Volume XXXVIIl No. 7, July 2008 Union Press - upm.website

UPM INSIDE

United Professors of Marin 1 4 6 7 8 9-10
Ponderings Connecting the Retirement ―Just Mediation UPM Budget
Arbitration
of the Dots: Doing my Update Report/
President Stepford Wives Update Job‖ Dues Increase

Volume XXXVIIl No. 7, July 2008

Union Press

Tick-tock, tick, tock, time
on the clock.

Amount paid to the
attorney for the District
during the month May:

$9,400 (for UPM only)
plus another $2500 for

other negotiations.

And we still do not have
a contract!

Ponderings of the President

by Ira Lansing

Summer seems to be the “I am extraordinarily Dear Margaret,
time when faculty try and patient, provided I get my
catch up with the backlog own way in the end.” I The answer to your
of life. It is no exception have waited nigh on four question is about as clear
around here. The mail years for the Retiree as banks of the Thames on
bags have literally been Incentive Agreement and those foggy London nights
taking over the office, so subsequent arbitration to with which you are so
let’s reach in and see what be resolved. What can I familiar. It can definitely
concerns some of you may expect and when? be said that the issue has
have. been resolved to UPM’s
Signed, Margaret Thatcher
Dear Indefatigable One, Continued on 2

Union Press July 2008

satisfaction and that the Halfway between what it to delete any matters nor to
District is now working on really means and what present counter-offers to
adjusting salary schedules you'd like it to the proposals presented by
and determining back pay. mean?…Why in the world UPM or to accept offers
No one is saying for sure would you have it made by the Union in
when the check will be interpreted by nine exchange for those they
mailed, whether it will be lawyers?” What is desire. It can be clearly
one check or four checks at holding things up? We seen that the part of the
one time (one for each year have been at it for going first part has no desire to
of the time since the on 16 months with entertain any matters
agreement). The District seemingly little progress. relevant to the party of the
does know that if payment The legal process of second part.
is not made by the end of impasse has begun and
July that additional interest once again, lawyers are In the absence of an
will be owed to the faculty. involved, so we know how agreement at this step, the
quickly the process will mediator can send the
We can say that after all is resolve itself. What can be parties to fact-finding.
said and done, all salary done and what will This process will attempt
schedules will increase by happen? to produce a compromise
2.7%. The checks will contract as determined by a
cover the adjustments Signed, Antonin Scalia panel of three people (not
leading to this final necessarily one of your
percentage over the four Dear Antonin, collegial judges, I would
years, plus interest. I need note). Unlike the arena in
not remind you, since you First, let me clarify a which you find yourself
exercised an iron grip over statement you made. Antonin, the outcome of
finances, this money is There is only one Brethren fact-finding is not binding
repayment of a loan UPM of Your Bar involved in under the law. The two
unit members made to the the impasse process and parties can use the results
District. The loan could that is the attorney for the as a basis for further
have been interest free District. UPM’s negotiations or the Board
with no repayment representatives are all of Trustees can impose a
necessary had the current members of the faculty and contract, at which point the
administration hired members of the bargaining faculty can either accept or
sufficient replacements to team. As to what is reject this imposed
offset the 18 people who holding up the process, it contract. In the latter case,
retired in 2003-2004. But would appear that the what happens next is
as sustained by Arbitrator evidence does not support covered by the following
Gould, this did not happen; a resolution of mutual inquiry and response.
hence, actually money satisfaction. While there
needs to be reimbursed. are some items of common Dear Hippy-Dippy,
agreement, there are more
Dear Judicious Personage, outstanding issues on “I'm not concerned about
which compromise does all hell breaking loose, but
Let’s talk legal contract. not appear to forthcoming, that a PART of hell will
“What is a moderate and to date the District has
interpretation of the text? not indicated a willingness Continued on 3

