[mpen-dayton] Greater Miami Valley Events & News

FYI. Best, Munsup

P.S. Please reply back to me with ‘unsubscribe’ added to the subject line if you no longer want to receive my e-Newsletters. The convenient link to unsubscribe is no longer available due to security reasons to protect my email servers.

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• FW: Reach Out "Invitation"
• FW: DDN Article about WSU: Could Wright State faculty strike? Union leader says it’s possible
         and about the Statement from AAUP-WSU’s Chief Negotiator, sent to all Union Members
• (Oct. 25) FW: Fuyao Worker's Rally this Wednesday
• (Oct. 25 & 28) FW: REMINDER - Community Outreach Activity of Clothing Drive
• (Oct. 26) FW: MVOC Bail Reform Community Meeting
• (Oct. 28) FW: The Anti-Drug and Opioid Awareness Conference
• (Oct. 30 is deadline to register for AMC 8 test on Nov. 18) FW: Math Contest Opportunity:
                   American Mathematics Contest 8th Grade Test
• (Oct. 30 is deadline to register with conference on Nov. 2 & 3) FW: Opioid Conference at Sinclair
• (Nov. 1) FW: Messaging Training with the Sherrod Brown Communications Team
• (Nov. 2-6) FW: Resistance party in Dayton
• (Nov. 4) FW: Back the Blue Nov 4th Event at Whiskey Barrel
• (Save the Dates: Nov. 11) FW: Undergraduate Mathematics Day at the University of Dayton, Nov 11, 2107
• FW: Ombudsman Office Weekly Update 10-20-2017

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From: Dr. Sharon J. Sherlock, DHA, MSA, BSN, RN; Executive Director, Reach Out of Montgomery County
Subject: Reach Out "Invitation"

Reach Out is a team of volunteers with a mission to provide access to medical care and pharmaceuticals to the underserved in our community. Reach Out helps to keep the cost of care down for Montgomery County residents. For every $100 contributed we have been able to deliver $800 worth of medical care. For more information, our most recent '4 Year Look-Back' is linked here!

This year due to national disasters and cost diversions toward the opioid epidemic, Reach Out may get lost in the sea of charitable giving. We also understand that your time is important. So we are cordially….UN-INVITING you to our Fun-Raiser!  By being UN-INVITED you can save the cost of a chicken dinner and free-up one more evening at home. So Hurry, Hurry, don’t be late, and donate today…..

2 WAYS to GIVE:

1. DONATE online @ DaytonReachOut.org
   or
2. Mail Donation To: 25 E. Foraker, Dayton, Ohio 45409

THANK YOU for Contributing to REACH OUT, YOUR LOCAL HEALTHCARE CHARITY, IMPACTING over 5,000 Lives Locally EVERY YEAR.

 

 

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/wright-state-faculty-contract-negotiations-stalled/CpHPVivr2kiAqeiZsek8lO/
Wright State faculty contract negotiations stalled

Contract negotiations between Wright State University and its faculty have stalled and union leaders said they are being asked to make big concessions for talks to continue.  (Continue reading the article by clicking here!)

About Statement from AAUP-WSU’s Chief Negotiator
Sent to all Bargaining Unit Faculty Members

The administration/Board still has no concrete proposals for the next contract, and they refused to meaningfully participate in third party mediation. However, they indicate they intend to look at reducing faculty pay and benefits. They also want to explore provisions to make it easier to fire tenured and continuing appointment faculty without cause, and to weaken due process. Finally, they signaled that they want to increase teaching workloads.

Read all about it in a statement from AAUP-WSU’s Chief Negotiator, Dr. Adrian Corbett, found at the very bottom of this message and also in the attached pdf file.

We are one faculty.

With my kindest regards,

Stephanie Triplett; Communication Officer, AAUP-WSU

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Statement from AAUP-WSU’s Chief Negotiator, Dr. Adrian Corbett, October 20, 2017

We have made no progress at all in mediation sessions. Therefore, we told the lawyer hired by the Board of Trustees to serve as its chief negotiator that we would participate in the scheduled October 20 mediation only if, 48 hours in advance, in accordance with the ground rules signed by the parties in January, he provided us with actual proposed CBA articles that he would negotiate about. To put it more bluntly, we were unwilling to drive to Columbus and waste a third day only to find that the Board-chosen chief negotiator was again not prepared to actually negotiate specific articles with us.

