Please join AAFMCC from 6-8 p.m. on October 13 for an in-person membership meeting, and please encourage your part-time colleagues to come as well — the meeting is open to both members and non-members.

See flyer below for more details. 

CLICK HERE to RSVP by October 11.

More than 45 million people have student debt and many of us are struggling with this burden. The AFT Student Debt Clinic program provides information about free federal programs that may help reduce the burden of this debt, while also highlighting the role that our union can play in addressing problems both within the workplace and in our communities.

Student Debt Clinics provide crucial information and resources to help AFT members take advantage of the temporary expansion of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program before the expansion period ends on 10/31/22. Millions of Americans have been denied PSLF since 2007 and this expansion period is to make up for those who've been rejected or who never applied for it in the first place.

Join AFT Michigan for a Student Debt Clinic webinar on Thursday, 8/25/22 from 5:00-6:30pm!  

To register: please visit https://go.aft.org/StudentDebtClinicRSVP and select “MICHIGAN: AFT-Michigan *WEBINAR* 5 PM 08/25/2022” in the dropdown.  Select your local name or # (You can type in parts of it and it will auto-fill), fill in the brief questionnaire, and hit “submit.”

CALLING ALL CONTINGENT FACULTY!! – We need your voice and your experience!

​It is time once again for AFT’s adjunct/contingent faculty survey where you can provide the information necessary for us to explain to the world what it is like to be contingent faculty. The survey is redesigned for this year, should only take you 10 minutes or so, and has some open-ended opportunities to share your story.

​Please take the time to fill it out yourself and share it with all the contingent faculty you know. The more people who fill out the survey, the better the story can be told!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AFTHigherED2022

AFT MI has been working for months to try and have higher education employees, especially those working face to face, to be given vaccination priority.  Now AFT MI is dealing with some institutions having some face-to-face this summer. 

As you know, Michigan is scheduled to receive a very large number of vaccinations later this month and the Governor has announced that people over the age of 16 will be eligible in early April.  The Governor hopes that the strong majority of higher education employees have the opportunity to be vaccinated beginning in early April.

The Governor's office is open to considering campus-based vaccinations if many higher ed staff are not vaccinated through the mass adult-wide efforts starting in early April. Some Michigan institutions have already worked with health departments and providers to arrange for on-campus vaccinations, and we are encouraging MCC administration to follow suit. We will keep you updated about the progress of establishing a campus-based vaccination program at MCC.

In the meantime, here is a link that provides direct connections to local health department sites, as well as information on private providers:
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_103214_104822---,00.html

If you are eligible to receive a vaccine: Check the website of your local health department or hospital to find out their process or for registration forms (jump to the map of local health departments); or; Check additional vaccination sites, such as local pharmacies like Meijer, Rite Aid, Kroger, Walmart (Mid/Central and Northern MI) or Snyder Drugs (U.P. residents); or
www.michigan.gov.

The deadline for reporting your availability for SS2021 is March 15, 2021.
The deadline for reporting your availability for FA2021 is April 19, 2021.      

*Adjuncts in the nursing department must submit their availability for Spring/Summer AND Fall by March 15, 2021. 
   
With the phase-out of WebAdvisor, the process for reporting availability has changed.

Reporting your availability can easily be done following these steps:
My Macomb
Self-Service Menu
Faculty Self Service
Daily Work (briefcase icon on the left)
Faculty 
My Availability

​You should receive an email confirming your availability once it has been submitted successfully.

The AAFMCC leadership is happy to announce this year’s AAFMCC scholarship recipients. 

The 2020-2021 Family Scholarship has been awarded to Vet Tech Major, Miranda Hoskin.  Miranda is the daughter of union member, Mark Hoskin, of the Fire Science Department. 

The 2020-2021 Community Scholarship has been awarded to Hannah Brisson from MACA.

Please join us in congratulating these worthly recipients.

As many of you know, it looks like there may be less sections than usual being taught next semester, which will hit our unit particularly hard. Many of us that would normally be teaching have not been offered sections, have a reduced load, or are in danger of losing courses. 

If you are not teaching next semester, or the number of classes you normally teach has been reduced, you might be able to file for unemployment insurance through the State of Michigan. Even if you work elsewhere, you may still qualify for unemployment so long as your income has been reduced to a level recognized by the state as creating hardship. These are benefits that you have paid into every time you are employed and our unemployment insurance system is designed to help people going through situations like this.

It is possible for nontenure-track faculty to collect unemployment; however, the process can be difficult to navigate. Our local has been working with AFT Michigan and the Sugar Law Center for Social & Economic Justice to develop resources to help members:

• Workshops designed to help you calculate if you qualify for unemployment and guide you through the application process. Workshops are scheduled for Wed, Dec. 9, 3pm, and Jan. 8, 12, and 13 in the new year. Register for upcoming workshops at: https://aftmichigan.org/union-building-events/
• FAQ and list of resources: https://aftmichigan.org/unemployment/​

During these challenging times, we all need support, and your union is here for you. Of course our union will also continue to fight for real job security for all of us, both through our contract and legislatively in Lansing. 

