In this Issue:
Welcome Back
Southampton Transferees
Hurricane Katrina
Website Updates
H509 Adjunct Office
Class Size Quotas
Save for a Rainy Day!
Aetna Dental Coverage
Rank Payments: 2005-2005
Treasurers Report 
Full-Time Faculty Healthcare Supplement

     On behalf of the Executive Committee and Officers of the LIUFF, I would like to welcome you all back from a hopefully restful and relaxing summer.  This promises to be an exciting year and, thanks to your professionalism and solidarity, a productive one for the entire Brooklyn Community!
     There have been several important changes that have occurred over the summer, the most prominent of which was the decision to switch dental coverage from Horizon to Aetna. The reasoning behind these changes, and their effect upon you, will be detailed in this newsletter.  Also, the LIUFF website has been greatly expanded..
Finally, and most importantly, this is a negotiation year.  The current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on 8/31/05.  We look forward to your input in formulating the Union positions of salary, benefits and working conditions.  You can further help this truly collective effort to better our lives and our University by being vigilant and jealously guarding the ancient responsibilities, rights and privileges of the academy against any efforts at further “corporatization”.  Once again, I would like to remind you that the University is the faculty.  Our main pursuit is the expansion of human understanding and knowledge.  Students come to learn from us.  All institutes of higher learning are held in trust for the good of the people of the State of New York.  It is the duty of our Trustees to be faithful to the needs of the People by balancing the coequal needs of the administration and the faculty for the good of the student and the health of the Institution.
    Wishing you a successful year,
 

                    Edward J. Donahue,
                    President, LIUFF
 

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     On behalf of your new colleagues, the LIUFF would like to extend greetings to those faculty who have transferred to the Center of the Universe (Brooklyn, USA) from the Southampton Campus!
     Your past accomplishments have brought honor and prestige to the entire University.  We share in your sadness over the demise of our sister campus and heartily embrace you into our family.  We look forward to working with you to strengthen the whole LIU Brooklyn community  and eagerly look forward to sharing ideas and experiences as we all continue to strive to make this Campus the best it can be!
 

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Hurricane Katrina Relief

     The Executive Committee authorized a $500 contribution to Habitat for Humanity be made by the LIUFF for the purpose of those suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  This modest outlay was approved as a symbol of the care and concern of the faculty.

Please be generous with our own donations to those in need!
 
 

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Website Updates

     The Union website, http://www.liuff.org, has been updated and expanded to include more useful information.  Specifically, the current CBA is online as a PDF file, complete with a detailed table of contents.  This will allow the membership access to the CBA from any location and also allow for easy searching of the document.  The Benefits page has been expanded to include several new links, such as:
 

• A Dental page, which explains coverage, details the Aetna fee schedule for many common procedures, helps in locating a dentist, and has downloadable enrollment and claim forms.
• An Early Retirement page, which expands upon the language in the contract and includes links to resources which will help members weigh the financial implications of early retirement.
• A page on Tuition benefits, including an explanation of the tax ramifications of tuition remission, the procedure for securing doctoral loans, and an explanation of the Tuition Exchange Program, of which LIU is a participant.
• A page explaining the rules governing participations in the Adjunct Benefits Trust Fund.
• A page explaining the Union’s Full Time Faculty Healthcare Support program.

    In addition to these benefits, also keep an eye open for updates on negotiations and other issues! 
 
 

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    There is a new adjunct office located in H509.  The office has internet, telephone and fax capabilities and is for use by all adjuncts.  Access is by means of a swipe card.  In order to gain access to the room, adjuncts should bring their ID cards and a signed copy of their fall contract to LLC 307, across the hall from the library.

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 As previously reported, the Administration attempt to raise all quotas on all classes to their contractual maximum was struck down by an arbiter late last Spring.  In response, the Administration immediately lowered all quotas to their previous level and then began meeting with individual chairpersons to re-raise the quotas to some level appropriate to the contract language and the arbiter’s decision.  The Union was in contact with all chairs over the summer, but we would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the arbiter’s decision and possible actions which may arise from it.  The arbiter ruled:
    “ As a remedy, the University shall return the quotas to the status quo ante.  The University shall raise quotas pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement only after making an investigation and analysis (including taking input from the affected department) of the reasonableness of an increase on a class by class, subject by subject, basis (sic).”
     If your department is presented with increases in quotas which you believe to be sound and reasonable, you should of course sign off on them.  However, if your Dean presents you with changes to class size quotas which you do not deem to be academically sound, you may consider initialing any papers presented and writing that you were consulted but do NOT agree with the changes.  If you do not agree to the increases that are presented, you should specifically indicate to the Dean, both verbally and in writing, the specific reasons why a particular increase would be unreasonable.
 