Just before the 48-hour deadline, this lawyer sent us a narrative “presentation” of the Board’s position with respect to resuming negotiations. Since this “presentation” contained no specific CBA proposals whatsoever, we promptly informed the mediator that we would not attend the October 20 session.

The narrative presentation, while containing no specific CBA proposals, does outline the Board’s position regarding the status of each CBA contract article — and the separate workload agreements as well!

Before continuing, it is important to understand that before beginning negotiations, the parties have always agreed on the ground rules to govern the negotiations. This year was no exception; you can see a signed copy of these ground rules at

http://www.wright.edu/administration/aaup/nego/Ground-Rules-Approved-2017.01.13.pdf

In particular, rule 4 “Document Exchange” required the parties to propose all changes to non-economic articles by March 10 — which the parties did in fact do — and to exchange proposals on a specified list of five economic articles on April 7. The negotiations were thus confined to the non-economic articles the parties had exchanged by March 10 plus the five specified economic articles.

Now, back to the “presentation.” It states

The Administration reserves as “open items” various Articles that contain provisions that have economic impact and have been presented to date by either party but, given the change in financial circumstances of the University, may and/or will be modified, rejected, accepted, or countered by the Administration during the future economic bargaining phase of negotiations (and not during this non-economic phase). Further, any current Articles with economic impact that have not been presented to date by the Administration also remain open and reserved for the future economic bargaining phase of negotiations, and “new” Articles yet to be proposed by the Administration on yet to be introduced economic topics remain open and reserved for the future economic bargaining phase of negotiations.

This is nothing less than a unilateral re-write of the ground rules. In particular, the Board’s position is that it can unilaterally declare virtually any CBA article as open for negotiation, signed ground rules notwithstanding. We categorically reject any attempt by the Board to re-write the rules governing negotiations, and we emphatically reject the Board’s wish to open virtually any CBA articles for negotiations.

One of the more outrageous examples of their attempt to unilaterally re-write the ground rules is the following statement from its “presentation”:

As the parties also need to address the issue of combining the NTE and TET contracts, to avoid confusion the Administration deems the NTE contract provisions as open (unless a TA has been reached) until the parties discuss and/or agree upon a way to most effectively and efficiently address this issue.

What does it mean to say the NTE contract is “open”? It means that the Board can propose modifications of all provisions that cover NTE faculty, even if they had previously not proposed any changes.

Another outrageous example pertains to the workload memorandums of understanding (MOUs). The Board’s “presentation” lists these MOUs as open for negotiations. But the workload MOUs are not part of the CBA. In fact, the dispute resolution process is different for the CBA and the workload MOUs. In the case of the CBA, unresolved issues go to a fact-finder who recommends language to resolve outstanding issues; and, if either side rejects the fact-finder’s report, faculty have the right to strike. In contrast, if either party wants changes in the workload MOUs and agreement cannot be reached, the differences go to binding arbitration.

Now why might the Board want to change the workload MOUs? To increase faculty workloads so they can reduce the number of faculty — faculty who continue to teach our students and perform research with distinction! Meanwhile, at the October 20 meeting of the Board’s Finance Audit and Infrastructure (FAI) Committee, the administration’s top three managers of money and property — whose annual base salaries alone are about $0.75 million — continue to report that spending at WSU is still not under control.

Outrageous examples continued: The “presentation” also lists a new economic article but with no specifics – not even a title! The Board is asking us to negotiate a matter to be named at a later date, and you can bet that it will target your paycheck, your health benefits, or both.

Regarding Faculty Governance Article 10, they want to “Modify Administration proposal to further provide flexibility and inherent management rights in faculty involvement in governance provisions.” What does this mean? Article 10 now guarantees the existence of a Faculty Senate. Do they want abolish the Senate? Article 10 also requires administrators to explain reasons for decisions that are made contrary to BUF recommendations. This provision is designed to hold administrators accountable for their actions. Has that provision been targeted by the Board?

