Author Archives: Black Faculty and Staff Association

About Black Faculty and Staff Association

Black Faculty Staff Association at the University of Maryland College Park. 2010-2012 President Solomon Comissiong

Black Faculty & Staff Association Members/Family

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1. This year has been a particularly strong one for BFSA as we have seen progress in myriad forms. BFSA has continued to actively and effectively support our valuable workers on this campus, in their (and our) quest to help establish a campus free from all forms of workplace abuse (e.g., racial discrimination, sexual abuse, xenophobia, verbal degradation, etc.). See the 56-page BFSA report here: http://bfsaumd.wordpress.com/workers-rights-report/.

2. This is an ongoing struggle that continues to build momentum as well as see incremental gains for the invaluable workers on this campus. We will continue to press on, in solidarity with all of the university’s workers. For more information on this struggle please visit the website that UMD students created (www.justiceatmaryland.com).

3. The students continue to do amazing work in support of the workers on this campus, including 4 AM security escort service for those workers who punch in during those early morning hours. BFSA is also working hard to help bring about the establishment of a vital morning shuttle service that would pick up workers at their carpool drop off locations and bring them to the locations in which they clock in. This would prevent them from having to walk across campus in darkness at 4 AM. We need you ALL to help advocate for this much needed shuttle service.

4. BFSA continues to co-sponsor a bi-weekly therapy session (facilitated by a professional therapist) for women workers who have been mistreated or abused. This program has been a huge success.

5. BFSA is sponsoring weekly skills enhancement/professional development classes for workers who wish to ameliorate their computer skills. If you would like to get involved in the program as a volunteer instructor or as a student, please contact Ronald Zeigler or Rashida Bandy at: 301.314.7760 or 301.405.0050.

6. The BFSA student mentoring program is off to a strong and successful start with more than 70 students now receiving outstanding mentorship from over 35 different BFSA members. If you would like to get involved in this program next semester, please email or call me directly at: Solomon or 301-314-8439.

7. BFSA continues to host, and will do so throughout the summer, Happy Hour socials. These events allow BFSA members the valuable opportunity to meet and get to know one another outside of our work setting. If you would like to know when the next BFSA Happy Hour is, or would like to assist in the planning of them, please contact Rhyneta H. Gumbs at: rgumbs

8. The aforementioned are but a few of the many initiatives and accomplishments BFSA has tackled this year, and will continue to support. We are also working hard to raise funds for BFSA, as an organization. If you would like to help with our BFSA fundraising efforts please contact Anne Carswell at: 301.314.7759 or carswell. We need your help. Another great way to assist with fundraising for BFSA is to become a dues paying member. Dues help BFSA champion a lot of work we do. It also helps us do things like purchase food for general body meetings. To become dues paying member please contact Tina Lorick at: 301.314.0343 or vlorick. You may also pay your dues at the next BFSA general body meeting on June 12th at 12/noon in the Nyumburu Cultural Center’s multipurpose room. Becoming a dues paying member allows you to participate in the voting process of BFSA elections.

8. Our last BFSA General Body meeting, until September, will be Tuesday June 12th at 12 PM. Please come out Tuesday June 12th at 12/Noon to participate in the election process and hear what the candidates have to say about their platforms. This will be the first official day to cast your votes for BFSA Executive board members for the 2012-2014 term. More information on the upcoming process is forthcoming. An independent committee (that is external to the current BFSA executive board) is handling the election process. This election process will be open and transparent and is, again, being conducted by an independent committee.

Dues paying members of BFSA will be able to cast their votes in person on June 12th at the candidates’ forum or throughout the week, by way of an on an online ballot. All that information will be sent to you prior to the actual election, including the candidates’ names and bios. Be on the lookout for that information.

Again, thank you all for being a part of the BFSA family. You (the member) are the most integral component of BFSA. Our success begins and ends with our members’ participation. It is an honor for me to be actively engaged in this organization with you. I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday June 12th at 12/noon in Nyumburu for the last BFSA meeting until September. Thank you. "One for All and All for One!"

Your brother,

Solomon Comissiong/BFSA President

www.bfsa.umd.edu

Student Made Documentary on the Worker’s Rights Campaign on Campus

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This is the first part of a two-part documentary entitled: Human Abuse at University of Maryland. The film was written and directed by UMD student, Sisi Reid. This Documentary details the ongoing workers’ rights movement on campus and the role students have played. Most of the victimized workers have been women of color. This documentary also features many of the voices (students, alumni, community, and staff) that have come together to fight for the rights of workers at UMD.

Click below to watch Part One

This is the second part of a two-part documentary entitled: Human Abuse at University of Maryland.