Union Press 2 July 2008

break loose…it’ll be much Dear George, job, you cannot be fired,
harder to detect.” Now I you may lose pay,
know that you know there I have never been one to depending on what is
are seven words we don’t readily conform to social eventually negotiated,
ever mention. Just to dictates, so I will here and although both the AFT and
review, there is the sh- now, in print, put forth the CFT (the national and state
word, the p-word, the f- s-t-word: STRIKE. And as affiliations of UPM) have
word, the c-word, the c-s- fond as you were of strike funds to support
word, the m-f-word, and baseball, that is not what I faculty who do go out.
the t-word. There is an am referencing. In the Rest assured that extensive
eighth word that also is not event that the Board of discussion and
mentioned in polite Trustees imposes a explanations will take
company, the s-t-word. contract that is place before the faculty
“Honesty may be the best unacceptable to the faculty, need to vote on this option.
policy, but it's important to the faculty can vote to As you yourself said:
remember that apparently, strike. This could be a “Ever notice that anyone
by elimination, dishonesty scary thought, but it is going slower than you is
is the second-best policy.” most certainly hoped any an idiot, but anyone going
UPM is a first-rate labor action would be short faster is a maniac?” UPM
organization, so I only (a few days?) in duration. will attempt to bring
want the best policy. What This would be unlike say, everyone up to the same
is the true scoop on the s-t- an auto workers strike speed so that we can all
word? “When someone where manufacturing stops move forward together.
asks you, A penny for your yet there is still product at So there’s your other
thoughts, and you put your the dealerships so the penny, George.
two cents in, what happens widespread impact is much
to the other penny?” I less; when educators go on So stay informed, stay in
want your thoughts. strike the product ceases touch, stay involved. E-
immediately to all mail
Signed, recipients and is readily ira@UnitedProfessorsofM
noticed. And speaking of arin.org to be added to the
George Carlin autos, George, why is it “news flash” mailing list
that you “park on a (no spam ever).
driveway and drive on a
parkway?” But back to a
strike. You don’t lose your

New UPM Website
www.unitedprofessorsofmarin.org

District Lawyer Paid $ 400,000.00 to negotiate?
Fran White has her contract ... where is ours?

UPM Requests PERB to Declare Impasse!
Mediation Updates

New Salary Schedule

Union Press 3 July 2008

CONNECTING THE more than just male We’ve all known
DOTS fantasy, because in their Stepford Wives – people
desire to create the who would rather go-
News and Opinion ―ideal‖ wife, these men along and get-along
by Arthur Lutz had drugged their wives rather than speak up or
and surgically and get involved – who
STEPFORD WIVES technologically robotized timidly disengage in
them in a secret times of turmoil – who
In 1972 Ira Levin wrote laboratory in order to promise to be supportive
an Orwellian novel turn them into mindless, and then withdraw and
called ―The Stepford compliant Barbies. remain silent.
Wives.” It was made
into a movie in 1975 and The novel was a biting There are examples
then remade in 2004. satire of current gender throughout history of
relations and the efforts Stepford Wives who
It tells of a suburban to which men will go to have timidly abandoned
New England town preserve their or betrayed their friends
where women go patriarchal domination of or countrymen – as
blissfully about their women. during the Nazi
domestic chores – occupation of France.
cleaning, doing laundry, Since the movie’s Or like the Manchukuo
shopping, cooking release the term Chinese who
gourmet meals – Stepford Wife has collaborated with the
contentedly conforming become part of our Japanese sending tens
to their roles as American lexicon. of thousands of their
compliant and obedient However it is now used fellow citizens to their
housewives. to describe any person, deaths; or like the
male or female who informers during our
After moving to the town conforms meekly to own shameful McCarthy
of Stepford, these once authority – who era – all of whom
vibrant, independent contentedly acquiesces meekly refused to speak
and high-achieving without question or up to defend their
women suddenly complaint. The term friends, their colleagues
became transformed Stepford Wife has or their principles.
into docile, non- become a label denoting
argumentative mindless servility and None of us will readily
automatons, uncomplaining admit to being a
submissively fulfilling all submission to authority. Stepford Wife, but how
their husbands’ needs, many of us will really
demands and fantasies ―None of us will readily admit speak out when the
without question or to being a Stepford Wife, but going gets a little rough?
complaint. how many of us will really Or will we be like
speak out when the going Groucho Marx who said,
But the changes that gets a little rough?‖ “These are my
they exhibited were principles.

Continued on 5

Union Press July 2008

If you don’t like them, I what is in effect a 5% faculty has fought for so
have others.” retroactive cut in our many years.
wages,* and they are
―Our union will not act like insisting on the right to When the District
obedient Stepford Wives and assign us additional perceives that our
submissively abandon the work without faculty is united and
contractual rights for which compensation, and refuses to be intimidated
our faculty has fought for so punitive evaluation and robotized into
many years. procedures as well as compliant Barbies, we
other degradations of will be able to resolve
I’m writing about this our contract. These are our differences and
issue because our not the kind of arrive at a mutually
faculty Union is at a bargaining demands acceptable Contract.
crossroads in contract that we can accept and Until then, our faculty
negotiations with the that will result in a should be prepared to
District, and our faculty signed agreement. stand up, speak out and
may need to speak up demonstrate support for
and actively Our Union will not act UPM.
demonstrate support for like obedient Stepford
our struggle for fair and Wives and submissively *Marin County cost of living
equitable wages and abandon the contractual increased 5% in 2007. The
working conditions. The rights for which our District has offered us a 0
District is demanding, (zero) % pay increase for
2007.

