By Ken Mason

Do you think is it permissible to select which laws to obey and which ones to ignore? Well, some people think so. And as a result of the District's cavalier application of the now infamous 50 percent law, we are now entering into yet another year of this unsolved problem. If you may recall this so-called archaic  State Law required community college districts to allocate 50 percent of  their expenditures for instruction instead of administration. SMC was out of compliance for 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98. SMC was not alone. However, the other community college districts across the state that were found out of compliance have come forward to correct their error, but not SMC. The 50 percent issue will be addressed through mediation, an arrangement worked out through the courts!

Negotiations between the District and the Faculty for a new Contract began slowly last Spring, continued all summer, progress reports periodically given to the Board had more to do with clarification of language and other niceties. Real substantive issues regarding salaries, benefits and reassigned time were not broached until Mid-July.  The Faculty Association made an offer on salaries, benefits and reassigned time, but as of this writing has yet to receive a counter offer from the District. Apparently the District was not in any hurry. The Contract expired August 20. So what happens next?  The Contract will be finalized in facilitations.  So keep this in mind mediation and facilitation are the watch words this Fall. Mediation on the 50 percent issue for the past years in which the  District was out of compliance and facilitation to get a contract agreement between the Faculty and the District.

As for reassigned time, no acceptable resolution has been achieved regarding the District's elimination of re-assigned time for Coordinators of Health Care, Women's College, Scholars and etc. As you may recall, them District claimed it was in full compliance with the 50 percent law for 2000-2001, but then decided to eliminate reassigned time for these programs in 2000-2001 because of the 50 percent law! Unfortunately this has led several of the Coordinators to continued their duties in spite of the fact that they will not be provided with reassigned time when they need it most- during the regular Fall and Spring semesters. Since the wonderfully confusing and unresolved reassigned time controversy involves the 50 percent law as well as contractual issues it has the added distinction of being addressed through mediation and facilitation.

Again parking is still a problem. In violation of the contract, eighteen faculty and staff spaces have been eliminated due to the construction activity around the campus. And the problem has apparently spread to the new Administration building at  2714 Pico. But the sale of parking decals to faculty and staff will go on regardless of space availability.

And again faculty were hit with a pay check bungle. Those teaching the six week summer session were  told to expect three checks in equal amounts. Well three and in some cases four checks were sent in unequal amounts, with most faculty being told to that their first check was incorrect so a reduced amount was issued on the second check! Are you getting all this? Why pay roll problems continue to plague faculty and staff is one of the great unknowns. On September 21, at the Faculty Association's Retreat, a short session will be held on how to determine whether you are being paid correctly and on how to read you pay check.

Finally, we are collecting data and information on the number of faculty working far beyond the normal work load and who are either not being compensated or are not being paid sufficiently. If you feel that includes you give us a call.