Dear AAFMCC,
 
We hope you are staying safe and healthy.
 
We have been working with the College to address all of the “Demand to Bargain” issues that we submitted earlier this fall and shared with you on Sept. 3 (for your reference, a list of those issues are pasted below).

Here is a summary of what we discussed. Some of the issues have been resolved; one issue has been tabled, and the remaining issues on the list are still under discussion/awaiting resolution because either we need more information from The College or we are not happy with the College’s proposed solution.
 
For now, know that you ARE NOT REQUIRED to participate in Week Zero, and you are NOT REQUIRED to submit your FDHs prior to the start of the semester.
 
We are continuing to work with the College to address the unresolved issues and will update you as soon as possible.
 
As always, if you have concerns/issues/potential grieves, please email Grievance Officers Jodi Monday (aafmccgmail.org) and Yvette Griffin (revyvettegriffin@gmail.com).
 
In Solidarity,
AAFMCC EB


Summary of Bargaining Meetings to Date
 
 
Health and Safety Demands - We are tabling the discussion until May in order to have the most current information moving forward for reopening.  Members will be getting MIOSHA materials on state standards/complaint process and will be encouraged to contact the union if an issue arises. 
 
Visit the following Michigan.gov resources for more information: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98810-524770--,00.html
 https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-94422_11407_15333-93835--,00.html 
 
 
Working Conditions
 
4.7 - 4.10  

• Administration believes guaranteed course assignments conflict with the MCCFO contract. 
• Administration confirmed there is NO OBLIGATION to work Week Zero but emphasizes best practices. 
• Union maintains that there should be some compensation for courses that are canceled just before the start of the semester.  

 
4.14 - At the next meeting, the Union will propose the following LOA (letter of agreement) and will revisit this issue in future semesters if necessary:
 
The College will not adjust an adjunct teacher’s date of hire on the Adjunct Roster of Candidates nor will an adjunct teacher accumulate any “break in service” time in their discipline during the 2020-2021 Academic Year.
 
 
5.6 

• Administration will be offering online PD and a $50 stipend for adjuncts attending these PD sessions designed to help adjunct faculty improve their online instruction. 
  • Members who attended the Week-Zero training should check their pay stubs to confirm they received the $50 stipend.
• Compensation for this training is funded through the CARES ACT. 
• No faculty employee will be denied this PD.
• The program is fluid, and CTL will expand availability as needed.
• The College has agreed to accept Canvas certifications for online teaching from other institutions. CTL will communicate the details soon.
  • In the meantime, if you want to inquire about the transferability of your certifications from other institutions, please contact  your AD/supervisor and cc CTL on your email.

 
 
6.1 & 6.2 

• Teaching evaluations will be used to direct people to take the newly offered PD courses by supervisors if there is a clear need for help.  
  • Issues around difficulty teaching in the online environment will be first addressed this manner.  
  • Employees who refuse to take training as recommended by the supervisor risk not being assigned classes during this remote learning period. 

 
8.3 

• MCC confirmed that submitting FDHs prior to the start of class is strictly a suggestion — NOT A REQUIREMENT. 
• If your AD informs you otherwise, please contact AAFMCC so that we can further address this issue if necessary.

 
 
8.4 

• AAFMCC demanded that the College provide adjunct faculty with adequate materials necessary for instruction and suggested that MCC provide stipends to mitigate some of the cost of internet access during this remote period. 
• MCC denied our request for stipends and, in turn, suggested that employees use MCC’s  “hot spots” in the College parking lots. 
• AAFMCC contends that having employees conduct class/work in their cars in the parking lots is not a feasible or practical solution, so we will be revisiting this issue. 
• IMPORTANT: We were also informed that MCC established a Remote Work Policy which states the following:  “Macomb Community College may permit remote work by employees who fill positions that have been designated as eligible for remote work. Designating employees for remote work is an employer option, not an employee right, and is appropriate only when, in the discretion of the College, it results in a benefit to the institution. Remote work may not be suitable for all employees, positions and/or situation.”
• WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU to read the entire policy here: https://my.macomb.edu/staff/president/policies/Policies/Remote%20Work%20Policy.pdf#search=internet%20policy
• AAFMCC believes that this new policy addresses “working conditions” and our “conditions for employment,” both of which need to be agreed upon in our CBA. 
  • Since MCC’s Remote Work Policy was enacted without our knowledge or agreement, we assure you that we are  looking into this issue and will update you accordingly.