PRESIDENT UPM Committees and SABBATICAL LEAVE
Ira Lansing Staff COMMITTEE
Jamie Deneris, Don Foss,
BARGAINING TEAM NORTH BAY LABOR COUNCIL Chris Schultz, Toni Yoshioka
Paul Christensen (Chief Negotiator) REPRESENTATIVE
Hank Fearnley, Theo Fung, Arthur George Hritz CRA TRUST
Lutz Mike Ransom, John Sutherland Ed Essick(Chair)
PROFESSIONAL AFFAIRS Sarah Brewster, Ira Lansing
UPM-PAC COMMITTEE Ron Palmer
Arthur Lutz Mike Ransom, David Rollison
UPM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
GRIEVANCE OFFICER WORKLOAD COMMITTEE Ira Lansing, Paul Christensen
John Sutherland Carl Cox, Patrick Kelly Carl Cox, Hank Fearnley
Arthur Lutz, Deborah Graham
TREASURER HEALTH AND SAFETY Mike Ransom, John Sutherland
Theo Fung COMMITTEE Tom Behr
Jamie Deneris, George Adams
BUDGET MONITOR WEB MASTER
Deborah Graham Mike Ransom

BAY 10 REPRESENTATIVE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS UNION PRESS EDITOR
Rinetta Early COMMITTEE John Sutherland
Arthur Lutz
CCC REPRESENTATIVE Mike Ransom EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Open Position Teresa Capaldo

Union Press 5 July 2008

Retirement Savings "new" and what existed benefits for retirees
Arbitration Update on the old. Yes, UPM is liability fund. So no
watching to make sure operating budgets
Below is the most recent they go it correctly. should be affected.
salary schedule as
approved by the Board The District has After all is said and
of Trustees on July 22, communicated to UPM done, the District is still
2008. This "new" that they tentatively anticipating a reserve for
schedule is now in effect believe they can 2008-09 of more than
and is the result of distribute all of the back 6% on a budget of about
UPM's win in the pay by the end of $54 million. Do not let
arbitration regarding the August. They plan to them tell you there is no
Retirement Incentive issue four separate money and don't believe
from 2003-04. It is checks (one for each it when they say there is
important to note that year since 2004), with none "because the
this salary schedule is interest included on teachers took it all.‖
dated "Effective July 1, each check, and
2006". This re- possibly one check each Also remember that
emphasizes that this week throughout they could have gotten
money is not a raise--we August. off for about $600,000
have no had a raise (or even $0 if they had
since 2006--but money The total value of this hired full-timers!) if
owed to you by the back pay is about $2.2 they had only done it
District since 2004. million dollars. The the right way back in
District has been holding 2004. We gave them a
Remember that there on to $1.4 million over loan back then and
were increases in the the years in anticipation now they are repaying
salary schedules going of losing. The remaining it. It was their choice
back to 2004, plus $800,000 will come out to wait and incur
interest at 7% applied to of the General Fund, but interest. Tell that to
all these changes, so because of a property your friends,
the money owed to you tax windfall last year, it neighbors and the
is more than just the will only cost about taxpayers of Marin
difference between what $600,000, and almost all County.
you now see on the of that is coming from
their unfunded medical

