Making Members Whole — How CSEA Works for You
This is your union. There is no union without U. Your union is here to protect your job. Many people love unions. Many hate unions. Some people believe talk about how unions protect employees is hollow and meaningless. Well, here at Mt. SAC, your CSEA doesn’t provide you with platitudes. CSEA provides results.
One of the ways CSEA protects you is through the steward program. Stewards are members just like you who have chosen to help fellow CSEA 262 brothers and sisters with employee relations, contract issues, and working conditions. These are the most common functions of the stewards.
If you feel your rights are being violated or that the contract is being misapplied or misinterpreted, you can file a complaint through the grievance process to have that issue resolved. Many employees don’t like to file grievances themselves — they don’t want to “make waves” or feel awkward discussing these issues with their managers.
That’s when your CSEA union steward can step in and file the grievance on your behalf. The purpose of a grievance is not to create conflict but to discuss an issue with management and come to a mutual understanding and resolution. It is not meant to be adversarial or confrontational at all, and it does not have to be. Such was the case with CSEA’s latest grievance case.
On July 9, 2020, Mt. San Antonio College hosted the virtual Inspiration Games at our brand-new Hilmer Lodge Stadium (watch a video here of the 150m race at Hilmer Lodge). This event had only a few athletes on campus who participated in a few track and field events. Typically, when an athletic event is held on campus, our classified professional unit members in Kinesiology work these events. During this event, our unit member was told he could not work because the contract with the host organization did not budget the cost of the classified employee in the contract, and because there was concern about exposure to COVID-19.
Americans Tianna Bartoletta, left, Allyson Felix, center, and Candace Hill celebrate after winning the women’s 3x100-meter relay during the Weltklasse Zurich Inspiration Games at Mt. San Antonio College. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
Our unit member disagreed, felt his rights were violated, and contacted a CSEA 262 steward. CSEA 262 filed a Level 1 grievance and met with the Dean of Kinesiology. The dean felt his concerns about COVID-19 were appropriate and also claimed the unit member had not been completely trained for the work. The grievance was denied.
But that wasn’t the end.
Your Chapter President Robert Stubbe, Chief Steward Liz Jauregui, and the steward handling the grievance (Mark Fernandez) did not agree with the Dean’s decision and decided to file a Level 2 grievance and met with the next higher manager Vice President of Instruction Richard Mahon. At that meeting, Fernandez argued that COVID-19 concerns were not logical considering more than 240 classified professionals have returned to campus to work since the campus closed, and that the unit member had been trained properly since he had already done similar work at other athletic events for years. CSEA argued that using faculty as volunteers to perform bargaining unit work violated the contract. Ultimately, VP Mahon agreed. The grievance was sustained.
Our unit member will be recompensed for sixteen hours at the call-back rate as stipulated in the telecommuting agreement — we “made the member whole.” Additionally, CSEA 262 and the District will be discussing the process used for contracting facilities to outside agencies so any appropriate bargaining unit work will be performed by bargaining unit members.
Your stewards work to ensure your rights are protected. They work to protect your jobs and to keep the work all our classified professionals do is done by our unit members. When the work in our job descriptions is given out to faculty or managers or even hourly employees and students, CSEA is here to make that right and to make our members whole. This is how CSEA works for you.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
In 1968 President Lyndon Johnson began celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. It was a week-long observance called Hispanic Heritage Week.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded and renamed the observance as National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 each year. Congress officially enacted National Hispanic Heritage Month into law that same year on August 17, 1988.
National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates and honors the contributions and achievements of the diverse cultures within the Hispanic community each year. The dates were chosen to commemorate two key historic events. September 15, 1821 is the anniversary of the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua from Spain. Mexico and Chile gained independence from Spain on September 16 and September18, respectively. September 21 is also the day the Caribbean colony Belize (formerly British Honduras) gained independence from Britain.
The contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans are as many and diverse as its population. In 2018, Hispanics contributed to the economy with more than two trillion dollars ($2,000,000,000,000) of purchasing power and more than $215 billion in tax revenue. Latino entrepreneurs owned more than 20 percent of all transportation and warehouse businesses in the United States and a growing number of construction firms. Latino businesses create nearly 3 million jobs annually, a number that continues to grow.
Latinos also represent nearly 20 percent of active military personnel, and two of America’s most famous astronauts, Ellen Ochoa (who was the first Latina in space) and Jose Hernandez. There are more than 1.5 million Hispanic veterans, and more than 40 Hispanic-American soldiers have been recipients of the Medal of Honor since the Boxer rebellion in 1900.
As the Mt. SAC campus community raises awareness of equity and diversity issues, we should all recognize and celebrate the contributions of our diverse college leadership, faculty, classified professionals, and our students. Cultural celebrations foster respect and open-mindedness for other cultures and helps unite and educate us so we can understand other perspectives, which broadens our own.
This is America’s heritage, which is memorialized on America’s welcoming icon, the Statue of Liberty:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Welcome to Mt. SAC: New Classified Professionals
At the September 9 Board of Trustees meeting, the college welcomed these new or promoted classified employees:
Permanent New Hires
Luis Jacobo Manriquez, Project Coordinator (Upward Bound)
Cathy Stute, Senior Research Analyst (Research & Institutional Effectiveness)
During our current telecommuting period, send an e-mail and welcome them to Mt. SAC. Extend a warm welcome, invite them to a Zoom lunch or to lunch when we all return, and, if they work in your area or near you, make them feel welcome. Invite them to and encourage them to attend the next “virtual” Chapter meeting so they can introduce themselves.