In Article 14 Discipline, they want to “Modify Administration discipline proposal to further provide for a less formal more practical process allowing the Administration more flexibility, but still protecting employee due process.” In Article 15 Termination and Unpaid Suspension, they want to “Modify Administration termination and unpaid suspension proposals to further provide for a less formal more practical process allowing the Administration more flexibility, but still protecting employee due process.” At their core, these two articles guarantee that a faculty member accused of wrong doing receives due process. Weakening these protections is a step toward at-will employment, in which an employer can discipline or even fire an employee with impunity.

Finally, consider Article 17 Retrenchment. The administration made no proposal regarding this article by the deadline specified in the signed ground rules. But the “presentation” lists this as another one of the many articles as open for negotiation. Now, this article prevents summary dismissal of BUFMs — thus guarding both our academic freedom and the University’s academic integrity — and provides severance pay when the administration can in fact justify retrenchment-related dismissals. Not many months ago, the Board eliminated bumping rights for classified employees and cut severance pay for unclassified employees — unilaterally because neither group is protected by a Collective Bargaining Agreement. At the October 20 FAI Committee meeting, the administration would not rule out additional staff layoffs. We can see where the Board wants our protections under Article 17 to go. It is virtually guaranteed that they want to weaken BUFMs’ job security, rolling back protections for NTE faculty on continuing employment agreements, and making it easier to abolish academic programs and to lay off tenured faculty. 

What does all this mean for the Bargaining Unit Faculty?

One way or the other, the Board will try to divide the Bargaining Unit Faculty, pitting NTE and TET faculty against one another.

But we are one faculty and we will not be divided!

At this point, the EC believes we need to focus on preparing for fact-finding. It is unlikely that the fact-finder’s report will recommend language amounting to a unilateral rewrite of key provisions of our CBA. But the unlikely still might happen. So we should be prepared to reject a report that is unfair. Likewise, if the fact finder’s report is acceptable to the RCMs, the Board might reject it. In either case, we should be prepared to strike.

We believe that a very credible threat of a strike is the best way to avoid a strike, which should be a last-resort option. But it is possible that a strike may be the only way to avoid a complete gutting of our contract. If you believe that the risks inherent in a strike are a reason not to strike, you should reconsider your position. If the administration guts our contract, more risks than you are trying to avoid will become the permanent condition of your employment.

It is now more important than ever that we stand united. The Board has repeatedly shown neither respect for faculty nor concern for our students. After all, faculty working conditions are student learning conditions! We understand that the University is facing a financial crisis, but WE didn’t cause it. Over the last five years, the salaries and benefits of full-time teaching faculty have accounted for 16%-17% of the total institutional budget. In the first two of those five years, we received zero raises, and in the last three years, our raises have been offset by attrition. Over those three years, we have lost 71 positions, with the total faculty in our bargaining unit declining from 659 to 588. The Board has acknowledged that the over-spending has not been on instruction, and yet we have already contributed a great deal to resolving the budget issues created by reckless spending on non-instructional initiatives and positions. We and our students generate the revenue for this university. Without us and our students, this University not only does not function — without us and our students, it has no reason for being.

 

 

From: Scott Maney; Labor Relations Consultant, Ohio Education Association
Subject: Fuyao Worker's Rally this Wednesday

The 2,000 workers at Fuyao Glass in Moraine are seeking their first-ever union contract with the United Auto Workers and they have planned a Support Rally this coming Wednesday, October 25 from 2:00-3:30pm at the Moraine plant. See attached flyer for details, including parking locations, and more. Supporters are invited to join them in solidarity!

We can all support the Fuyao worker's motto: "Fair Rules! Equal Treatment!", because good jobs = stable families = strong communities!

For details on the situation, visit: https://fuyaoforward.org
You may also "like" their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/FuyaoForward/

 

 

From: David K. Greer
Subject: FW: REMINDER - Community Outreach Activity

Clothing Drive in support of Hurricsner relief for our citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands is as follows. Need a few volunteers for about an hour each day at the drop off location.  If you are available, please let me know the time and day you can assist.

 

 

From: Will Smith; Miami Valley Organizing Collaborative
Subject: FW: MVOC Bail Reform Community Meeting (Thursday, October 26)

The MVOC Criminal Justice Team has been doing work around bail reform strategies that can possibly be implemented in our area. We would like to invite you all to our first public meeting on the subject. This meeting wil take place this Thursday, October 26, at 6pm. The location will be the Tabernacle Baptist Church (840 S. Broadway). We will be talking about why we need reform a well as highlighting the work that is going on around the area and in other cities and states as well. If you are concerned about the criminal justice system, want to be heard, or just want to learn about things going on in the area...this meeting is for you! Please share this information with your networks as well. The people that are directly impacted must lead the fight!

