Dear Peralta Community,
Welcome to the second Tuesday and the first e-Communiqué of the month. Look for the next blast from the Peralta Federation of Teachers in two weeks.
*To beat the May 12 deadline, part-time faculty should walk in completed ballots on the 1.1% State Disability Insurance deduction to the PFT offices (500 E. Eighth St., Ste. B) by 4 p.m. Wed. For more information about SDI, contact PFT part-time rep Cynthia Mahabir at cmlaney2003@yahoo.com.
*The Peralta Board of Trustees faces the public tonight at seven for its regular twice-monthly meeting at 333 E. Eighth St. Notable agenda items include discussion and possible approval of a one-year extension of the PFT contract and proposed SEIU layoffs, effective July 1, totaling a staggering 18.5 FTEs. An increase in daily parking fees at all colleges except BCC is also on the agenda.
*PFT encourages folks who missed the May 7 deadline for the district benefits audit to contact CoreSource—which is handling the audit for Kaiser and CoreSource members alike—at 866.434.1211 or PCCD Benefits Coordinator Jennifer Benford Seibert at jseibert@peralta.com. PFT reminds faculty that, despite its threats, the district can’t strip employees of their benefits without negotiating with the union.
*Laney hosts a town hall meeting Wed., May 12, 12-1 p.m., in T 450, to discuss District Administrative Procedure 5550, addressing the creation of so-called “free speech zones” on campus. PFT urges faculty to show up and argue against district efforts to restrict First Amendment rights at the colleges.
*The Alameda Labor Council—100 Hegenberger Rd., Ste. 150, Oakland—needs help with phone banking, 5:30-8 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. To phone bank or walk precincts to promote pro-labor candidates, contact Tamara at 510.632.4242, ext. 228.
*In a successful effort to improve classroom safety, PFT convinced district officials to enforce maximum room occupancies. When you return in the fall, verify that your classrooms have clearly displayed maximum-occupancy signs. Email reports of missing signs to your dean and PCCD General Services (sikharo@peralta.edu), and copy PFT at union@pft1603.org.
In unity,
Debby Weintraub, President
PFT, AFT Local 1603
Email mgoldstein@peralta.edu with items you’d like to see in the e-Communiqué. For more about PFT—contract information, contacts, downloadable forms, updates, etc.—visit pft1603.org.