Minutes 2020-03


Present

APA Statewide:

  • Sherry Horeanopoulos, President and Fitchburg State President Charlie Cianfarini, Vice President
  • Mark Powers, Secretary
  • Aaron Childs, Membership Coordinator
  • Catherine Santiago, MTA Field Representative

APA Chapter Presidents:

  • Seth Bean, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Brian Cahillane, Westfield State University
  • Jane Decatur, Framingham State University
  • Susan McNeil, Massachusetts College of Art & Design Mike Storey, Bridgewater State University
  • Edward Vacha, Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Absent

APA Statewide:

  • Maria Brunelle, Treasurer
  • Liz Novak, Web Manager
  • Alan Jackson, APA Representative to Health & Welfare

APA Chapter Presidents:

  • Mike Pelletier, Salem State University Maribeth Wrobel, Worcester State University

Guests

  • Benjamin Childs
  • Socrates Horeanopoulos
  • Hubert McNeil

Call to Order

at 10:09 am by Sherry Horeanopoulos

  • Approval of Minutes of Friday, February 21, 2020
  • The approval of the February minutes was postpone until the April 2020 Executive Board Meeting.

Public Comments

No guest comments.

President’s Report – Sherry Horeanopoulos

  • HELC Update – HELC’s March meeting was cancelled.
  • Contract Negotiation updates/issues
    • Vincent Padone requested that the Initial Negotiations meeting originally scheduled for March 25, 2020 be postponed.
    • APA Initial Negotiations meeting likely to be scheduled in April.
    • Vincent Padone will be providing a list of the individuals representing management.
  • PFMLA (Paid Family & Medical Leave Act) Meeting on March 4, 2020 at the MCCC Office (Worcester)
    • In attendance for Management:
      • Micheal Murray, Director of Employee & Labor Relations (Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE))
      • Elizabeth Sullivan, Rubin & Rudman.
    • In attendance for Labor:
      • Collen Fitzpatrick, Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA)
      • Sherry Horeanopoulos, Association of Professional Administrators (APA)
      • John McColgan, Massachusetts Community College Council (MCCC)
      • CJ O’Donnell, Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA)
      • Catherine Santiago, Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA)
      • Bret Seferian, Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA)
      • Margaret Wong, Massachusetts Community College Council (MCCC)
  • MCCC/MSCA/AP A proposal:
    • Deduct one (1) sick day per year per employee (with consideration for part time employees) in exchange for the DHE picking up the full cost of PFMLA.
  • Discussion of proposal:
    • M.Murray:
      • This discussion is best held at the contract bargaining tables and to include in the new contracts. Not side MOA’s (Memorandums of Agreement) that the Department of Revenue (DOR) never sees.
      • Why only one day? How will this impact the institutions? Cost analysis? Statutory sick leave at the MCCC campuses
      • Reiterates offer of 50/50 share of payments from Management.
    • Department of Labor Relations (DLR) still make a decision on all of the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) lawsuits filed by the unions. Some things may change is the State loses all of these cases. Catherine discussed the Paid FMLA mediation done at the Department of Labor Relations. (Not in the unions favor to declare an impasse in bargaining at this point.)
  • APA Evaluations timeline temporarily postponed.
  • Moving of Non-Essential Personnel designation to Temporary Essential Personnel.
  • HRCMS coding to allow for Teleworking. Use TEL code. Issue of having to sign a form as well as using Sick Time was also discussed.
  • MTA – Impact Bargaining occurring currently with DHE regarding COVID-19.

Treasurer’s Report – Maria Brunelle

  • Payroll due on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 by 12:00pm to Maria Brunelle.
  • Refer to attachment included in an email sent to Executive Board on March 10, 2020.
  • Vote will occur on the February and March reports in April due to Maria’s absence at the March meeting.

Membership and Data – Aaron Childs

  • 1377 Dues Paying Members. A decrease of 6 since February 2020.
  • 113 Non-Dues Paying Member. An increase of 2 since February 2020.
  • MTA Membership staff are all working remotely (home). All correspondence to them is now all electronic until further notice.
  • Motion to approve membership report as presented made: by Susan McNeil, 2nd by Sherry Horeanopoulos Vote: 9-0-0 Motion Passes

Website Report – Liz Novak

  • Added the link to MTA’s Resources about the Corona virus https://massteacher.org/coronavirus. to the News & Events section.

Health and Welfare Report

–No report

Committee Reports

  • Budget Committee – Mike Story
    • Review with Seth Bean the APA State-Wide By-laws regarding State-Wide Treasurer.
    • Language proposal regarding appointed positions and changes to the State-Wide Treasurer.
    • Discussion regarding a Non-Dues Paying member or a Non-Unit Professional (NUP) being eligible to be appointed to a position on the Executive Board.
  • Employee Relations Working Group – Mark Powers
    • Met on Monday March 5, 2020 at 1:00pm at the Worcester Arts Center
    • Attending the meeting:
      • Management:
        • Vincent Pedone, Council of Presidents (CoP)
        • Barbara Chaput, MCLA
        • Erin Nechipurenko, Framingham
        • Kerry Powers, Bridgewater
        • Jalisa Williams, Westfield
        • Jack Giarosso, MCAD
      • APA
        • Mark Powers, Chair
        • Charlie Cianfarini, Vice President
        • Kathi Braford, Secretary
        • Susan McNeil, MCAD
        • Brian Cahillane, Westfield
    • Evaluations
      • How to get buy-in for all who supervise APA unit members, meaning both APA & NUPs (VP’s, Deans, etc.).
      • Have a common document that goes out to all campuses (PowerPoint)
      • Include training regarding evaluation by supervisors at New Employee Orientation at all campuses done by Human Resources
      • What campuses currently have a electronic form to submit Appendix C and D?
      • Create an example of both Appendix C and D so that both employees and supervisors understand.
      • Alternative Schedules a. Discussion occurred regarding the existing language on page 20 of the current contract.
      • One additional meeting is planned for March 19, 2020
      • Meeting adjourned at 2:45pm.
  • Professional Development Committee – Edward Vacha
    • MTA Annual Meeting still scheduled to occur in May. Held in Springfield
       
  • Negotiations Committee – Sherry Horeanopoulos
    • As mentioned, the Initial Collective Bargaining Negotiations Meeting with Management where the rules are agreed to and the meeting schedule set has been postponed until April.
    • Discussion of MTA’s negotiations have begun and have been made open to MTA observers.

Old/New Business

  • Work is being compiled from everything Kathi Bradford was able to complete before rolling off as APA Secretary and will be shared for review in the coming months.
     
  • Discussion of how MTA Field Representative system is working.
  • Has everyone meet with their area representative yet, either in-person or virtually?
  • Can Sherry do anything to help facilitate interactions between the area rep and the chapter?
  • Possibility of negotiating a one-year extension of current collective bargaining agreement. 1. No details yet as to what this would entail in terms of a salary increase, if any.
     
  • Summary of Survey Results as Provided by Mike Storey. 1. See attachment.

Institutional Issues

Announcements

  • Monthly Expense/Payroll Reports due to Maria Brunelle at treasurer@maapa.org no later than March 24, 2020.

Adjournment

  • Motion to Adjourn made by Mike Storey, 2nd by Susan McNeil Vote: 9-0-0
  • Motion Passes