A New Hope!
Back in May of 1975, a filmmaker produced and directed a small “space opera” movie about events that occurred a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars was released in 1977 on an $11 million budget and grossed worldwide $775 million. The Force was strong with this one. A few years later, after the release of the inevitable sequel, Star Wars was re-released with a new title — Star Wars: A New Hope.
While a pandemic has raged for nearly a year, killing more than 400,000 Americans, the people are beginning to feel a new hope. This new hope is not a belief that the virus will go away “like a miracle,” but as a measured, science-backed plan to reduce exposure, distribute a vaccine, prevent future exposure, and ensure preparedness. There is still much to do, but now there is hope and a renewed empowerment that, working together, we can adapt and overcome.
For nearly a year now, the Mt. San Antonio College community has faced challenge after challenge to fulfill its mission. Classified professionals, faculty, and administrators have had to quickly plan, develop, and implement fundamental changes to delivering education, teaching, providing services to students, and to the daily administration of the college. However, working together, we adapted and overcame these challenges.
A struggling economy has also added new challenges to Mt. SAC’s educational mission. The foresight and perseverance of our Board of Trustees’ policy of ensuring a strong budget reserve has also lent a ray of hope that layoffs experienced by many Districts both K–12 and community college have not and most likely will not be necessary, a streak that is more than three decades old now. There is much hope that Mt. SAC’s financial stability can be assured.
The federal government has also started the new year and the new administration with an “American Rescue Plan” relief package that would, if passed, provide an additional $170 billion for education, including $35 billion for higher education and $5 billion to support the learning needs of students significantly impacted by COVID-19. How much of this will trickle down to Mt. SAC is too early to say, but every dollar will
The rescue package calls for a $20 billion investment to mount a national vaccination program whereby the federal government would partner with state and local governments to launch community vaccination centers and deploy mobile vaccination units to rural communities. Additionally, the plan proposes $50 billion to expand testing capacity and support schools and local governments in implementing regular testing protocols to ensure a safe reopening of schools and businesses.
At the end of this long, dark tunnel there is light. We will soon see an end to this pandemic, and this will be a year long remembered.
Return to Campus: Fiction and Fact
At the last Chapter meeting, the Chapter Leadership discussed whether the District was making plans to return to campus, and whether part of that plan was to require all employees to be vaccinated.
In an effort to squelch the rumor mill, your Chapter Leadership wants to provide you with facts that relate to classified professionals in our bargaining unit, including plans for returning to campus full time and about vaccinations. Remember that anything you hear from any source, including your manager, should be considered a rumor and not fact.
Here are the facts.
The campus is still closed. Classes are still mostly all online with a few limited exceptions for essential worker classes, like Emergency Medical Technician and Nursing programs. Construction continues as well, and having a closed campus has helped with expediting some construction.
We are still working under the telecommute agreement. Nothing has changed in this regard since we began on March 20, 2020. You are still in “paid status” and should be working on assignments given to you by your manager. You should still be available to work on assignments. If you want to take some time off from working on assignments, you can request a vacation day. If you are sick, take a sick day. If you need to return to campus for a work-related reason, your manager must approve and you must take the pre-check online quiz. You also must be working within the scope of your classification (job description). If you have any concerns or questions about work, contact the Chief Steward, Assistant Chief Steward, Chapter President, or any Chapter leader.
There is no date set for returning to campus. The general belief is that the pandemic will be under control and vaccines available to make it safe to return next Fall (August 2021). That is still six months away. When the decision is finally made and a date set for returning to campus, CSEA will be part of that process and will keep you all informed.
Vaccines are NOT required. At least, not yet. Remember, these are facts not rumors. While there has been discussion about making employee vaccinations mandatory, it is all discussion. No decisions have been made, no plans drawn up, no schedules created, and no alternatives discussed. There is law and precedent that allows the District to require vaccinations (just as we require Tuberculosis vaccinations for employees who work in contact with students), no decision has been made. To date, nearly 800,000 vaccinations have been distributed throughout California, and the vaccine supply is low. Vaccinations are also following a phased approach, with Education in Phase 1B Tier 1 (more information available at the LA County Health Department web site).
Can we continue to work from home? This question has been often asked, and the answer is . . . unknown. Prior to the pandemic, working from home or telecommuting was never considered an option for most classified professionals. Since the pandemic began, telecommuting has become the norm. Logic dictates that continuing telecommuting is possible, but it is also something CSEA would have to negotiate with the District and create a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) since telecommuting is not mentioned in the bargaining agreement. Once the District notifies CSEA that classified will be returning to campus and the telecommute agreement is being terminated, then CSEA will negotiate a return to campus agreement. There will be a number of issues to negotiate and resolve before we all return to campus, and CSEA will not negotiate a return. Safety will be a priority, and all options will be considered.
One last thing to remember is that we are all experiencing an unprecedented situation. Nothing like this pandemic has ever happened in Mt. SAC’s history, so both the District and CSEA are breaking new ground in navigating through the conditions this pandemic finds us in. CSEA will continue to support and defend your rights, and your safety is a priority.
Selection Committee Representatives
The Mt. SAC Human Resources Department is starting recruitment for open positions again, and your Chapter needs you as representatives to serve on these committees:
ESL Support Assistant (47.5%)
To serve as a CSEA 262 representative, you must be a Chapter member and cannot work in the department hiring the employee. The college is also committed to ensuring diversity and equity, so your participation helps the college meet these goals.
You must also have already received the Selection Committee/EEO training within the last two years. If you have not completed the training, please register for one of the Screening Committee trainings for February (you will need to log in to POD Connect).
If you are interested in serving on any of the above committees, please contact Beverly Heasley (vp2@csea262.org or bheasley@mtsac.edu) for more information.
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.
CSEA Organizing Institute
Consider applying if you want to learn the key components to win political campaigns or union organizing campaigns that build your chapter’s capacity. Participants will learn one-on-one communication skills, how to recruit and develop key leaders to campaigns and how to run issue campaigns. This is an interactive training that requires participation in roleplaying and a willingness to receive constructive feedback. As part of the training, each participant will create a plan to use the concepts learned at the Organizing Institute. Participation in post-training follow-up is also required.
The Organizing Institute is optimal for participants who lead teams and want to take on greater roles n Action Campaigns.
This is an opportunity to learn what it takes to:
Effectively engage in One-on-One communication skills;
Convert potential members into members and retain existing members;
Strengthen and enforce your contract through concerted activity;
Create and implement an organizing plan;
Build your capacity to help protect the jobs, benefits, pensions and living standards of classified employees.
Members must have use of either a tablet or computer and a zoom account to participate in the training. An application is included with this notice. All members interested in this training must submit the required application by February 5, 2021. The number of members who can be accepted is limited. For more information, please contact Nancy Hurd at nhurd@csea.com or 408.433.1210.
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, 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.