Coming Soon: Leadership Development Series
The Classified Professional Development Committee is presenting an online seminar for classified professionals who may be interested in becoming campus leaders. The seminars are 90 minutes each of three days, and this seminar is eligible for the professional growth benefit.
This seminar presents a compelling new way of looking at the role of today’s leaders as one of support rather than one of control. Effective leaders ensure they manage themselves before they try to influence others. Great leaders are people of high character and high competence.
This program includes a thorough self-assessment to establish how well the participant presently manages themselves and influences others.
Through real-life examples, powerful case studies, participative exercises and an action-orientated format, participants apply proven leadership principles and character-based methods to bring out the very best in the people they lead.
Never before in the history of our working lives has the call for excellent leadership been as strong as it is now. This seminar will significantly and sustainably help inspire your present and future leaders to achieve excellent results.
For an overview at the seminar’s curriculum, follow this link.
A Message from Your CSEA President
Ben Valdepena, President California School Employees Association
Hello fellow brothers and sisters,
I have good news and I have bad news about the election.
The good news is we only have 39 days before it's over. The bad news is, we only have 39 days left to convince as many people as possible to vote for candidates who support workers and for Prop 15, which will help provide stable funding for our schools.
Each of you have state legislators and members of Congress to decide on, as well as school board members who help determine your working conditions and job status. To help you with state and federal candidates, we've created a Voter Guide with the full list of CSEA-endorsed candidates.
We've put together this information so you can be as informed as possible when you vote, and we need your help to spread the word to as many of our brothers and sisters as possible. As we continue our phone banking effort, we need more volunteers for this final push.
In order to volunteer, all you need is a personal computer and a stable internet connection. We also promise you will have some fun playing bingo and wearing funny hats. You may even be entered into a nightly opportunity for prizes! To volunteer, please contact your Labor Relations Representative or Field Office as soon as possible to get signed up!
We're in the home stretch of this election year and it's one that will have far-reaching ramifications for almost every aspect of our lives. We must support the candidates and issues that support us, and we must do everything we can to convince others to vote with us.
This is a rallying cry, my brothers and sisters. This is what it means to be in a union, to be a worker in America and to be a citizen. Let's rise up and make our voices heard, loud and clear, that we want a government that supports our students' rights to a quality public education, that supports our right to earn a good living, and supports opportunity and equality for every person.
In Solidarity,
Ben Valdepeña
Association President
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
Phone Banking Volunteers Needed
CSEA has endorsed Prop 15 in order to bring $9-12 billion annually to education and communities. Please help CSEA pass proposition by calling CSEA members. We need volunteers for September 21, 22, 24, 28, 29 and 30th. If you are interested in helping, contact CSEA Labor Relations Representative Astrid Campos. More information is available in the attached flyer.
CSEA’s Voter Guide
The 2020 November general election promises to be historic on a number of levels and for a number of reasons. CSEA remains a party-neutral union that bases its voter recommendations on candidates and issues best representing the interests of CSEA members.
Candidates are selected by CSEA’s Political Action for Classified Employees (PACE) Committee for recommendation to the CSEA Board of Directors, with CSEA Board Members making the official endorsement. These recommendations are made by PACE based on candidates’ voting records, answers to CSEA’s questionnaires and candidate interviews or some combination of these. Candidates are rated for such recommendations based on issues of importance to CSEA, including school and community college funding, retirement benefit protections, health care reform, workers’ rights and other issues impacting CSEA members in their workplace.
CSEA’s voter guide for the November 3 general election — just 53 days away as of the publishing date of this article — is now available online at the CSEA web site. The CSEA Board of Directors has approved endorsements for candidates in the elective offices of President and Vice President of the United States, California State Senate, California State Assembly, California propositions, and the U.S. Congress. You can find these endorsements by following this link to the CSEA web site.
Ways to Contribute
STRONGER TOGETHER:
Some chapter members vote to take a certain amount out of their general fund. Others hold online or virtual fundraisers. Even passing a virtual hat at a virtual chapter meeting can help the fund; simply share the online donation link or automatic payroll deduction form link at your virtual meetings.
Or, you can always make an individual donation.
DONATE ONLINE: Use this link to make a one-time or recurring donation in the amount of your choosing.
DONATE BY CREDIT CARD: Call CSEA Member Benefits at 866-ITS-CSEA (866-487-2732)
DONATE BY PAYROLL DEDUCTION: Download the Assistance Fund Payroll Deduction Form (PDF)
DONATE BY MAIL: Send a check donation to CSEA Headquarters. Make checks payable to CSEA Assistance Fund and mail the donation to:
CSEA Headquarters
Attn: Member Benefits
2045 Lundy Ave.
San Jose, CA 95131
Your CSEA Chapter 262 Executive Board:
Robert Stubbe, President • Rosa Asencio, 1st Vice President
Marlene Espina, 2nd Vice President • Barbara Carrillo, Secretary • Zak Gallegos, Treasurer
Elizabeth Jauregui, Chief Union Steward • Mark Fernandez, Communications Officer
Brandon Gillett, Site Rep Coordinator • Sandra Bollier, Past President
“To improve the lives of our members, students, and community.”
CSEA Chapter 262 • 1100 N. Grand Avenue Walnut, California 91789 • 909.274.6262