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CSEA CONNECTION
by Nidal Kobaissi, CSEA president |
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First I want to thank all the classified staff members that voted on December 9, 2003. I also want to thank all the members who supported me before and after the election. The election is just the beginning: in the coming months I will continue to call upon you for support on the important issues that will come before us. It seems that the next fiscal year’s budget will once again test the strength of our campus community. One thing that you can count on is that the classified staff will receive timely and reliable information. Members will also be given many opportunities to provide input and ask questions. Your Executive Board many not have all the answers, but will research your questions and respond to you as quickly as possible. As I go about performing my regular job duties here on campus, I’m often approached by union members who want to ask a question or make a comment. More often than not, I am on my way to a call for police service, or to a meeting, which doesn’t afford me the opportunity to stop and talk with you. I apologize for this and hope you understand. Because you deserve to have my undivided attention I will be setting up regular office hours during the day and in the evening for your convenience. This will give me time to take notes and research your request in a better environment and ultimately provide you with better service. Unless you have an emergency, I would ask that you call the CSEA office at extension 5396 to make an appointment. I also would like to update you on the recent developments within our organization. The cafeteria remains a key issue that needs to be resolved quickly. Members of the Cafeteria Committee have been meeting regularly for the past couple of months to resolve some of the issues. Through this committee, we have helped funnel information from the campus community to the cafeteria management and staff. The CSEA has clarified its position on student workers assisting in cafeteria operations, and this has helped extend hours of service and increased the variety of foods. Casa Ortega is once again open downstairs and the Verdugo Gym food venue has been converted to a walkthrough grab and go. We will also be looking into the cafeteria staffing levels during breaks and intersessions that often end up causing the cafeteria to lose money. I want to commend Judy Razze for her enthusiasim and ideas for the cafeteria. Judy is the cafeteria’s number one fan and volunteers to disseminate its menu through the e-mail to all of us. Things are getting better overall and we hope to see the cafeteria emerge as a stable, self-sufficient part of our community in the near future. This year the annual CSEA Conference will be held in Las Vegas. I strongly urge you to send new delegates to represent you. I will be attending along with two members that you select. I want to see new faces and new ideas representing us there. The days of the same few people nominating and recycling each other to attend these conferences are over. Help me send another message that this chapter belongs to all of us. You need to nominate new representatives at the next chapter meeting. The time for change is now. &
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