 
8.11 & 15.2- PTO/Pay for Committee Service

• Pay surrounding COVID is provided through the Cares Act - Leave. 
  • See details here: https://www.macomb.edu/about-macomb/coronavirus/attachments/FFCRA.pdf
• Also: MCC Administration has assured that pay for adjuncts who have been sitting on committees will be paid out in full. 

​AAFMCC Demand to Bargain
List of issues submitted to MCC on August 27, 2020
Communicated to AAFMCC via email on Sept. 3
 
Health and Safety Demands
(union required bargaining) 
Adjunct Faculty will not work in an environment wherein administration does not require accurate pandemic /epidemic virus testing and clearance. Self-assessments are not acceptable.
           
2.1 & 8.12 -- During a pandemic and/or epidemic crisis, The College will establish and enforce the following health and safety protocols for face-to-face instruction: 
 

• MCC decisions for on-ground shut down will coincide with ADA, HHS, and the state recommendations. 
• MCC will administer temperature checks and full health screenings to all faculty, staff and students on a daily basis. 
• Faculty, staff and students who have been properly screened and cleared during a pandemic and/or epidemic crisis will be issued a ticket for entry to the campus for that day or class.
• Hallway safety:
  • For safe distancing, one-way directives will be properly marked.
• The College will disinfect/clean classroom surfaces (desks, chairs, doorknobs, mouse, keyboard, etc.) after the conclusion of each class and will disinfect restrooms every hour.
• Adjunct Faculty will be provided access to disinfectant materials by The College, should they need them for additional sanitizing. 
• Hand-sanitizer will be available in every classroom, as well at sanitization stations throughout campus.
• PPE for Adjunct Faculty will include: gloves, masks and shields. The College will provide PPE to Adjunct Faculty in order to enter a building on campus.

 
Working Conditions
During a pandemic and/or epidemic crisis The College will maintain the following for Adjunct Faculty: 

• 4.7 - 4.10 -- Adjunct Faculty Course Assignments 
  • After the start of Week Zero or any other official pre-course contact with students, The College will guarantee course assignment(s) for Adjunct Faculty. This provision will override all reassignment of courses including reassignments for Full-Time Faculty. 
  • In the event a course is cancelled due to low enrollment, a stipend payment for course preparation will be provided to the Adjunct Instructor.
• 4.14 -- The College will freeze seniority adjustments for the 2020-2021 academic
              year, and possibly during future semesters if the pandemic persists.
• 5.6 -- Online Instruction
  • All Adjunct Faculty who desire to do so will be trained, without department administration recommendation, for online course certification and will be provided compensation while attending certification training. This includes full virtual course instruction. 
• 6.1 & 6.2 -- The College will eliminate semester evaluations for the 2020-2021 academic year, and possibly during future semesters if the pandemic persists.
• 8.3 -- Adjunct Faculty will provide First Day Handouts to their immediate supervisor by the end of the first week of class. The College and/or immediate supervisors will not require adjuncts to submit work/deliverables prior to the start of the semester. 
• 8.4 -- The College is to provide adequate material to Adjunct Faculty for successful on-ground instruction, hybrid instruction and virtual/remote/online instruction. Materials will include textbooks and the technological tools needed for efficient and successful instruction.
  • The College will issue monthly stipends to Adjunct Faculty to offset the cost of internet service and/or internet service upgrades needed for successful remote instruction.  
• 8.11 & 15.2 -- PTO -- The College will allow up to two-weeks of PTO for adjunct faculty who contract COVID-19.
  • For Adjunct Faculty teaching on-ground, if they are exposed to COVID-19, they will be quarantined for two weeks, during which time, they will be allowed to conduct their course remotely and without loss of pay.
  • The College and AAFMCC will also establish a process for extending PTO and/or allowing adjunct faculty to temporarily shift from on-ground to remote instruction in situations where they need to care for family members who have contracted COVID-19.

​In the upcoming election, AAFMCC is endorsing the following three candidates for the Macomb Community Board of Trustees:
 
Shelley Vitale
Sara Gieleghem
Maria Mijac
 
AAFMCC encourages you to vote for all 3 of these candidates on Nov. 3 and to ask your family, friends, colleagues, etc., to do the same!
 
Here is a bit of  information about each candidate:
 
Shelley Vitale is currently serving on the board and has advocated for AAFMCC throughout her term.
 
Sara Gieleghem is a union member and an educator.
Here are a few quotes from Sara’s interview with AAFMCC, which speak to her dedication to unions and adjunct faculty:

“AAFMCC’s existence is historic and its mission is inclusive.  I serve as a proud union member within the educational area.  I connect with your mission as an advocate and staunch supporter of the collective bargaining process.  Collective bargaining provides protection for individuals in the workplace, a path for employees to have a voice and seat at the table to negotiate on issues like compensation and working conditions. It also serves as a gateway for members to contribute and add value to the organizational decision making process.”

