Category Archives: News

USCC Wins for Tomiwa Shonekan

judges-gavel

Arbitrator Orders reinstatement, FULL back pay, benefits

In February 2011, Tomiwa Shonekan was discharged from his job as an academic manager in the department of HHSS. His supervisor was unhappy with his work, so she fired him. But when she did that, she also violated rights that Tomiwa has because he is a member of our bargaining unit.

If the college wants to fire any of USofCC, there’s a process that must be followed. This process ensures fairness, and it is defined by our contract. (Article V)

Although the college negotiated and agreed to this procedure, they ignored it in Tomiwa’s case in the following ways:

  •  The college failed to give adequate warning to the member
  •  The college failed to allow the member to adjust or improve his performance
  •  The college denied the member’s right to bring union support to his disciplinary meeting.

What the neutral arbitrator called “particularly troubling” was the college’s assertion that members can be fired for any reason and without written explanation.

The arbitrator ordered the college to reinstate Tomiwa to his job, and that he should receive full back pay and benefits.

What’s clear from this case is just how easy it is to misunderstand, misinterpret, or disregard our contract — our negotiated right to due process and fairness.

Great thanks to the IEA staff who worked long and hard on this case. We also thank  the neutral arbitrator for his diligent examination, and for his clear-sighted decision.

158th Representative Assembly of IEA is History

Officers with the student delegation

Officers with the student delegation

More than 1,200 delegates and guests filled the International Ballroom at the Chicago Hilton to conduct business, hear inspirational speakers and honor their own during the IEA’s 158th Representative Assembly.

Award winners include:

Josh Stumpenhorst, IEA Teacher of the Year and NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence; Sheila Healy, Education Support Professional of the Year; Kristina Uzzo, Bob Haisman Teacher of the Year Award; Matt Hiser, Bob Haisman Student of the Year Award; Charlene Temple, Human and Civil Rights Award; Linda Walcher, Mary Lou and Keith Hauge Award; Sen. Kimberly Lightford and Rep. Brandon Phelps, Friend of Education Award.

For more information, click here.

Click here to view pictures of the three-day event.

Our Request to Particiate

November 17, 2011

Ellen Krutz
Vice-President, Human Resources
Columbia College Chicago
600 S. Michigan
Chicago, IL 60605

Dear Ellen:

The United Staff of Columbia College (USofCC) is aware that the College has initiated a prioritization process that is being guided by outside consultants and the method described in Robert Dickeson’s book Prioritizing Academic Program and Services.  As part of the process, the College has established a variety of “prioritization teams” that have been charged with gathering information and making recommendations to the College regarding academic priorities, nonacademic priorities and resource allocations.

With this letter, USofCC reminds the College it has the legal obligation to bargain the decision and/or effects of any changes related to the prioritization process that the College may seek to implement which could impact the terms and conditions of employment of our bargaining unit members.

Furthermore, the legal obligation to bargain over the effects of such changes requires that such bargaining be done “in a meaningful manner and at a meaningful time.” [First National Maintenance Corporation, 452 U.S. 666, 681-682, 101 S. Ct. 2573 (1981)].

As this applies to the most recent Prioritization Timeline released by the College, USofCC requests that a preliminary meeting with our union be held immediately following the posting of the Dean’s and Reviewer’s preliminary rankings on or before January 9, 2012.

In addition, USofCC hereby requests that the College provide us with the following information:  Continue reading

Election Results

VOTES WERE TALLIED MONDAY NOON IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNION PRACTICE. THE RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

PRESIDENT
MIKE BRIGHT, FILM & VIDEO

VICE-PRESIDENT
OSCAR VALDEZ, HUMANITIES, HISTORY, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

SECRETARY
JEEYEUN LEE, CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ARTS PARTNERSHIP
(WRITE-IN CANDIDATE)

TREASURER
NINA CAMPBELL, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE/ENGLISH INTERPRETATION

USOFCC DELEGATES TO IEA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
NICK HOEPPNER
CAT BROMELS

REGION 67 ETHNIC MINORITY DELEGATE
MIKE BRIGHT

MANY, MANY THANKS TO US OF CC MEMBERS WHO RAN FOR OFFICE, STAFFED THE ELECTION TABLES, AND CAME OUT TO VOTE FOR OUR NEW LEADERSHIP.

SHEILA BRADY AND YOLUNDA KINCADE
FOR THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

Candidates for Office

VOTING SCHEDULE

Thursday, January 26                Friday, January 27
9:00 am – 5:00 pm                             9:00 am – 5:00 pm
916 S. Wabash, Lobby                      623 S. Wabash, Lobby Continue reading

FROM THE ELECTION COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED STAFF OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO (USofCC)

Elections Scheduled for USofCC Officers and IEA Region 67 Representative Assembly Delegates and Ethnic Minority Delegate

Members will vote for the leadership of USofCC in on-campus elections scheduled for Thursday, January 26 and Friday, January 27, 2012.

Continue reading

Chicago Higher Ed Solidarity Happy Hour

Learn what you can do to help your union fight to prioritize education with smaller classes, fair wages, and strong contracts.

