2008 Woodie Awards
Teachers talk strike
Nicholas Palomino Mendoza
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: News
The possibility of a labor strike has been discussed by members of the full-time teacher's union as salary and benefits negotiations between the LBCC district and the union intensify.
The president of the full-time teacher's union, counselor DeWayne Sheaffer, said, "The strike word has been thrown around and I don't think that the district believes we are organized enough to pull off a strike."
The district's offer, a 4.8 percent retroactive salary increase, was less than the 8 percent the union had hoped for, however, the increase would still put LBCC full -time teachers above the median salary range of similar districts.
On top of the 4.8 percent, a 1 percent salary increase for the upcoming school year also was included as an attempt to offset the fact that the teachers have been asked to make a contribution to their benefits package.
President Eloy Oakley said, "I don't see any possibility of a strike. The two negotiating teams have been negotiating in good faith and negotiations have been going well. If faculty want to argue that an almost 6 percent salary raise is unfair and make that argument to the public, then good luck to them."
Sheaffer said most of the teachers are hesitant to accept the offer because the contribution would be the first time LBCC full-time teachers would be expected to help pay for their benefits plan. He said, "Most faculty would rather give back the 1 percent and not be expected to contribute to benefits."
In reply to the proposed benefits contribution, Oakley said, "All other employee groups on campus, along with nearly all other Community College employees in the Los Angeles County area contribute to their benefits, so we don't feel that we are asking anything that is unreasonable."
Former ASB CEO and honor student Tom Chek said, "I think with the recent passage of the bond measure extension and the capital improvement projects currently underway, LBCC is poised on the cusp of becoming a world-class institution."
Sheaffer said he believes the district could afford to cover all benefits and give the teachers a bigger salary raise and also said, "It has been almost a year since negotiations began and there is a mood in the air that the district is getting to the end of its rope and it seems as though they have made their best and final offer."
The two groups will meet again on Friday, March 21 and Oakley said, "Considering the state of the California budget, I feel that the offer is fair and recognizes the value of our faculty. I am very confident that a deal will be agreed on and finalized."
The president of the full-time teacher's union, counselor DeWayne Sheaffer, said, "The strike word has been thrown around and I don't think that the district believes we are organized enough to pull off a strike."
The district's offer, a 4.8 percent retroactive salary increase, was less than the 8 percent the union had hoped for, however, the increase would still put LBCC full -time teachers above the median salary range of similar districts.
On top of the 4.8 percent, a 1 percent salary increase for the upcoming school year also was included as an attempt to offset the fact that the teachers have been asked to make a contribution to their benefits package.
President Eloy Oakley said, "I don't see any possibility of a strike. The two negotiating teams have been negotiating in good faith and negotiations have been going well. If faculty want to argue that an almost 6 percent salary raise is unfair and make that argument to the public, then good luck to them."
Sheaffer said most of the teachers are hesitant to accept the offer because the contribution would be the first time LBCC full-time teachers would be expected to help pay for their benefits plan. He said, "Most faculty would rather give back the 1 percent and not be expected to contribute to benefits."
In reply to the proposed benefits contribution, Oakley said, "All other employee groups on campus, along with nearly all other Community College employees in the Los Angeles County area contribute to their benefits, so we don't feel that we are asking anything that is unreasonable."
Former ASB CEO and honor student Tom Chek said, "I think with the recent passage of the bond measure extension and the capital improvement projects currently underway, LBCC is poised on the cusp of becoming a world-class institution."
Sheaffer said he believes the district could afford to cover all benefits and give the teachers a bigger salary raise and also said, "It has been almost a year since negotiations began and there is a mood in the air that the district is getting to the end of its rope and it seems as though they have made their best and final offer."
The two groups will meet again on Friday, March 21 and Oakley said, "Considering the state of the California budget, I feel that the offer is fair and recognizes the value of our faculty. I am very confident that a deal will be agreed on and finalized."
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Hachiko
JR Salazar
posted 3/24/08 @ 10:21 PM PST
"Former ASB CEO and honor student Tom Chek said, "I think with the recent passage of the bond measure extension and the capital improvement projects currently underway, LBCC is poised on the cusp of becoming a world-class institution. (Continued…)
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