"Infrequent Flyer"
Part-time faculty News
May 10, 1999

 

Dear Part-time Faculty Colleague,

Change (and pollen) is in the air as we near the end of spring semester.  One change is--

MPFA Social in Lakeport - Friday, May 21 at 5 p.m., at The Dutch Treat, 150 N. Main Street in downtown Lakeport. We had to change the date to one week later, because of the CPFA conference (keep reading?) that day in Cupertino.  It will also allow you to attend the MC Awards Ceremony in Ukiah on May 14, if you like.  This is our last get-together of the year, so drop by and socialize!

Summer Unemployment Benefits  If part-time teaching is your sole source of earned income and you will not be working this summer, you may be eligible for state unemployment benefits.  MPFA VP Hans Delyser has had some experience, and tells how it can be done without having to stand in line at an EDD office.  1) Phone the state Employment Development Department "hotline in your area (463-4703 in Ukiah, 262-3100 in Lakeport) and go through the menu.  2) Your eligibility for benefits stems from the stipulation that your employment in the fall semester is contingentit may be canceled if there are not enough students, or you are "bumped by a full-time instructor needing a load.  3) Since EDD is not unlike other state agencies, your initial request will probably be denied.  Don,t despair, because 4) there is a phone-in appeals process, and when you explain (2) above, you will receive benefits.  Hans reports that the process is not as bad as it sounds, and that the money comes in very handy in August.  If you have questions, call Hans at 459-5310.

The Bigger Picture As our impending newsletter will show in detail, part-time faculty issues are making a big political splash right now.  A new statewide organization CPFA is growing rapidly, and will be holding its first big organizing meeting in Cupertino (De Anza College) this Friday, May 14.  Several MPFA members will attend, and will look into forming a CPFA "chapter here at MC.  Membership in this statewide lobbying group is only $20, and there are flyers about membership in the p/t office in Ukiah.  Let us know if you want one.

Capitol Demonstration On Monday, May 17, state faculty organizations will be holding a demonstration on the steps of the state capitol in Sacramento.  This is designed to show legislators that part-time issues including equitable pay, benefits, seniority rights and more full-time hiring are needed to improve the quality of community college education in California.  It starts at 10 am on the north steps of the capitol, and should generate media interest.  Again, MPFA will be represented, and you are certainly welcome to come and show your support for AB 420 and other reform legislation.

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If you want to get in touch with your MPFA officers here's how

President:  Linda Guebert 
279-4514 (Lake County)
guebert@jps.net

VP: Hans Delyser
459-5310 (Willits)
hdelyser@mendocino.cc.ca.us

Secretary: Neill Bell    
463-1461 (Ukiah) 
nbell@pacific.net

Communications Committee
King Collins    
462-4543 (Ukiah) 
greenmac@pacific.net