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 United Faculty of Florida-Seminole Chapter


September 31, 2010

United Faculty of Florida (UFF)-Seminole and Seminole State College jointly filed a stipulation on Friday, August 27, 2010 in which both parties agreed to waive the filing of any objections to the Public Relations Employees Commission (PERC) hearing officer’s recommendation. The stipulation also includes an agreement to hold the election on site. Thus, PERC can go ahead and issue an election order that can proceed quickly and offer more scheduling options. Possible dates include several in late September or early October.

Seminole State administration agreed to no longer pursue holding the election on Convocation Day following UFF-Seminole’s objection to that date. UFF-Seminole suggested a vote-by-mail election that the college rejected. While faculty support for mail-in balloting was strong, the interim officers concluded that holding out for vote-by-mail would have sacrificed the stipulation and resulted in significant delays.

The commission’s election officer will determine the election date giving as much concurrence with the parties’ wishes as he can while insuring that the election is carried out properly and fairly. Towards this end, balloting time will occur on all four campuses. For example, because of the varying number of faculty spread across the campuses, Heathrow may have a voting booth for half a day while the Sanford campus may have a full day of balloting. Ultimately, PERC will determine the election logistics.

September 25, 2010

The interim officers of UFF-Seminole are pleased that there will be no further challenges to the Union Representation Election process. There is now the promise of a shortened election period, something we have been seeking from the start.

We are looking forward to an exciting and informative election campaign. However, Convocation (September 28th) is not an appropriate time to hold the election. The entire day is filled with formal and organized activities and should be kept distinct from balloting. After all, a convocation is a special gathering for the purpose of focusing on a particular topic or topics.

Instead, many faculty have requested, and UFF-Seminole agrees, that the election be held on either Tuesday, September 21 or Wednesday, September 22. Either date meets the goal of facilitating the process. UFF-Seminole has presented these dates to the college attorney and to PERC.

You can read an analysis and summary of the PERC Hearing Officer’s Recommendation Order by clicking News located on the left-hand column menu.


UFF – SEMINOLE

Faculty Shindig

Thursday, August 19

4pm – 7pm

Jax 5th Ave Deli & Ale House

951 Greenwood Blvd, Lake Mary (visible from Lake Emma Rd) Appetizers will be served Spouses/Partners Welcome http://www.uff-seminole.org/

Regarding Dr. McGee’s Recent Letter

Seminole State employees may have been surprised recently to receive a letter about unionization from President McGee in your postal mail. The timing of her correspondence is noteworthy in light of the fact that it follows directly upon UFF-Seminole’s June 28 request for release of legal expenses the college has incurred in its challenge to the composition of our collective bargaining unit. Tom O’Hern (Director, Office of Legal Affairs) provided us with the requested documents on July 6. Dr. McGee’s July 8 mailing is an attempt at damage control. The $45,000 that Miami law firm Bryant Miller and Olive has billed Seminole State is for work completed through the end of April. The college has not yet received statements for May and June which encompassed the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) hearing. Current and future costs may well push the college’s legal fees above $100,000.

Seminole State’s desire to disenfranchise certain faculty members (the majority of whom signed cards indicating their interest in unionization) involves more than spending a lot of money. The college’s legal maneuvering in favor of exclusion creates conflicts of interest and dissension where none previously existed. Seminole State’s approach fosters difference and division within and among faculty rather than collegiality, harmony, honesty, collaboration, openness, and respect. Given this, President McGee’s attempt to blame the union for the costly and lengthy process is disingenuous. It is important to note that other colleges, recognizing that a faculty union’s potential bargaining unit should include all full-time faculty members, have avoided expensive legal fees and election delays.

Our position has been and will always be inclusion. Thus, we commend Dr. McGee for acknowledging in her letter that everyone at Seminole State remains committed to our students, to the college, and to our colleagues and co-workers.

E-mail us if you would like a copy of the released legal expense documents. Please keep in mind, however, that portions of the records have been blacked-out on the basis that they reflect a “mental impression, conclusion, litigation strategy, or legal theory of the attorneys” (Tom O’Hern, Director, Office of Legal Affairs).

Join UFF-Seminole Now

If you join right now, you can immediately enjoy the benefits of membership for free. Your first payment will not be due until August. Those who join the United Faculty of Florida this summer will: