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December 10, 2021

FSU Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

December 10, 2021 (Zoom)

Executive Committee Members Present: Steve Striffler; Caroline Coscia; Lynne Benson; Dana Commesso; Monique Fuguet; Sana Haroon; Jessica Holden; Travis Johnston; Linda Liu; José Martinez-Reyes; Jeff Melnick

Others Present: Lorenzo Nencioli (FSU Senior Staff Member); Katie D’Urso (MTA rep); Joe Ramsey

  1. Approval of the agenda and the minutes of the December 2 Executive Committee meeting and the December 3 e-vote to endorse the Right to Strike Campaign: Motion to approve the agenda and minutes. Motion seconded. Motion passes unanimously. Congratulations to Tony Van Der Meer and Keith Jones on receiving the Chancellor’s Award for Service.

     
  2. Party Reminder: Wednesday, December 15, 5:30-7:30, Savin Hill Restaurant and Kitchen – still on!

     
  3. Requiring Covid Booster for Spring Semester?: FSU will discuss with Admin in Labor Management meeting on Wednesday. UMass Amherst announced they are requiring boosters for the spring semester. FSU will support this and find out more information about logistics.

     
  4. Ventilation Testing: MTA contractors did testing last Tuesday and Thursday. Joel Posner and Steve Striffler joined them. Did testing in Wheatley. Tested two rooms connected with each air handler on each floor. Got a good sample. FSU will put together a report and present to our members and the Administration. This could be a good organizing/PR tool.

     
  5. Intern Update: Received several good applications for social media intern position. Lots of student interest. Steve, Jeff, and Timothy Oleksiak vetted them. Interviewed two undergraduate applicants, will make offers to both. They will get course credit.

     
  6. Ice Skating with the Chancellor?: Holiday lunch from 12:00-2:00 next Thursday in Clark. Coalition union presence at this event? All union organizing meeting to plan next steps?

     
  7. Spring Semester Scheduling – Ex-Comm Meetings: 11:00-12:15 on Tues/Thur or after 3:00 on Friday? Will alternate between Thursdays and Fridays for meetings. Avoid meeting on weeks with a Monday holiday.

     
  8. Elections: Jessica is running for re-election and has stepped off the Elections Committee. Caroline and Travis will start out the cycle as committee members, might step off if they run for election. Need to encourage pre-tenure faculty to run for Ex Comm. Dana and Lynne willing to join the Elections Committee. FSU should form a Nominations Committee. Motion to approve Caroline, Travis, Dana, and Lynne as members of the Elections Committee for this year’s cycle. Motion seconded. Motion passes unanimously.

     
  9. Next Semester – what to focus on?: Discussion of priorities for next semester, including:

     
  • Coalition work with other unions; invite reps from sister unions to attend Ex Comm meetings; joint activities
  • NTT: 4/4 load vs. 4/3 load
  • Organizing actions; ask for input from MTA legal division
  • Health promotion and antiracism
  • Organize NTT constituent workshop or forum next semester; Linda interested in organizing; possibly focused on NTT proposals in bargaining
  • Reading group on union organizing and critical university studies
  • Parking bargaining will likely continue next semester – we will need organizing (parking bargaining is separate from main table)
  • Department visits, forums, constituency meetings with Ex Comm reps
  • Collaboration with Faculty Council – NTT/librarian research in progress forum

  10. Bargaining Update: Next session is Monday at 4:00. Email updates on bargaining issues and proposals are helpful for members. Primer on bargaining? Get the word out more about joining expanded bargaining sessions.

*Impromptu discussion of course scheduling and impacts on class sizes.

MEETING ADJOURNS