ASSOCIATION OF CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES        

MINUTES – December 11, 2003 (Approved 1-8-04 with corrections)

 

NOTE:  ACE meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m.

The next meeting will be on Thursday, January 8t in the Senate Forum Room in the SUB’s

connector. ACE now has a mailbox (Mail Stop 1010) for classified staff use. If you have concerns/agenda items

you would like the ACE Senate to discuss, please send them to this mailbox (signed or unsigned -- your choice).

Or email agenda items/concerns to Connie Charlton at ccharl@boisestate.edu.  Then attend the meetings!

 

ACE Members Present:  Connie Charlton, Guen Johnson, Rex Hadley, Gary Myers, Ken Wiscombe, Lisa Clements, Reida Bow, Karen Killmaster, Nancy Rountree, Mike Dome, Carol Carroll   Guests:  Debi Alvord, Jane Buser

 

  • GUESTS:  Jane Buser and Debi Alvord, BSU Human Resources office

 

HRAC & Health Insurance Bid Process: Buser talked about HRAC (Human Resource Advisory Committee) and its function. It was created about eight years ago as a forum for faculty, classified staff and professional staff to raise human resource issues and receive information about human resource topics. She reported that the healthcare RFP (Request for Proposal) was out for bid, and that the bids are due January 7th. Felt that by mid-February the provider would be chosen using employee comments/suggestions to design the actual final healthcare plan. PPO and indemnity plans will mostly likely be the two types offered. There are very few companies that can handle group insurance for large groups like state employees, so in all likelihood, the provider will be Blue Cross or Blue Shield. It will probably be late April before the cost to employees/employers is known.

 

Legislative Update: The CEC meets January 8-9, 2004.  DHR recommended a 6.8% increase for state employees to the Governor.  The Governor will include his recommendation in his State of the Budget Address in early January.  CEC can either accept the Governor’s recommendation or recommend a different amount.  If the CEC decides on an increase other than the Governor’s they would need 11 votes to pass a concurrent resolution.  Alvord stated that President Kustra is interested in trying to supplement what the Legislature provides.  Buser stated that state employee voices really need to be heard and the sooner the better.  Rep. Bruce Newcomb (Speaker of the House) and Sen. Bob Geddes (Senate President Pro Tem) are key legislators to contact. (Be sure to do this after work hours or from home--not on work time.). Contact them via e-mail or with hard copy letters.

 

Human Resource Office Mission:  Buser said the HR office performs an advocacy role on a wide range of University and thus employee issues.  However, HRS is also management, it strives to find a balance between both employee and supervisory needs.  This is often difficult to achieve and there is always a fine line in any human resource office.  Alvord said if an employee reports alleged harassment, discrimination or other potential violations of state or federal law, the University is required to follow up with the appropriate person(s).  HRS is solutions oriented and often works with employees and managers to develop a positive outcome for both.  However, this is not always possible.  HRS does not ‘judge’ but gathers the facts and advises and works with employees and/or supervisors to brainstorm options.  Sometimes this includes identifying external resources (i.e. EAP, career counseling).  A mediation program with Suzanne McCorkle is in the planning stages.  Alvord went on to explain Human resource roles in depth, which include the following:  Compliance with rules and laws; advise management; and advise employees.

 

  • GOODWILL COMMITTEE – Senate

Charlton updated everyone on the Goodwill Committee. She talked about food vouchers, and the expenditure of having vouchers printed. A classified worker was asking for help with Christmas, if possible, with funds not yet in the food voucher pot. It was MSC by Wiscombe/ Clements to help her with the cash we had on hand and funds not designated toward food vouchers.

 

  • CLASSIFIED RECOGNITION LUNCHEON ON DECEMBER 17, 2003

Charlton will announce the Goodwill Project and give public thanks to Dave Martinez, Regional Director of TIAA-CREF, for the donation that will allow us to help less fortunate coworkers.

 

  • COMMITTEE REPORTS
  • Charlton asked committee chairs to e-mail reports to Guen as soon as possible.

 

  • OTHER:

 

Classified Staff Meeting with President Kustra:  February 9, 2004 at 3:30 in the SUB.*

 

(*Since the December meeting, Dr. Kustra cancelled this meeting with classified staff in February. He would rather wait until after the legislative session so he can report to us on what happened. Look for a new date via e-mail from ACE.)

 

CEC process: Tabled

 

Jeff Olson:  Olson has resigned from the Service Employees International Union to enter a PhD program in Labor History at the University of Northern Illinois. The ACE Senate thanks him for his updates and info on state employee issues. Amanda Brown has been hired by the SEIU to replace Olson, and we look forward to her keeping us informed.

 

Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.                                                                         Guen Johnson

 

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