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JCC Board responds to JCCFA press release
The Jackson Community College Board of Trustees just learned from the local media that a press release has been distributed by the JCCFA (Faculty Association). At best, some of the comments by the Association are misleading, and at worst, just plain incorrect. As a Board, we are surprised that the faculty chose this course of action since we have not broken off communications; in fact, we are waiting on a response to our last proposal. The College has and will continue to bargain in good faith.
While the Board does not believe in negotiating contracts in the media, they do feel obligated to respond to the union’s list of “major issues” dividing the JCCFA and the Board of Trustees:
Regarding JCCFA’s statement on cost-of-living increases, low faculty salaries and current enrollment numbers: The current offer on the table, which was offered months ago, contains annual increases over the next five years of 2.6%, 2.6%, 2.6%, 2.5% and 2.4%, plus steps, which equates to additional .5% increase across the entire association (or 3.1% overall per year, for the first three years, 3.0% and 2.9% in years 4 and 5 respectively). These increases were offered as part of a package that included NO INCREASE in their contribution for medical coverage for the next five years. The average annual salary of our full-time faculty is $75,341 plus benefits which brings the average salary and benefit package to be in excess of $100,000 per faculty member for 181 paid days of work per year.
Regarding JCCFA’s statement on the Board’s unwillingness to fill vacant full-time positions thus jeopardizing the level of quality instruction: The unfilled positions were advertised locally, state-wide and nationally. However, the faculty selection committee failed to find qualified candidates; hence the positions were re-advertised and still remain open. The Board’s number one objective remains total commitment to student success.
Regarding full-time faculty accepting a lower increase in their previous contract to raise the pay of part-time faculty: In the last contract, full-time faculty received the same percent increase (1.5%, 2% and 2%) as the support staff and administration, not less.
The President of the JCCFA alleges that the Board feels spending money on massive building projects and providing large pay increase to retain the President is more important that retaining high-quality faculty. The Board understands that providing a state-of-the-art facility with quality programs and instruction is necessary to remain relevant to this community, particularly when more and more individuals are in need of being retrained for another career. This is an investment for our students and the communities we serve.
As far as our decision to retain President Phelan, the Board, like the union, realizes the importance of providing a competitive wage to keep and retain high-quality talent at this institution and in this community. Even with the President’s pay increase, he is still not the highest paid in the Tier II Community Colleges in the State. Likewise, the Board seeks to provide competitive wages to the College’s faculty and believes the current offer accomplishes exactly that.
The Board of Trustees values the hard-working and dedicated faculty at Jackson Community College. The Board feels the current offer to the faculty, in light of the current economy, adequately acknowledges their contributions to this institution, just as they acknowledged the other employee groups.
