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Stalled faculty contract talks stir discussion around campus
The Advocate
The MHCC full-time faculty has begun to talk about starting the 10-day countdown to a strike because of the board's unwillingness to engage in meaningful bargaining, according Sara Williams, the full-time faculty chief negotiator.
This comes after a Wednesday mediation session resulted in one non-economic article being signed off, and no progress made on any of the economic issues.
Randy Stedman, the labor relations consultant hired by the board to bargain the contract for the administration, had no comment Thursday when asked about the potential of the administration giving a five-day notice of implementation of the contract.
Williams said, "The faculty made a proposal, with a four-page explanation with our reasoning, to try to communicate to the board. We need a counter-proposal to that to be able to move forward."
The main sticking points for both sides seem to be in the areas of extra teach, summer teach and retiree health benefits.
Stedman said the faculty is "refusing to budge a single dollar on extra teach, summer teach or retiree health."
Williams said, "We've basically met their demands in the area of salary and medical, and they remain unwilling to move on extra teach, summer teach and retiree health."
Student interest in the negotiations has become more vocal in the last two weeks, resulting in 955 students signing a petition to present to the MHCC District board.
"Many students have become very concerned," said Jenni Simonis, a student who collected the signatures, Wednesday during the board meeting. She said after the meeting it appears to many that "the board isn't listening to students and isn't considering them during their negotiations.
Angela DeCorte, a student who helped to collect the signatures, said during the meeting, "I don't want to pull out of this school, because I love it, but I will. If the teachers strike, so will I."
Kristina Taylor, a funeral services student, also said during the meeting, "I don't want my instructor to come from the same place I got my coffee table," referring to ads posted by the college on craigslist for replacement teachers in the event of a strike.
Part of MHCC's financial problem is related to improving the physical structure, which could be remedied by passage of a bond measure.
Asked how he thought a faculty strike would affect the college's ability to pass a bond measure, MHCC President John Sygielski said Wednesday, "I don't think it would have a major impact on our attempt to get a bond."
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