Hindsight is 2020 . . . Welcome 2021!
As we welcome the new year and reflect on 2020, the words to the traditional New Year song “Auld Lange Syne” become even more relevant.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lange syne?
For auld lange syne, my dear,
For auld lange syne,
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lange syne.
These words never reverberate so much than in this new year of 2021, for there is much about 2020 we would like to “be forgot” and “never brought to mind” again. As 2021 dawns, we also could all certainly use a “cup of kindness” to start the new year.
The words to the song came from a poem by British poet Robert Burns in 1788. The music was a traditional folk song, well known across the world. The lyrics were from a poem based on a folk tale told through the ages sung at funerals and graduations as a farewell or ending of an occasion.
The song became a traditional welcome to the New Year celebrations in most English speaking countries, originating from the Scottish new year celebrations.
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians popularized the song and played it for every New Year from 1929 until 1979, long before Dick Clarke continued the tradition. Lombardo started the tradition in the United States after the stock market crashed in 1929.
In the tradition of “ending,” let’s hope this new year brings a swift end to the year that was 2020. In hindsight, it was the year of disasters, terrible fires, and a world-wide pandemic that killed hundreds of thousands and is still going. However, the year was not all bad — there were some notable triumphs as well, like Ebola and Polio were eradicated in the African Continent, DACA was sustained by the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court also supported LGBTQ civil rights, people rose up to protest racism and sexual harassment — and the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series!
Let us “forget” this past year’s negativity and focus on the “cup of kindness” that 2020 brought us as we look forward to the possibilities and potential of 2021.
If you would like to learn more about Auld Lange Syne and its traditional meaning, you can watch this well done YouTube video.
Negotiations Update
Your Chapter 262 Negotiations Team began the reopener negotiations process with the District Thursday, January 14 and 15 with Interest Based Bargaining training with the District, our sister Chapter 651, and the District’s teams for both CSEA units. This training is important to a smooth negotiations process, and CSEA hops negotiations will be completed by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2021.
The negotiation tentative agreements have all been signed and are now completing the required review by the CSEA Field Office. Once that is completed, they will be presented to the Mt. SAC Board of Trustees at the February Board meeting. When adopted by the Board, they will go into effect.
The year immediately following successor negotiations (this year), CSEA is limited to negotiating salary and health and welfare benefits. However, there were several articles from the successor negotiations that we negotiated to be carried over for reopener negotiations. These include:
Article 7: Information — Amend article to include provision of information on, and review of, Non-Academic Non-Classified Employees
Article 11: Holidays — Address vacation accrual cap and vacation payouts
Article 12: Vacation — Address vacation accrual cap and vacation payouts
Article 14: Transfers and Related Matters – Amend article to include internal recruitment periods, more inclusive qualifications statements, and more equitable process for selecting unit members for transfers and out of class assignments
Article 16: Evaluations — Address issues with timeliness and regularity of evaluations
Article 20: Personal/Professional Growth — Address need for more release time for attending POD classes; Address oversight of POD offerings for classified unit members; Address concerns with attainment of professional growth benefit
Article 25: Public Safety Article — Amend Public Safety article with results from PACS sub-group
Return to Campus Update
Let’s clarify this issue right away — NO, there is no plan as yet for returning to campus for work. There is no date set for returning to campus. There have been no negotiations regarding return to campus. There is no conspiracy to “secretly” require ANY Mt. SAC employee to return to work on campus. If you have heard otherwise, you have been misinformed.
Are there classified employees working on campus? Yes. Have classified employees been called to campus to work? Yes. Are there classes being held on campus with classified employees providing instructional support? Yes. This is true.
However, the number of classified employees and locations where they are working is very limited. The number of classified employees working on campus varies from week to week. About a dozen come to campus from Fiscal Services, and a few classroom lab techs or instructional aids in the first responder courses are working on campus, and, as always, our dedicated and awesome Campus Safety employees continue to patrol the campus.
In California, almost all colleges and universities are still conducting classes online, with a few classes coming to campus on a limited basis. Community colleges across the state are still all virtual since the Chancellor’s Office has not approved opening any campus. By all indications, no return to campus will occur until at least Fall 2021.
Just remember that any plan to return Mt. SAC classified employees to working on campus again will be negotiated with CSEA before anyone returns. When this does happen, your Chapter Leadership will keep you informed and aware of what the plan is. Any “news” you hear that does not come directly from CSEA 262 leadership should be considered an unconfirmed rumor (even if it comes from a manager) and disregarded, and if you have heard any rumors, please contact any Chapter Leader and tell them what you heard and ask if the rumor is true.