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 As we have said several times, this is a contract year.  Although nobody enters into good faith negotiations expecting a strike, the possibility is always there.  The Union therefore asks that, during the coming year, all members make a special effort to put some money away for future contingencies.  The stronger your individual position is going into negotiations, the stronger our collective stance can be!
 

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     Effective July 1st, 2005, the LIUFF has transferred our Dental coverage to from Horizon Dental Insurance to Aetna.  There were several reasons for this switch: 

• Aetna provided the opportunity for domestic partner and full family coverage. 
• Aetna's network consists of 11,232 providers at 5,665 locations whereas Horizon's network consists of 8,955 providers and 7,390 locations. 
• The individual rate from Aetna is comparable to that of Horizon and will not necessitate an increase in full dues. 
• Aetna provides either a PPO or DMO plan, with members free to switch between plans on a monthly basis

LIUFF member + 1  - Total Premium $68.53/ month
Family (3 or more)  - Total Premium $100.90/month

     These premiums include the monthly individual rate of approximately $39.  This individual rate is included in your Union dues if you have already opted for dental coverage.  Members opting for family coverage would be billed by the Union for the difference between the individual coverage and the cost of the family plan. Billing would be for 6 months of coverage at a time. 

LIUFF member + 1 6 Month Bill $177.18
Family (3 or more) 6 Month Bill $371.40 

• Our current rate is a composite based upon 20% DMO coverage.  At present, all members are registered in the PPO.   Failure to achieve the 20% target will result in higher premiums next year.
• You may switch to the DMO after using your $2,000 maximum in the PPO.
• Conversely, in the event that you opt for the DMO and you require major dental work, you may switch into the PPO and receive up to $2,000 in covered advanced procedures from a provider of your choice.

    IMPORTANT!  Members may switch between the PPO and the DMO no later than the 15th of the month in order to be effective on the 1st of the following month.  A member may switch by calling
Aetna Member Services at (877) 238-6200
 
 

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 The current CBA provides that, in addition to the annual percentage increase in salary, each unit member who is continuing in rank will receive a payment to be included in his or her base salary.  As a result of the transfer of Southampton faculty to this campus, an agreement was reached between the Administration and the LIUFF fixing the total amount of money available for rank payments for the upcoming academic year at $76,164.
 As of this printing*, based upon the number of people continuing at each rank, each faculty member will receive the following total annual rank payments:

* These figures may be subject to minor adjustments as the Payroll Department becomes aware of additional retirements or resignations.
 
 
 
 

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There are currently three funds administered by the LIUFF.  As of 9/1/05, their balances were as follows:
     1) General Account
          a) Checking-$8,000
          b) CD - $100,000
     2) Healthcare Support Supplement   -$38,000
     3) Adjunct Benefits Trust Fund - $149,000

Projections for the following year are as follows:
Income (dues) - $110,000/ Semester
Expenses:  $105,993/semester
     1) NYSUT Dues – $57,643/ Semester
          a) Full Time – 240 members, $420/yr.
          b) Adjunct – 200 members - $72/yr.
     2) Dental – $43,350/semester -200 members at $36.13 per month.
     3) Miscellaneous-$5,000/semester (arbitrations, entertainment, etc.)

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     The current CBA provides full health insurance for all full-time faculty. However, full-time faculty hired on or after 9/1/04 are required to pay 50% of the cost of any additional family coverage. 
     In order to defray the cost of this provision to these Unit Members, the LIUFF has been collecting an additional $10 per month from every Member since 9/1/03 and has set this money aside in a separate account. 
     If you are a full-time faculty member hired on or after 9/1/04 and you are currently paying 50% of the cost of health insurance for your family, you are eligible for reimbursement of part or all of those costs from this special fund. In order to receive the money, forward the following information to any of the Union Officers: 

• Proof of effective date of insurance for your dependent(s) and/or domestic partner 
• A copy of a pay stub showing the deduction of the cost of family coverage. 

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