Union Press July 2008

―Just Doing My Job‖ extent to which he mortgage lender
resorts to self-deception failures, Bush declared
In the book she subtitled beyond personal that the economy is
The Banality of Evil, matters, which one can ―basically sound.‖
Hannah Arendt reported argue should be off
that Adolf Eichmann felt limits anyway, and the How long will people’s
he was ―just doing my sincerity with which he willingness to believe, to
job‖ when, as embraces self-deluding be deceived, last?
Transportation beliefs amount to a
Administer, he sent personality trait that At College of Marin, we,
hundreds of thousands goes directly to larger too, face a certain
of Jews to their death. issues of character and deception by our
Eichmann’s chilling leadership style and leaders, yet their
ability to do his job carry over into real reports, a la McClellan,
coupled with his inability issues of governance.‖ paint a rosy picture: Last
or refusal to see the month’s ―Source‖ (―The
crime in that job is The White House May flowers blossoming
echoed in What response promptly and throughout the campus
Happened, the recent predictably denounced inspire us as we tend to
book by former Bush McClellan as a COM’s institutional
press secretary Scott ―misguided, left-wing garden.‖); the county-
McClellan. But blogger‖ despite wide flyer touting
McClellan eventually abundant evidence in ―skyrocketing‖
came to see his role support of McClellan’s enrollment at IVC; the
within a deceitful argument: The build-up oft-heard motto
administration, to the wars in Iraq and ―Together we can make
acknowledged his Iran and the now almost great things happen‖;
complicity and reported universally recognized the empty claims of
on it: ―I was part of this false claims of weapons equity among
propaganda campaign, of mass destruction; the constituencies; the
absolutely.‖ Valerie Plame affair; the promises of shared
horrors of Abu Ghraib; decision making; the
McClellan writes: the Army’s highest ―commitment to
―Self deceit is a human suicide rate on record; educational excellence.‖
quality and we all the ―striking lack of This list goes on.
engage in it at times. recollection‖ by White
But for politicians it House and military And it is offset by the
tends to me more officials in the Patrick administration’s
discernable and Tillman’s ―friendly fire‖ characterization of
probably more death….. But the deceit senior faculty as
pronounced because of just keeps on coming. dinosaurs that must be
the intense spotlight Recently, amidst chopped to pieces; its
they are under. Bush is deepening economic encouraging charges of
certainly not the first or anxiety throughout the racism against honored
the last politician to nation, skyrocketing gas faculty--
deceive himself, but the prices, foreclosures, and
Continued on 8
Union Press
July 2008

charges that easily refusal to respect story, and those who

could have been set to contractual perpetuate the lies will
rest with a quick agreements—refusals be dishonored. Who will

admission that the that are now costing be the Scott McClellan

phrase in question was Marin taxpayers of this administration

first uttered by the hundreds of thousands and stand up to it,

president of the of dollars in interest; publicly denounce its

institution; claims by the attacks on Union hypocrisy, its rosy story,
―leadership‖ that certain personnel; ―offers‖ of 0% and set the record

faculty members are out salary increase for the, straight? When will our

to destroy the institution; as advertised, excellent Scott McClellan stand
faculty; a excessively up to this ―leadership‖?
bad faith bargaining at bloated administration.
the negotiation tables—

not even a cost of living Time, of course, will And who will continue
just to ―do his (or her)
increase in one of the bring to the surface the job‖?
country’s most affluent COM administration’s
J Sutherland
counties; blatant

contractual violations; whole disingenuous

****************************************************************************************************

Bargaining/Mediation Though we often hear money is going. The full-
Update that we make too much time faculty number
money and that the continues to decline
The UPM bargaining college spends more $’s while this year’s budget
team and the District per student than any has again increased and
met in another other community college is again larger than it
mediation session on in California, a June has been in the history.
July 23. UPM had 2008 CCA Advocate
countered the District’s article ranks College Given the current
last offer, and after of Marin’s faculty circumstances, faculty
meeting with the Board salary schedule 48th must once again
of Trustees, the out of the state’s 109 express their concerns
District’s representatives community colleges. at the Opening Day
rejected UPM’s proposal In the number one and Convocation. Come
out-of-hand, giving no two positions are Mira early, grab a picket sign
count-offer, just saying Costa and South and join everyone
"no." The refusal Orange, which are, outside. Once inside,
typifies the District's along with us, the state’s ask the pressing
bargaining: no offers only other Basic Aid questions (if the format
and no authority to districts. even allows for it) and
make any offers. One let the administration
more (last?) mediation With the expansion of know that everything is
session has been CoM’s administration not as rosy as they let
scheduled for August (nearly double the size it on.
28. was just a few years
ago), we needn’t wonder UPM Executive Council
any longer where all the

Union Press 8 July 2008

UPM Budget Report

7/1/2007 through 6/30/2008

Category Description 7/1/2007- 6/30/2008 % of Total

INCOME 231,566.04 57.42 %
dues & assessment 33,360.55 8.27 %
cft/aft grants 126,124.86 31.27 %
legal defense fund acct 12,171.83 3.02 %
transfer from UPM legal defense fund 62.62 0.02 %
re-imbursement 403,285.90 100.00 %
TOTAL INCOME

