December 19, 2002

vol. 43 no. 4

From the President…
Here we are at the end of another busy semester and another eventful calendar year. 2002 was especially action-packed for the Union, with extensive negotiations for Part-timer Parity and the Counselors' calendar process, a number of especially difficult faculty grievances, the looming state budget crisis, extraordinarily tense elections, and changes big and small in the Peralta District.

Like the rest of the Faculty, most of the Union's officers and representatives will be taking a much-needed rest during the Winter Break. The PFT Office (in keeping with the District Office) will be closed from December 24th through January 2nd. We will, however, be checking our messages and emails during this time.

All of the Executive Council and the office staff join me in wishing you and yours an especially rewarding Holiday Season, and we all look forward to achieving great things together in 2003.

Kathy Bauer

EDD Benefits for Part-timers
Joanna Beck, Professional Staff

Part-time Faculty are entitled to apply for unemployment benefits through the EDD (Employment Development Department), starting the day after the term ends (12/20/02). You may file for these State benefits even if you have an oral or written offer of a Spring teaching assignment because, as a Part-timer, you have no contractual guarantee of continuing employment; your Spring rehire is contingent on sufficient enrollment and adequate funding.

The 1989 Cervisi Decision (Cervisi v. California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board) provides Part-timers with this unemployment eligibility. The California Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision that college-level part-time teaching faculty are not given "reasonable assurance" of rehire semester to semester because of the contingencies of enrollment and funding. Therefore, you are entitled to unemployment benefits between semesters-as well as during Summer Break-so long as you are not earning more than approximately $240 per week in some other employment (retirement income is considered as employment earnings). You must also be looking for work, but you need not look outside the teaching field.

And remember that these benefits are not automatic-you must formally apply for them. You will probably have to do this over the telephone, under the current EDD system (check your local government listings for the correct number). When you call, you will be asked for your Social Security number, as well as the name and address of your most recent employer.

If for some reason you are denied employment benefits, don't despair and don't give up. There is an excellent chance that an EDD official has inadvertently misunderstood your rights. Contact the PFT office: we can give you advice on how to file a simple-and usually successful-appeal. Such an appeal could take some weeks, but it is free to you.

CFT Scholarship Opportunity

The Raoul Teilhet Scholarship was established in honor of the former California Federation of Teachers President and charismatic Union leader who was a major force in gaining collective bargaining for California's educational employees in the 70s.

If your child or dependent is a graduating high-school senior, and you are a member of the PFT (and therefore the CFT), your child or dependent is eligible to apply for a $3,000 award if entering a four-year institution or $1,000 if entering a two-year school. The awards are based on academic achievement, financial need, special talents and skills, participation in extra-curricular activities, community service, and a 500-word essay on a social issue about which the applicant feels strongly.

Applications for the Raoul Teilhet Scholarship are available at the PFT office, or you can download one online at www.cft.org. Applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2003.

Membership News
Robert Lew Jr., Staff Secretary

Judging by the many calls we receive at the PFT office regarding this topic, it is clear that not everyone is aware that Peralta is what's known as an "agency shop." The Contract that the Union negotiates and enforces applies to all faculty members, and therefore all faculty members are required to support the Union's activities through payroll deductions. However, membership in the Union itself is voluntary. You therefore must apply for membership, and agree to pay dues instead of the agency fees that non-members pay.

Dues are approximately $2.50 per month more than fees, which is a "pass-through" of members-only expenses such as affiliation fees with other Labor organizations and contributions to the Professional Liability Insurance policy (which can pay some of your court costs if you are involved in work-related criminal actions or litigation and are found innocent).

For those who are already members, we are sure you will join us in welcoming the faculty who have become members this semester: Anne Agard, Laney; Harry Attri, Laney; Anna M. Balsley, Merritt; Iris Brooks, Laney; Jessica Buchsbaum, Laney; Mary Kay Buckley, Vista; Jamie Cadelaria Greene, Alameda; Leonard Chung, Alameda; Sharon D. Coleman, Vista; A. Alan Copeland, Vista; José Luis Flores, Laney; Daniel Gee, Laney; Steven Gerstle, Alameda; Mireille Giovanola, Laney; Jacqueline Klaassen, Laney; Shawn Kristoferu, Alameda; Bill Leal, Laney; Helenka T. Livingston, Merritt; Ronald W. Lopez II, Laney; Margaret Mooney, Alameda; Rima Najm-Briscoe, Laney; Carrie Pickett, Laney; Leslie Selden-Colón, Alameda; Christopher Shein, Merritt; Joaquin Turner, Laney; and Carole Ward Allen, Laney. A big warm Welcome to you all!

PFT Website Updated

If you've ever wanted to know how your Union is governed and by what rules it conducts itself, please visit the PFT's AOL Hometown website, where we have just posted a page with the PFT's Constitution. While you're there, you may wish to explore some of the other documents, such as the recent Contract language regarding Part-timer Parity and the Counselors' Calendar Process, along with back issues of The Peralta Teacher and links to other sites of interest. http://hometown.aol.com/PFT1603/

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