Lend a hand

The unrelenting war against working Americans continues. Columbia College part-time faculty (P- fac) has yet to settle a contract. Columbia College staff members (US of CC) do not receive annual wage increases. Continue reading

Report from the Board of Trustees Rallies

RallyApproximately 200 students, staff, and faculty conducted a two-day informational rally outside the Board of Trustees meeting this week.  The coalition was formed to address concerns that the prioritization process was leaving out those who mattered most – those who attend Columbia (students), those who teach at Columbia (faculty), and those who help make things work (staff). Continue reading

Help Your Union – Be an Officer

ballot boxAround the country, folks are starting to talk ELECTIONS—-and so is USofCC!

It’s time for the United Staff of Columbia College (USofCC) to elect officers for the next two years!

During this time period, a second contract between USofCC and Columbia will be negotiated. We’ll need good people to see us through — SO — as a first step, we’re asking you to consider nominating yourself or someone you know to help guide the union through this process and beyond.

Nominations will be accepted for President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. This is a great opportunity to get your feet wet in the union.  Who knows?  You might discover you’re a natural leader!

Please get back to us if you have questions.

In Solidarity,
Yolunda and Jamila,
Election Committee Co-Chairs

ykincade@ hotmail.com       jjaj82@yahoo.com

A member may nominate a colleague or him/herself for a two-year term position by completing the form below (also  on web site–www.usofcc.org). The nominee must agree to serve if elected, and the form must be signed by the nominator. Nomination forms must be received by regular mail or via email by December 12, 2011. Mailing address is USofCC, Columbia College Chicago, 600 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL  60605; email address isusofcc@yahoo.com. Elections will take place in January, 2012.

Three Important Messages

number3ONE - Tuesday, NOVEMBER 8: General Membership Meeting from Noon-1 PM  or  1-2 PM
Mark your Calendars for a US of CC General Membership Meeting on November 8 in Hokin Hall, Room 109 in 623 S. Wabash.
Attend either session—12PM-1PM or 1PM-2PM. Bring your lunch. Beverages will be provided. Agenda includes:
a.  Status of wage campaign for the current academic year. Continue reading

Supercommittee Deciding Fate of Pell Grants

It’s up to us to fight for them… NOW!

Six U.S. senators and six members of the U.S. House of Representatives — who make up what’s known as the Supercommittee — face a Nov. 23 deadline to cut the deficit by a staggering $1.5 trillion.  Pell Grants help millions earn their way into the middle class and strengthen our economy, yet Pell is a prime target for crippling cuts.

We cannot balance the budget on the backs of hard-working students.  Tell the Supercommittee to SAVE PELL. Do it today! 

Continue reading

Wage Negotiations Begin- Two Sides Far Apart as Administration Proposes Staff Wage Freeze

Come to the USofCC Contract Support Meeting:    
Friday, Sept 23rd
2 sessions:    noon – 1 pm & 1  to 2 pm
Hokin Hall –623 S. Wabash Ave.      Room 109

No one figured wage negotiations would be easy. But then few thought that the College would propose a wage freeze at the first bargaining session.

The administration’s proposal came after the Union had proposed a 4% increase across the board for all full-time and part-time bargaining unit employees.  Factors cited by the union to justify this increase included:

·         Cost of Living. Columbia employees have gone backward financially over the past three years –losing 5.1% against the National Cost of Living (Consumer Price Index). More recently, the cost of living increased by 3.77% over the most recent 12 month period (June 2010 to June 2011) compared to the staff 1% wage increase given to the staff.

·         Previous College Savings. The College has already initiated large cost-cutting measures, including layoffs, freezing of vacant positions, widespread department budget cuts, general expenditure cuts, and student tuition increases. President Carter stated during his Spring speech that savings had totaled approximately $6 million.  Since that time, the College has saved even more money through cuts to departments’ budgets and additional layoffs. According to President Carter, more changes (cuts) are planned as a result of the upcoming “prioritization” campaign. Continue reading

NLRB Boeing Case: Bill To Weaken Labor Board Passed By House Republicans

nlrb logoWASHINGTON — In their latest effort to aid the Boeing Company, House Republicans took the extraordinary step on Thursday of voting to strip the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) of much of its power.

The bill, entitled the Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act, would bar the federal labor board from ordering a company to close or relocate a workplace, even if that company has violated labor law. Thursday’s House vote fell along party lines, with 238 Republicans for the bill and 186 Democrats against it.

The bill is designed expressly to thwart a controversial complaint brought by the NLRB against Boeing that has put the future of a South Carolina Boeing plant into limbo. Continue reading

Chicago Hyatt Workers Join Nationwide Strikes

Hyatt WorkersStriking housekeepers and other hotel workers decry Hyatt as worst employer in the hotel industry

In an emblematic fight over the direction of our economy, today Hyatt workers in Chicago join thousands of Hyatt hotel workers in launching week-long strikes in cities nationwide, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Honolulu.

Workers from the Hyatt Regency Chicago and the Hyatt McCormick are participating in local strikes. By striking, workers are standing up for decent jobs for themselves and their families, but they are also fighting for the right to take a stand against an abusive employer that is destroying good jobs in their North American hotels.   Continue reading

It’s Save Pell Day: Act NOW

from The Education Trust:

Game on. It’s Save Pell Day.

Visit our online action center and send a clear message to politicians in Washington: Cutting funding for Pell Grants is not an acceptable option!

Here’s how you can help today:

Don’t wait — act now.  And when you’re done, ask five friends to do the same. Continue reading