College closure, changing Spring Break, AFT 2121 elections, event changes

Posted on March 10, 2020 by AFT 2121

CCSF Board of Trustees move Spring break without negotiating with AFT 2121, approves suspension of face-to-face classes and schedule changes

On Monday night, following the City of San Francisco’s official declaration of a state of emergency on February 26, 2020, the CCSF Board of Trustees met in closed session. Acting on recommendation of the administration, the Board declared a state of emergency and approved the temporary suspension of face-to-face classes, meetings and events, effective at the end of the instructional day on Thursday, March 12, 2020, through March 21. Against the strong objection of AFT 2121, the Board unilaterally changed Spring Break, which will now start on March 23, with non face-to-face, remote instruction beginning on Monday, March 30.

Prior to the Board’s emergency meeting, AFT called on administration to maintain Spring Break as negotiated and to address a number of other faculty concerns.

AFT 2121 recognizes that we are in a unique and dangerous public health crisis. At the same time, we expect to have a strong voice in determining how the District moves forward in the coming weeks. AFT 2121 has demanded to negotiate over the impact of the changes in instruction and work calendar, including work schedules, duties before and during Spring Break, and training for remote access for students to faculty. Those discussions began today with AFT reiterating our demand that Spring Break not be changed. We have just learned that the District has rejected our proposal despite the fact that we will now be out of synch with SFUSD’s Spring Break, creating hardships for students and faculty.

We will continue to work to ensure the safety of our community and mitigate the disruption to faculty and our students. We will continue to engage the District in impact negotiations. We urge faculty to raise concerns about their working conditions to our AFT precinct reps or by contacting the AFT office.

What about Union events and elections during the shutdown?
Scheduled union meetings and actions will be rescheduled in the coming days.

Cancelled and moved events:

Cancelled: Saturday’s Schools and Communities First mobilization, Monday’s Schools and Communities First Happy Hour, March 24th COPE Meeting.

Moved online: Wednesday’s Town Hall on the City Budget held by the Mayor’s office and our March 24th General Membership Meeting (agenda coming soon, delayed due to these special circumstances).

AFT 2121 will proceed with Union elections, since it is a mail ballot election. However, our ability to send out the mail ballot, retrieve ballots and count them, will depend on whether some staff and volunteers are able to do hands-on work in the coming weeks. Our plan is to do everything possible to avoid having to cancel and postpone the election.

The AFT Executive Board has also just approved the following changes in election procedures:

Precinct Reps election will be separated off and held in Fall, 2020.
Nomination of officers, Reps-at-Large, and delegates should be sent via email to the AFT Secretary, Dayna Holz at dholz@aft2121.org or remotely at the online March 24 General Membership. THE (5) FIVE PERSON SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT IS WAIVED.

AFT 2121 elections nominations and eligibility

Nominations are scheduled to take place at the March 24, 2020, General Membership meeting (3-5pm), which cannot be held in-person because of coronavirus shutdown of CCSF. However, we are working to hold a webinar version of this Union meeting, such that members can call in. Nomination forms can also be submitted in advance of the membership meeting by sending them to the AFT office at 311 Miramar Ave., SF, CA 94112, or by emailing them to Dayna Holz (dholz@aft2121.org), Secretary, AFT 2121. Questions/concerns can also be directed to:

Chris Hanzo, acting Exec. Dir., AFT 2121 at chanzo@aft2121.org
Kathleen Duffy, Chair, AFT 2121 Election Commission, at kduffy@ccsf.edu

As you consider nominating someone for our upcoming leadership elections, please consult the list of faculty by last name to find out who is eligible to run for leadership. If your name does not appear on this list, you may not yet be an official member of our union. Please fill out the AFT 2121 membership form and submit it to the AFT office by Tuesday, March 20, 2020, in order to be eligible to run and/or vote in the leadership election.