Negotiations about wages and benefits have open up, with classified staff asking to be treated equally with faculty, and faculty asking to keep their compensation package.
Limited negotiations that are called “reopeners” have opened this year for the specific purpose of talking about the wages and benefits that VCCCD staff will receive, said Vice Chancellor and Human Resources Chairman Michael W. Shanahan in an email.
“Negotiations can be difficult, but the best negotiations are based on advance preparation, objective data, full disclosure, and civil dialog,” said Shanahan.
The union and district, which usually includes the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and other leaders, will each assemble a negotiation team with a chief negotiator, said Shanahan.
“The teams meet, discuss their issues, and exchange proposals until an agreement is reached,” said Shanahan.
Health insurance plans are renewed annually and it is uncommon to have the plan revision to control premium cost, said Shanahan.
VCCCD staff should expect to receive a “fair and vigorous representation from their union and a fair and even-handed response from the District,” said Shanahan.
Chief Service Employees International Union Steward Olivia Long said equity and equality are different. Equity means to try to understand and give what the person needs to live their healthy lives.
“Equality aims to promote fairness and justice, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same places and needs the same thing,” said Long.
Administrative Assistant Felicia Torres said she wants the Board of Trustees to know that she wants the classified staff to be more appreciated for their hard work and that both the classified staff and faculty are in the same fight to have the same benefits.
“We want to be able to have the same medical benefits,” said Torres.
President of Ventura County Federation of College Teachers Dr. Steve Hall said in a telephone interview that faculty want to continue to have a compensation package, which is currently being reviewed, to keep the wonderful faculty at VCCCD and continue to appeal for new teachers.
VCCCD must continue to attract faculty to “meet the education needs of students of Ventura County,” said Hall.
Trustee Bernardo Perez said in an email that he values and respects the classified staff and faculty of the district for the work they do and their willingness to come to the board meetings to share their opinion on the matter.
“Receiving information, at every instance, can only help me in performing my role as trustee to the best of my ability,” said Perez.
