negotiations. The MCCC Team is chaired by John Palmer from Quinsigamond and includes Jane Arnold, Middlesex; Michael Dubson, Bunker Hill; Patrick Seyon, Roxbury; and Donald Williams, North Shore. MTA consultant Michelle Gallagher and MCCC DCE Grievance Coordinator Joe Rizzo provide technical assistance. Standard practice is to keep the details of negotiations confidential because of the give and take of the process. One agenda item that can be publicized is the Union's demand for more frequent payment of salaries for DCE courses. At most campuses payments are made only twice during the semester. A few pay slightly more frequently. The normal state payroll is bi-weekly. For many adjunct faculty the infrequency of pay is extremely stressful financially. The argument for increasing the frequency of pay was strengthened by a legal opinion rendered for the team. MTA had referred the issue to Shavel & Krems Attorneys at Law. The Attorneys' opinion is that General Laws Chapter 149
requires that adjunct faculty should be paid either weekly
or biweekly as other state employees. They believe that
there is reasonable justification for bringing a lawsuit.
The opinion has been conveyed to the employer. 
Don Williams (left) and Joe Rizzo work on flip charts
for DCE Team
Michael Dubson (left) and Patrick Seyon discuss topics
for DCE negotiations. |