 

 

From: anthony whitmore
Subject: FW: “The Anti-Drug and Opioid Awareness Conference,” Saturday, October 28, 2017, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

 

 

From: Potts, Erik
Subject: (Oct. 30 - Deadline to register) Math Contest Opportunity: American Mathematics Contest 8th Grade Test (AMC 8) at WSU on Saturday November 18, 2017 from 10:30am-11:10am

It is that time of year again--time for the AMC 8 Test! (That is, the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Contest 8th Grade Test, or AMC 8.) Please see the attached flyer. Wright State is hosting the event (I am the Contest Manager, along with Dr. Seoh), and we encourage all math and computer science circle students in Grade 8 and below to give it a try! It is a great opportunity to give your math and problem solving skills a good workout! Please note that registration ends on Monday October 30.

But I must apologize to the high schoolers--they are not eligible to compete. (Only students under 14.5 years of age as of Saturday November 18, 2017 may compete.) However, there is a high school test for you all to take in February (the AMC 10/12); check your local high school for more information or the MAA's website. I can also point you in the right direction, too. Unfortunately, we are not able to host the AMC 10/12 at WSU at this time due to logistical reasons/issues.

Lastly, a good resource for studying for the test is the Art of Problem Solving's website (for both AMC 8 and AMC 10/12 and other competitions):
http://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=AMC_Problems_and_Solutions .

I also want to let you know that online registration for this year's AMC 8 Contest is now live! Special thanks goes to Lynne and George for their help with this effort. The direct link to the form is https://goo.gl/forms/pYnETod0hcZtbG7E3.

Please let me (erik.potts@wright.edu) know if you have any questions and I hope to see lots of you at the contest!

 

 

From: Will Smith; Miami Valley Organizing Collaborative
Subject: Opioid Conference at Sinclair

We speak often in our organizing work about "changing the narrative". This conference aims to help do that exact thing around the opioid epidemic. The dates are November 2 and 3, and the deadline for registration is October 30.

For registration (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/creating_narrative) and more information, please follow this link: http://www.sinclair.edu/opiates

 

 

From: Blue Ohio
Subject: Messaging Training with the Sherrod Brown Communications Team

   

DETAILS REGISTER

 

 

From: Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Adam, Holly, Kathy, Susan, Anathea, Audine, Shannon, Emma, Pilar, Natalie, Melody, Pam, Lindsay, and Ryan, the UltraViolet Action team
Subject: Resistance party in Dayton

The 2018 midterm elections are just one year away. This is our chance to GRAB BACK by electing a wave of pro-women leaders to offices across the country. But if we're going to win next November, we have to get started now.

   This is how we'll do it:
   

1. Starting NOW, every time politicians, or aspiring politicians, show their sexism in their words and policies, we will fight back with coordinated, nationwide action.
2. As the election approaches, UltraViolet members will identify the top races that will impact women's lives, and we'll use our influence strategically to make them national news.
3. We'll WIN elections by turning out pro-women voters through canvassing, phone calls, and hard-hitting ads.

Sound interesting?

Be a part of it from the beginning by hosting a Women Resist! Potluck this fall between November 2-6--one year out from the 2018 midterm elections!--to connect with other UltraViolet members in your community and start planning.

Once you sign up to host a potluck, we'll get in touch ASAP to help you start planning and recruiting. Thanks for taking action.

Want to support our work? UltraViolet Action is funded by members like you, and our tiny staff ensures small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

 

 

From: Michelle Dilts
Subject: Back the Blue Nov 4th Event at Whiskey Barrel

Please share with others who support law enforcement, or who eat and would like to win prizes. GOOD PRIZES and silent auction items.
Specific questions about this event? Contact: John Pawelski Jr.; 937.554.5753, jpawelskijr@gmail.com

(Note. John Pawelski, Jr. is Officer Dayton Police Department’s Chris Pawelski’s brother and a member of Miami Valley Crime Prevention, which receives some of the proceeds from this event. Their father is a Retired Dayton Police Officer too.)