Returning to campus will require a great deal of planning, done in stages, with many health department guidelines and safety requirements to follow. It will certainly not happen overnight, and your Chapter Leadership will keep you informed throughout the process.
Welcome to Mt. SAC: New Classified Professionals
At the January Board of Trustees meeting, the college welcomed these new or promoted classified employees:
Permanent New Hires:
Erin Preston, Student Services Program Specialist II (ASPIRE)
Reclassified:
Patricia Asuega, Student Services Program Specialist II (ARISE)
Promoted:
Kenneth Kawaguchi, Application Training Specialist (Information Technology)
Congratulations to:
College Champion Award — Hugo Aguilera, Library and Learning Computer Resources Technician, (Library and Learning Resources)
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.
Dear fellow brothers and sisters,
Last week we experienced one of the most turbulent days in our nation’s history, an invasion of the nation's Capitol by those who wanted to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the Presidential election. We all watched in horror as chaos erupted and threats against elected officials, the Capitol, and our democracy played out.
Freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest are cornerstone elements of our democracy. These freedoms, however, should never be exercised through violent means. CSEA’s mission is to improve the lives of our members, students, and community. As a union, we understand the power of political passion, mobilizing, and protesting to make our collective voice heard. We also know that the democracy of our country allows us the freedom to disagree safely and even debate issues. Violence is never a solution, and it goes against everything for which our union stands.
In 1787 Benjamin Franklin, while leaving Independence Hall after the Constitutional Convention, was asked, “Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” Franklin responded, “A republic if you can keep it.” The violence many of us witnessed last week stressed the very fabric of our republic, constitution, and government. CSEA condemns the acts of those who engaged in illegal and destructive behavior and extends our sympathies to the families of the five individuals who unfortunately lost their lives.
CSEA is hopeful that as the nation moves forward, we unite with respect for one another and denounce any form of violence in place of our tried-and-true democratic process. It is time to put aside our political differences and come together for a peaceful transition of power.
In Solidarity,
Ben Valdepeña Keith Pace
Executive Director Association President
CSEA Virtual Pre-Retirement Webinars
It's never too early to learn how CalPERS pays you later for a lifetime. Learn all about your CalPERS pension rights and benefits. As we keep our members health and safety the highest priority, CSEA is not currently holding in-person events. However, CSEA's Pre-Retirement Committee has arranged to bring you free online webinars. All CSEA members who are CalPERS members are invited to attend. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Please see the list of dates/times below and click on the link to register.
Hear from CalPERS Board Member, Rob Feckner and CSEA Member Benefits Coordinator, Debb Jachens, as well as additional speakers.
Learn all about:
The state of CalPERS. Your pension remains strong.
What benefits are available to you now and in the future.
What information CalPERS uses to calculate your retirement.
Options for retirement.
The importance of the CalPERS Power of Attorney form.
Learn how to obtain an estimate of your benefits.
Get your questions answered in real time.
The benefits of staying a member of CSEA when you retire by joining the CSEA Retiree Unit.
Reserve your space in one of the webinars before they fill up! To reserve your space, you can click on any of the links below. Pick the date and time that is right for you. Once you reserve your space, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions and the link to join the Zoom webinar. You will also receive a reminder email the day before.
All CSEA members will receive an e-mail message from CSEA with a link to your personal RSVP or you can click the links below to register for these events (more events to come through April):
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 • 6 – 7:30pm
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 • 5 – 7pm
Saturday, February 20, 2021 • 9 – 10:30am
February is Have-a-Heart Month
CSEA takes care of its members on the job, but also lends a helping hand in times of crisis. The Dorothy Bjork Assistance Fund provides financial relief to members in need. This fund is disbursed through two different programs: the Emergency Assistance Program and the Humanitarian Assistance Program. This assistance program runs solely on donations. CSEA designates every February as Have-a-Heart Month to focus on fundraising for the Dorothy Bjork Assistance Fund.
Enter to Win Raffle Prize!
This year, CSEA is raffling a seven-day vacation at the beautiful Welk Resort in Escondido, San Diego. All proceeds will be going directly to the Dorothy Bjork Assistance Fund and your donations are now tax deductible.
For more information regarding the raffle prize, please refer to the Flyer.
How to Buy Raffle Tickets?
Call Member Benefits at 866.487.2732 to purchase your raffle ticket today. Tickets are not limited, buy as many as you'd like for a higher chance to win your next vacation! One ticket is $10 or three for $20. The winner will be drawn February 26, 2021!
*Final day to purchase raffle tickets is February 25, 2021.