“As a union member, I recognize that fair wages are a considerable part of the negotiations process.  If elected as a trustee I will fight to ensure a fair collective bargaining process and will do all that I can to learn more about how best to address the unfair disparity between adjunct and full-time faculty at the college.  Further, I see this as a way to ensure the college can attract and retain the most qualified people committed to meeting the needs of students.”

“Regardless of the designation as Adjunct, all faculty must have a voice in the development of department curriculum goals, and as individual educators, you deserve a degree of autonomy to develop your teaching techniques and methods.  I feel strongly that, as a Trustee, we have a responsibility to listen to the concerns presented by your organization and a role to play in addressing inequities.”
 
Maria Mijac is a former teacher and union supporter.
Here are a few quotes from Maria’s interview with AAFMCC, which highlight her support of adjuncts and dedication to equity:

“What stands out most in the AAFMCC mission statement is the idea that adjuncts provide an invaluable service to the higher education community. It is such a statement of the obvious but the need to so state, underscores how undervalued that contribution is. The entire mission statement communicates the deep sense of workplace inequity that is felt. As a former teacher, I too, felt undervalued often times. Even when you are doing work that you love, having a sense that your role is lesser, creates an undue burden on the work.”

“I would support consideration for a more robust role for adjunct staff with regard to curriculum and departmental matters and on shared governance. I am unsure exactly how to go about promoting such an endeavor. I would be glad to hear more information on past efforts, current status, and current
efforts to creating more parity between full- and part-time staff.”
​
“If both instructors [full and part-time] bring similar qualifications and/or experience, I would support the same hourly pay rate for teaching the same classes.”

We hope you all are enjoying the summer sun and warmth.

Below you will find AFT Michigan’s Statement on Higher Ed during the Pandemic. AAFMCC will be using this statement to guide our discussions with The College as we continue to work to ensure the heath, safety and best interests of our members and our students in these precarious times.
​
We will follow up with the membership to provide you AAFMCC-specific guidelines and suggestions as soon as we have additional information from
The College.



 






FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from AFT Michigan
July 13, 2020

Contact: David Hecker: dhecker@aftmichigan.org, 313-204-6115

AFT Michigan: Higher Education During the Pandemic Should be Mainly Online

MICHIGAN — As we move closer to the fall semester, community colleges and universities across the state have either announced their fall plans or are working on them, meaning the question of whether and how higher education institutions should reopen their campuses to live classes and activities is being addressed in a patchwork of ideas and plans. We appreciate that these plans strive to include safety precautions, but recent upswings in COVID-19 cases in states that opened up too soon should encourage us all to reconsider some basic assumptions.

This May, we surveyed AFT Michigan members from across the state to find out how they felt about both the conclusion of the 2019-20 school year and the choices before us this fall. More than 1200 college and university faculty, graduate employees and staff completed the survey, with three broadly consistent themes emerging from their responses:

• Although concerns about the digital divide are very real, they believe that students transitioned relatively smoothly to online courses this spring;
• They are very concerned about the health risks of returning to in-person instruction; and
• They do not think that their institutions will be able to modify classrooms, buildings and activities enough to safely resume in-person instruction this fall.

AFT Michigan stands firm in our position that higher education should be accessible to all who seek it. We also believe that part of a college education comes from the experiences gained through campus life, particularly the way our institutions bring together people from across the world. However, as the pandemic continues to grow across the United States and the globe, we are concerned that opening up campuses to in-person classes and activities, as well as “college life,” will cause community spread of the virus and put students, instructors, staff, and their families and communities at risk. The greatest burden will fall on those who are already more vulnerable, including people of color, those with existing medical conditions, and older staff.

Therefore, we believe that it is in the best interest of students, faculty, staff and our communities for higher education to be conducted online to every extent possible until an effective vaccine can be distributed widely to the general public. 

Faculty, staff and students made remarkably effective efforts to transition online this spring, and we believe that, with adequate preparation time and training, educators can develop online courses that will meet learning objectives for the vast majority of our curriculum. While remote learning has undeniable limitations at any level; in general, college students are more capable of learning online than younger students. Colleges and universities will need to ensure that all students have online access and those who need to live on campus do so in the safest possible manner. For that small portion of courses and services that truly require in-person settings, we suggest that institutions put trust in the educators directly responsible for the work to decide how they can be conducted safely. For example, we are committed to working creatively with our institutions to ensure safe course options for international students whose visa status is threatened by the ill-informed guidelines recently issued by ICE.

We support returning to live classes and a vibrant campus community life when we can rest assured that the health of our students, faculty, and staff will not be compromised by COVID-19. Until that point, we encourage all campus communities to prioritize public health and safety by moving online as much as possible.

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AFT Michigan is a union of 35,000 educators and healthcare providers working in K-12 and intermediate school districts, community colleges, universities, and hospitals across the state.