 

 

From: K.T. Arasu
Subject: FW: Undergraduate Mathematics Day at the University of Dayton, Nov 11, 2107

The UD Mathematics Department will host Undergraduate Mathematics Day, a conference celebrating mathematics in all forms. The conference will take place on Saturday, November 11, 2017.

We invite undergraduate, graduate and high school students and anyone else interested in mathematics to attend. We encourage students to present 15-minute talks on any topic that involves mathematics. We welcome student talks in any disciplines related to mathematics. Undergraduates, graduate students and high school students are all welcome to attend and/or present a talk.

We ask that you publicize the event among your colleagues, students and friends, and that you post the attached poster in prominent places on your campus.  Capstone projects, honors thesis projects, REU projects or any other project that has mathematics content is appropriate.

The conference is anchored by the 18th Kenneth C. Schraut Memorial Lecture, which will be delivered by Joe Gallian of the University of Minnesota Duluth. Dr. Gallian is nationally known for his work in undergraduate research and for his excellent teaching, for which he was honored by the MAA with the Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Teaching Award. A second plenary lecture will be delivered by Allison Henrich of Seattle University, winner of the MAA's Henry L. Alder Teaching Award for Beginning Faculty Members. Both talks will be accessible to anyone interested in mathematics.

Although there is no registration fee, registration is required for all attendees (so that we can plan for space and food). Registration is now open online. The link can be found on the conference web page http://go.udayton.edu/UndergradMathDay. The deadline for registration and abstract submission is Wednesday, November 1, 2017. We will provide a complimentary lunch and snacks to all participants.

Please feel free to contact Wiebke Diestelkamp (wdiestelkamp1@udayton.edu) with any questions, or send email to UndergradMathDay@udayton.edu.

 

 

From: David K. Greer
Subject: FW: Ombudsman Office Weekly Update 10-20-2017

Your Ombudsman Office opened cases this week concerning problems with Dayton Municipal Court, Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Greater Dayton Premier Management, and the Bureau of Vital Statistics for residents of Centerville, Clayton, Dayton, Englewood, Kettering and Trotwood.

A disabled East Dayton man contacted the Ombudsman's office this week for help finding out why he is not receiving a full monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit.  He had read his award letters several times, but still didn't understand how his benefit was calculated.  We contacted the local Social Security office and in less than 24 hours we could explain to him that he received a reduced amount because he has never provided documentation that he is paying rent.  We explained that if he submits documentation of his rental payments, the amount of his monthly check will be adjusted.

We provided brief assistance or referrals concerning the City of Dayton code violations, the Home Energy Assistance Program, housing issues, legal issues, the Victims of Crime Assistance program, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Ohio Department of Insurance and the Ohio Public Utilities Commission.  These households were from Centerville, Clayton, Dayton, Englewood, Kettering, Oakwood, Riverside and West Carrollton.

Our Long-Term Care Ombudsmen opened cases in eight area facilities on inadequate care plans; physical abuse; poor menus; unwanted discharges; the administration of medication; personal hygiene care; accidental injury and lost personal property.  We visited 12 facilities and participated in ten surveys by the Department of Health.  We advocated for residents in three discharge hearings; prevented the unwanted discharge of two residents; and presented training to two facilities on treating residents with dignity and respect.

Facebook Weekly Update: October 16, 2017 – October 20, 2017
“Tax refund mystery solved”

A couple contacted the Ombudsman office because they were missing a municipal income tax refund.  The couple had already called the municipality, and learned that the check had been issued several weeks earlier, but that it was mailed to the wrong address.  Staff at the municipality outlined a complicated process for issuing a replacement check, so the couple called the Ombudsman office and requested a clarification of the process and to learn when to expect the refund.

The Ombudsman contacted the municipality about the missing check.  The next day the tax manager informed the Ombudsman that a message had been left for the taxpayer informing them that a refund had been issued and was mailed to the correct address.  A few days later the couple called the Ombudsman to report that the check had been received and to thank the Ombudsman for the prompt intervention.

The Ombudsman Column, a production of the Joint Office of Citizens’ Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have had with government services, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to the Beerman Building, 11 W. Monument Avenue, Suite 606, Dayton 45402, or telephone (937) 223-4613, or by electronic mail at ombudsman@daytonombudsman.org or like us on Facebook at “Dayton Ombudsman Office.”

 

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