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UNION NEWS & Developments...

DONATE your unused Annual Leave to the Union & Help!

Ever wonder what you could do with all that extra Annual Leave you have built up, but could not take, during the year? It AWFUL to let it all evaporate--cause you EARNED it. Well the Union offers you a way to DO something with that Leave: Donate it to the Union Leave Bank! The ULB is used by the Union Board in times of need for training, or for times of meeting attendances during work hours by Union Executive Board Members & Stewards. It’s a bank of paid hours that are donated by Union Members FOR use by Union members for Union work on thier behalf. Don’t give your hard earned leave back--Donate it and help the Union Work for You! Fill out the form and Send it back to your Union President BEFORE December 13th 2008, and the Leave hours you decide to donate will not evaporate but will be put to good use! 
Click HERE for the form to donate your unused Leave to the Union.

MC Union Leaders speak to County Council...

The MC Staff Union was represented at the latest County Council meeting, asking the Council to approve the budget requests by the College. In a speech made by Union President Liz Brandenburg, the county was told in no uncertain terms that the Staff wanted to voice their concerns for the pending budget cuts facing the College.

MC Staff Union Executive Board Members Represent the Montgomery College Staff Union at 2008 International Convention!

Recently the MC Staff Union sent 2 of your Executive Board members, union secretary Patti Secreto & union treasurer Debra Ritenour, to California to vote on critical union matters, attend workshops and represent the MC Staff Union Local 2380 at the AFSCME International Convention.  They have written a report on the convention activities and festivities which you can download to read HERE

AFSCME Council 67 also has a website update with pictures and other information about the International Convention. http://www.afscme.org/members/18094.cfm




This site is being updated regularly, please check back often for more news!

*********A Message From your Union President***********

December 18, 2008

First, let me apologize to the bargaining unit for some misinformation that was posted on our Local 2380 website and forwarded through e-mail on December 12^th. The record needs to be set straight. That information indicated employees in the bargaining unit that were not members might be laid off before members. This is not the case. Layoff language in our contract does not address this issue.

Second, I wanted to keep you apprised of the current and upcoming College deficit information.

Our Country is in a depression, with over 500,000 people losing their jobs in November. Just yesterday, Governor O’Malley announced that the State deficit is twice as bad as originally thought and is currently at $1.9 billion. Our County has a projected deficit of $550 million, and the majority of our funding comes from the County and the State. As a result, the College will not receive the expected funding for Fiscal Year 2010, which runs from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

During this Fiscal Year (2009), the College has been able to cut costs by freezing hiring, cutting travel, and other costs in order to make up the difference. However, the Fiscal Year 2010 deficit far exceeds the FY-2009 deficit and deeper cuts will need to be made. The College has invoked Section 6.9 (Failure to Achieve Projected Revenue) of our Contract because of the lack of funds and we will be re-negotiating certain sections of the contract pertaining to economic issues.

The Union Executive Board will be surveying membership shortly to analyze how members feel these budget cuts should be made. There will be major decisions made that will negatively affect every staff person in the bargaining unit, whether you are a member or non-member, for Fiscal Year 2010. This survey will only be forwarded to members and will not be sent to non-members. During the first week in January, we will be negotiating with the College. Once agreement is reached by the union and management, the agreement will be voted on – once again only by members.

If you are not currently a member, you will have absolutely no say in how these cuts will be made. We strongly urge that you contact me and sign a card today – before the upcoming break. We are currently developing our survey, which will be available for members in a few days. You need to get informed and be part of this decision.

Should you have any questions, please contact Liz Brandenburg, x5123.

Check back often for updates to this news as it develops and we go thru meetings !
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