EXPENSES 6,272.21 1.54 %
fed/state tax w/h, salary 1,027.43 0.25 %
Wells Fargo payroll serv. 133,105.97 32.66 %
payment to affiliates 151,534.14 37.19 %
attorney 1,500.00 0.37 %
contributions 2,176.71 0.53 %
duplic & printing 5,868.00 1.44 %
medical employee benefit 2,978.07 0.73 %
insurance 21,889.14 5.37 %
legal costs 3,599.22 0.88 %
meeting costs 3,137.95 0.77 %
office supplies 290.60 0.07 %
postage 3,498.08 0.86 %
professional services 1,200.00 0.29 %
rent 34,339.56 8.43 %
salary 34,802.48 8.54 %
hourly employee(s) 10.00 0.00 %
taxes 261.58 0.06 %
telephone 407,491.14 100.00 %
TOTAL EXPENSES
-4,205.24 100.00 %
OVERALL TOTAL

Union Press July 2008

CFT/AFT Dues Increases

At the July 18, 2008, UPM Executive Council meeting, the Exec approved the following
increases by the CFT and AFT. These increases are automatic ―pass throughs‖ to UPM

memers.

Monthly dues structure effective September 2008 (cft/aft increase)
Approved by UPM executive council meeting July 18, 2008

Category 1 $12.53 (.21 cft/ .19 aft increase)
2 $21.17 (.41 cft/ .38 aft increase)
3 $38.51 (.83 cft/ .75 aft increase)
4 $55.65 (.83 cft/ .75 aft increase)
5 $91.82 (1.65 cft/ 1.50 aft increase)

**note: stipend rate begins July 1, 2008 at $62.66
Mileage beginning July 1, 2008 is .585 cents per mile

Definitions:
All rates are per month for eligible unit members.

Category #1: All non-credit instructors teaching on a quarter system. Semester system
non-credit instructors are in categories #2, #3 or #4.

Category #2: Non-credit instructors on a semester system, counselors, librarians, other
certificated or instructors working the equivalent of up to and including 4 teaching units.

Category #3: Non-credit instructors on a semester system, counselors, librarians, other
certificated or instructors working the equivalent of more than 4 teaching units, but less
than 6 teaching units.

Category #4: Non-credit instructors on a semester system, counselors, librarians, other
certificated or instructors working the equivalent of 6 teaching units up to and including
9 teaching units.

Category #5: All permanent/probationary counselors, librarians, other certificated or
instructors; sabbatical or other leave replacements.

Want to share your thoughts on the new Banner system? Have
something to say about contract negotiations? Feel that your rights are
being violated?

Letters to the Editor Feel free to voice your comments and/or opinions concerning any article
or issue about you, the College or your union. Please direct your letters
to [email protected] Names withheld upon request.

Union Press 10 July 2008

Important Message from AFT

Recent changes to the tax code regarding deferred compensation have raised
questions for AFT members who are compensated on the basis of working nine or ten
months but are paid over a 12-month period.

Under the rules now in place, if your institution gives you a choice of a 12-month pay
period, you must submit a written request to your employer before the start of the new
school year in order to participate in the 12-month program, and this request cannot be
revoked during the tax year.

Below is the website for the IRS regulations, which explains the issue in detail:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=172883.html

If you have further questions, please direct them to the AFT Higher Education office at
800-238-1133/ ext.4426 or [email protected]

United Professors of Marin
UPM-PAC Payroll Deduction Form

The UPM-PAC (Political Action Committee) provides financial support to candidates and measures that
support or benefit education in Marin County and the College of Marin in particular. If you would like to
support the UPM-PAC with a monthly contribution, small or large, please fill out the form below and
send it to the Payroll Office.

To: Payroll, College of Marin
Date: _____________________

I herby authorize the Marin Community College to deduct from my earnings the sum of ___________
beginning in the month of ________, __________ (year), and each month thereafter, and to remit this
sum to the United Professors of Marin PAC #990958 until I revoke this authorization in writing.

Signature: _________________________________

Print Name: _________________________________

Address: _________________________________

City: _________________________________

Zip: _____________________________________

SSN: _____________________________________

Union Press July 2008

UPM Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
United Professors of Marin
Paid
American Federation of Teachers
Local 1610 Permit No. 462
Box 503 San Rafael, CA
Kentfield, CA 94914

UPM Membership Application

I hereby apply for membership in the United Professors of Marin, AFT Local 1610

Date: ______________________________ Email:____________________
Name______________________________ SS #: ____________________
Address:____________________________ Department: _______________
City:_______________________________ Zip:_______________
Home Phone:________________________ Campus Ext.:__________

Check the appropriate category:
____ I am a permanent credit or non-credit employee or leave replacement.
____ I am a temporary non-credit employee on the quarter system.
____I am a temporary credit or non-credit employee on the semester system.

Return to UPM Kentfield campus mailbox or UPM Office, Science Center 136

Union Press 12 July 2008