September 21, 2005

Revised November 3, 2005

As many of you know, we have had several discussions about changes to campus hours with the unions who represent the majority of our employees. The college administration has been trying to be responsive to requests for information and assistance from union leadership, as follows:

• The unions and several individual employees have asked why we need to keep offices open to 5 p.m. We have fully explained those reasons in Labor-Management meetings with UUP, CSEA and PEF, and hope that information has also been shared with you. The short answer is that keeping offices open until 5 p.m. (when the public typically expects offices to close) is to serve the needs of prospective and enrolled students, parents and the general public. The following is a link that discusses those reasons in depth, for your further understanding.
• UUP, while acknowledging that the Administration has a right to change campus hours, has asked us to delay the implementation date until the effects of the change, including staffing questions, can be more fully discussed. Accordingly, in offices where staffing questions remain, the department head may request approval from his/her vice president to postpone implementation of the revised campus hours for up to two weeks (to October 10) to provide sufficient time for necessary planning.
• * CSEA representatives have asked that an option for a meal period of one hour be available, to allow time for walking, errands, and other personal needs. CSEA staff who work the core hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. will have a one-hour meal period.
• Finally, CSEA has requested that where possible, employees be given options and flexibility with regard to work hours. We have done that. Please see the memo on "New Campus Hours . . ." which sets forth a variety of flexibility options.

* Updated November 3, 2005