I am hopeful that we will be able to reach a settlement at the end of the month. We have negotiations dates arranged for August 29 and 30. If the Administration called today and were serious about reaching an agreement, we could settle all four contracts in a couple of days. There are no major contract language issues. It is mainly money issues.

In the Eighties and early Nineties, settlements often came at the end of August. By then, the State money is known, the County money is known, and the tuition money is known. Perhaps at that time, we will receive an offer comparable to what other community colleges have received.

The United Negotiations Team does not want the negotiations sessions to drag on until Christmas or Easter as has happened in the recent past. So, the Team established the ACCCEA Emergency Action Council. The Council met for ninety minutes today in A 146 to list possible job actions in September and October, if necessary. At the meeting were representatives from all four units plus Dom Nigro. Just because we are not at the table does not mean we are not working. We are setting up a telephone chain and have a list of activities and dates. There is much work involved in these activities and I would rather have a fair settlement and skip all the discomfort.

Will Parsons, Unity Negotiations Team Coordinator

The Unity Negotiations Team met with Board representatives Karen Beckman and Joe Rossi on July 5 in J 202 to discuss the faculty contract. Members of the team present were Michelle Bevan, Phil Cragg, Dom Nigro, Ellen Parker, Will Parsons
Marsha Patrick, Jim Sacchinelli, John Stratton, and Jim Usilton. Negotiations were scheduled for 11:00 and began at 11:30. Dom went over the outstanding issues of the faculty contract point by point.

It was slightly different today. Usually Joe, Cindy, and Karen come in and listen or Joe talks. It usually starts with about a minute of social chatter and often ends with a couple of sarcastic comments. Today Joe’s tone was even and there was more discussion between Dom and Joe. That is a good sign. Unfortunately Joe’s remark that we are, “…still early in the negotiations” is a bad sign. The contract ended June 30. What happens when the contract runs out is that the present contract stays in effect, so that one’s pay and benefits continue.

The Board’s team left a little before noon. Then we were in caucus. In caucus, Joe is supposedly preparing a response to the earlier proposal. Newcomers are usually surprised at how much time this process takes. At 3:40, Joe called Dom into his office for informal discussion. These discussions are “off the record”. When we get close to settling this is where the final closure occurs. Neither negotiator will approve of something that has not been approved by the people he represents. Dom came back for discussion with the team. Dom and Joe agreed to meet on two days during the last week of August. In the past, the end of August is when settlement often has occurred. At that point, the Board knows how much money we are getting from the State and how much is coming from enrollment.

We will attempt to meet during July and August but the problem is that people are on vacation and, if key people are away, we will not meet. There will be no need to check this web site weekly.

There was progress today, but we are not close to settlement. If the money were in the range of the other NJ community college’s settlements, we could easily settle two of the contracts and possibly all four in one long all day session. That is the good news. Meanwhile the Emergency Action Council will be in discussion. Will Parsons, Unity Negotiations Coordinator.