Dear Peralta Community,
Get ready for tonight’s board meeting with the PFT e-Communiqué, the union’s take on what’s happening around the district. Email items you’d like to see in this space to PFT Communications Director Debby Weintraub at dweintraub@peralta.edu.
*The Peralta Board of Trustees meets tonight at 7 at 333 E. Eighth St. Among the notable agenda items is an HR request for $85K for independent contractors. Tonight’s recipients of Peralta general funds: an employee investigator and a law firm. PFT again decries the district’s persistent reliance on consultants while class sections, student-support services, and jobs continue to be cut.
Trustees Nicky González Yuen and Abel Guillén bring a laudable resolution to the board that calls for the district to examine the possibility of banking with credit unions and investing in socially responsible ways. Trustee Guillén also forwards a resolution from vocational faculty, endorsed by PFT, to oppose cuts to federal Perkins grants, moneys used to support technical training programs in the community colleges.
*PFT holds its final general membership meeting of the semester Wed., Nov. 16, 3-5 p.m., in the auditorium at BCC (2050 Center St., half a block from Downtown Berkeley BART; BCC won’t pay out-of-towners’ parking tabs, so consider taking the train). The meeting covers concepts developed in contract talks between PFT and the district, new resolutions and actions of the PFT Executive Council, and recent petition drives.
*Respond to the recommendations of the CCC’s Student Success Task Force, Wed., Nov. 16, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Elihu M. Harris Building Auditorium, 1515 Clay St., Oakland. FACCC, CFT, and other faculty groups have raised concerns that some SSTF recs—fashioned with only limited faculty and student input—amount to unfunded mandates and don’t reflect a clear understanding of the proper role of community colleges.
*Attend the Tax the Rich Conference, Sat., Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Claremont Middle School (5750 College Ave., Oakland, across from Rockridge BART). The conference offers an opportunity to stay informed and get involved in activities that promote economic justice. PFT joins CFT, OEA, and other labor organizations in sponsoring the event.
*PFT encourages faculty to vote for Sharon Hendricks in her bid to become the first community college representative on the CalSTRS board. Hendricks, out of LACC’s Local 1521, has been endorsed by PFT, CFT, and FACCC. Click here for more information about the election. Voting closes in 15 days.
In solidarity,
Matthew M. Goldstein, President
Debby Weintraub, Communications Director
Peralta Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1603
For more about PFT—contract information, contacts, downloadable forms, updates, etc.—visit pft1603.org. Follow PFT on Twitter @PFT1603, and find us on Facebook.