By Phil Hendricks

We've got exciting news!  Chapter 36 is proud to announce that the two resolutions that we introduced at the 1999 CSEA Annual State Conference have been signed into California law by Governor Gray Davis.  The first, Assembly Bill 2472, extends legal protections to school employees who are retaliated against by school officials for reporting unlawful acts.  The second, Assembly Bill 2691, allows classified employees in pre-1965 merit system districts (i.e. SMC) to vote to determine if they want to appoint a commissioner to the Personnel Commission.

The power of grass roots organizing is very gratifying.  After their introduction at the CSEA Conference, the resolutions passed unanimously with more than 1500 votes (the only resolutions at the Conference to have that distinction).  CSEA's Governmental Relations Department sponsored this legislation.  Both become effective January 2001.  For a CSEA Chapter to have one resolution become law within a decade is considered an accomplishment--for two resolutions to become law in a single year is virtually unprecedented.

Contracts are a big topic on campus.  On September 20th we approved a new three-year contract with the District (January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2002).  The final vote was 156 yes, 72 no.

College Board elections are coming up.  At our biannual candidate endorsement meeting in August, CSEA endorsed outspoken community member, Margaret Quinones.  Her strong community base, her history with SMC, her support for union issues, her      emphasis  on  building  relationships  and  her support for establishing union advisory    (non voting) seats  on  the  College Board  all contributed to our hearty endorsement.  Union  advisory seats are a very important issue.  The seats already exist on the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School Board, brought about through Board actions.

CSEA's joint activities with the Faculty Association have raised our unions to a new level of visibility and effectiveness within the community.  Working together we can have a broader effect on SMC policies and practices.  CSEA has been proud and encouraged to work with the Faculty Association in your job actions, and in your work with Santa Monica community groups that support working families.  We believe that the continued joint efforts of CSEA and the Faculty Association are helping to regain the traditional community-based roots and collegial working relationships of Santa Monica College.