ASSOCIATION OF
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES
MINUTES – September 11, 2003
Present: Connie Charlton, Guen Johnson, Karen Killmaster,
Kenny Wiscombe, Mike Dome, Bonnie Killian, Lisa Clements, Gary Myers, Nancy
Rountree, Reida Bow, Tacy McKenzie, Linda Rooper, Robert Gale, Bryan Chesbro,
Steve Hughes, Marci Jaques.
Guests: Jeff Olson, Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
1. STATE EMPLOYEE ISSUES UPDATE:
Jeff Olson of the Service
Employees International Union stated the final draft of the Division of Human
Resources Rules is on their website http://www.myweb.cableone.net/seiu687/.
SEIU is drafting a response. Town hall meetings are beginning to meet with
legislators to discuss DHR rules changes and how they will vote on them, health
insurance, and the cost of living adjustment of 3%. A town hall meeting will be
held in Canyon County on the October 21st at
the Caldwell Public Library. Training in how to talk with legislators about
these issues will take place at the IBEW building, 16th and Bannock,
on October 1 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. If employees cannot make the
town hall meetings, Olson asks you to send comments/concerns to him at seiu687@cableone.net or through the mail
at 4696 Overland Road, Suite 216 Boise, ID 83705, so SEIU can speak for you.
There will also be a forum for state employees will be held at the State
Transportation Department on Friday, September 25 from 1:30
– 3:30
to talk with DHR about the rules. (Olson
felt the state granted release time for this with supervisor approval.) Olson
stated he would be available every Wednesday in October for BSU staff to meet
with him in the History Department’s conference room, L-194 from 10:30
a.m.
to 2:30 p.m.
2. COMPLETE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS:
The
Cultural Center requested an advisor from
ACE. Lisa Clements volunteered.
3. OPEN HOUSE
Discussion
about ACE Open House took place. It was MSC by Wiscombe/Clements to set up a
booth/table when there are bigger events, like BSUAOP’s Professional
Development Day, etc.
4. DISCUSSION BOARD
The board discussed having a
‘discussion board’ or ‘chat room’ on the Internet to air issues and make
suggestions concerning classified staff. It was felt this was too risky to have
electronically. Possibility of having an ACE mailbox in the mailroom was
discussed. Wiscombe will talk with the mailroom manager about the possibility
of having an ACE mailbox and having an ACE board member pick up the mail from
there and deliver it to president Charlton.
5. PARKING
Gary Myers talked about
issues with parking and parking lots, especially during games at the stadium.
People coming into work on weekends or game nights find beer bottles and trash
everywhere. Athletics should be paying for the cleanup directly after these
games. The mess should not be left throughout the weekend. Charlton
to contact Larry Blake about these issues. Groundspeople are involved in
picking up trash after games, rather than working on the grounds. This is a
problem. FOAM workers also are picking up after games…they start at 6:00
a.m.
and are not allowed overtime. This is also a problem. The next Parking
Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, September 25 in the
Alexander Room, if anyone would like to
attend.
6. OTHER
- Charlton asked that these minutes reflect
that by electronic vote the board approved the emeritus application from
the last meeting and it has been forwarded to HR.
- ACE will get information to members about
who their district representatives are so members can contact them about
issues concerning state employees. It is an election year – members are
urged to talk to people they know in their districts about issues that
affect state employees. Nothing will change if we don’t act.
- Meeting with Dr. Kustra was discussed.
Charlton stated he is considering conducting a meeting with classified
staff each semester. Issue of non-classified staff being in the room for
the entire meeting was raised. It was suggested that if non-classified
staff are needed at these meetings for informational purposes, they should
leave after the information is dispensed——many classified staff felt they
could not speak their minds in that atmosphere without fear of backlash,
so some issues were not broached.
- Discussion about HR’s role as concerns
employees was raised. It is felt HR is not currently a strong advocate for
BSU employees, often in times of employee trouble in an office. It is felt
that employees have to advocate for themselves. ACE board to look at drafting
a letter to Dr. Kustra about this issue.
- The next ACE meeting will be on October 9th
at 10:00 a.m. in the Wallace
Conference Room (7th Floor Ed. Bldg.)
Meeting adjourned
at 1:02 p.m. Gueneth
Johnson
Recording
Secretary