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Marjorie Lynn (foreground) and other LEO members answering the phones to help Detroit Public TV.

Hats off to Ivan Kernisky (LEO Dearborn) who organized LEO volunteers to raise money for Detroit Public TV by taking telephone pledges on-the-air on Wednesday, December 14. "The phone-a-thon was Ivan's brainchild," said LEO activist and organizer Beth Hay. "He met with members personally to recruit volunteers and, through his efforts and contributions, insured a glitch-free event."

LEO's night at the fundraiser included lots of on-air face time of the LEO volunteers answering phones in our bright yellow LEO t-shirts, regular on-screen thank-yous to LEO at each break, a brief interview with spokesperson Elizabeth Axelson, other mentions by the hosts, and more. All in all, it was a great evening with a great bunch of LEO members!

Click the "Read more" link to view additional photos. (All photographs by Beth Hay.)

Big Rapids, MI—Nontenure-track faculty at Ferris State University will conduct a “grade-in” at the university president’s office today to publicize their precarious employment status, low pay, and lack of health care. Hired on a semester-by-semester basis, many of them will lose their jobs next week. Ineligible for unemployment, they will be without an income during the upcoming holidays. Many teaching full-time at the university do not have health insurance.

The event follows an emergency membership meeting of the year-old Ferris Nontenure-Track Faculty Organization (FNTFO). At the meeting, the membership voted to “authorize FNTFO leadership to take job action up to and including stoppage of work starting Dec. 7 until the FNTFO/FSU contract is settled.”

FNTFO and FSU have been negotiating a contract for nearly a year. A state-appointed mediator has attended the bargaining sessions for several months, but little progress has been made on three key issues including job security, health benefits and pay rates.

Many of the faculty members who will be losing their jobs have worked at Ferris for decades, but according to the university are only “temporary” employees who are hired and fired each semester. After nearly a month without pay, most faculty members hope Ferris will rehire them Jan. 9, but there are no guarantees of future employment.

It was this uncertainty and lack of security in their job status that prompted the faculty members to vote to form a union in the Summer of 2010.

Annual Report Workshop, UM-Flint
November 16

Will cover annual reports, interim reviews and major reviews:

• What is required
• How much information is needed
• What is the timeline
• Mentoring
• Examples of reviews

Happenings Room, UCEN
Wednesday November 16
1:30 p.m.

Contact: Lisia Williams, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

LEO Reviews the Reviews, UM-Ann Arbor
November 29

• What are the contractual review guidelines?
  
• What is the difference between interim and major reviews?
  
• Is an annual report a review?
  
• How does the “Continuing Renewal Review” change the process?
  
• Plus example review materials and experiences shared!

LEO office, 330 E. Liberty, 3F
Tuesday, November 29
5:00 p.m.

Contact: Janella James,   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

LEO members from our three campuses came together for the annual convention on Saturday, October 22, at UM-Flint.

In the morning, members were addressed by Karla Swift, the new president of the Michigan AFL-CIO, who discussed efforts to protect workers' rights and the middle class in Michigan.

Members discussed the potential impact of the political environment in Michigan and current labor relations at the University on our next round of bargaining. Finally, we began the process of identifying issues for the 2012 bargaining platform. Our next step will be drafting a member survey on issues.

The membership approved the 2012 LEO Budget, and a procedural amendment to the Constitution.

A Lifetime Service Award was presented to Marc Ammerlaan, who is stepping down as Ann Arbor Campus Chair. Marc’s extensive service spans over 10 years, starting in 2002 as a member of the original organizing committee. He also served as interim LEO Secretary, Strike Captain in 2003, and 4 years as campus chair.

Outstanding Service awards were presented to

• Bill Burgard, Ann Arbor, Art & Design Rep
• Claudia Walters, Dearborn, Scholarship Committee
  
• Quentin Galerneau, Flint, LEO Finance & Technology Committees and Flint Hiring & Professional Development Committees

Members talk business at the Annual LEO Convention. In the foreground, Barry Wauldron (Dearborn) and Pat Emenyonu (Flint.)