Click below to watch Part Two


Video of Friday’s Forum on Workplace Abuses and Discrimination

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On March 9, 2012 the Justice at Maryland Coalition (which includes the BFSA) held their 7th Forum to fight workplace sexual abuse, racial discrimination and verbal and physical abuse.
This coalition is fighting for justice for those whose voices are often ignored. Please click the links below to watch and hear the voices of workers, students and community members.

http://www.diamondbackonline.com/news/at-forum-some-staff-say-campus-abuse-persists-1.2816479#.T14ARsxuFEI


Part Two
http://youtu.be/NrkT9XJsez4

Access is Not Enough!

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Brandon Dula mentioned the report “Access is Not Enough” at our last BFSA meeting.
Many issues addressed in this 1989 document are still unresolved on campus.

Please review these University of Maryland Documents: Access is Not Enough and Action Plan: A Memo from President William E. Kirwan

http://www.president.umd.edu/PCEMI/aboutus/reports/access.html

http://www.president.umd.edu/PCEMI/aboutus/reports/actionplan.html

Students Fighting Workplace Abuses to Make their School Better

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http://www.blogtalkradio.com/umd-bfsa/2012/03/06/fighting-workplace-abuses-at-the-university-of-maryland

· This episode we spoke to Tim Baldauf, a student at the University of Maryland, who is fighting to help end workplace abuses at the school he attends—University of Maryland.

· This interview he breaks down some important issues and why he (and many other students) felt compelled to end workplace abuses that are mostly directly at facilities workers, including housekeepers and custodial staff.

· Dating back to the Spring of 2010 countless workers have come forth with allegations of workplace abuses such as: racial discrimination, sexual abuse, xenophobia, and verbal degradation—to name a few.

· Most of these workers have been Black or Latina women. Tune in to this important interview and visit www.justiceatmaryland.com.

Safety on Campus

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24-Hour Police Escort Service

This is a reminder that if you are on campus in the evening (or early morning hours) and feel unsafe walking alone across campus, that the Unversity Police provide a free police escort service. This information was sent out with a Campus Crime Alert email just before the break, however, it may have been overlooked. The attached document provides details about the 24-Hour Police Escort Service as well as additional safety precautions to take when traveling by foot on our campus in the overnight or early morning hours. Please share this information with your staff who do not have access to email.

URL: http://www.umdps.umd.edu/PATROL/Resources_escorts.cfm

More Info: Police Escort Info.pdf

BFSA Family: Get Fit on Campus in 2012

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Where can I work out on Campus w/ out paying any fees?
There is no fee for faculty/staff to use SPH (School of Public Health building) facilities.
SPH 0101 Cardio Center
(6 am – 10 pm)
SPH 0103 Weight Room
(5:30 pm – 10 pm).
These rooms are great! They have air conditioning plus all of the latest machines plus cardio theatre. The rooms are always staffed with personal trainers.

I want awesome group fitness classes. Where do I go?
CRS Faculty / Staff, Student and Alumni  Members can attend Group Fitness Classes like Yoga Fit, Cycling, and BodyPump!  There are various classes in Cole, Ritchie, and the ERC (Eppley Recreation Center). http://www.crs.umd.edu/cms/Fitness/GroupFitness/GroupFitnessSchedules.aspx

I love to walk! Where can I go?
There are FREE lunchtime walking programs in Cole and the Armory. Walk for wellness!  http://www.crs.umd.edu/cms/Fitness/WalkforWellnessChallenge.aspx

Interested in Wellness?

Information on Eating Disorders, Love your Body, Nutrition Counseling, and more..http://www.wellness.umd.edu

Need help with your nutrition?

Diet Analysis (Health Center, Center for Health and Well-Being) Do you want to improve your eating habits? The Center for Health and  Wellbeing has a program where you and a dietitian can sit down in a  one-on-one setting and review your food records for the past two days.  After analyzing your results, the dietitian will give you suggestions on how to improve your diet.  Open to: Students, faculty, staff

Body Composition Testing (Health Center, Center for Health and Well-Being) During your body composition consultation, a health educator will measure the  percentages of fat, bone, and muscle in your body. The health educator  will provide you with a detailed explanation of what the numbers mean,  as well as provide recommendations and resources to help you reach your  goals. Open to: Students, faculty, and staff

Nutrition Analysis, Dining at Maryland (Dining Services)  Ever wonder how many calories, proteins, carbohydrates, and transfats you  are consuming when you eat at the dining halls? Now you can find out!  Use this nutrition analysis to improve your food choices. Open to: Students, faculty, staff

Nutrition Counseling (Health Center, Center for Health and Well-Being) Drop-in for a one-on-one session that assesses one’s nutritional status and helps  implement change to improve health though healthier eating. Open to: Students, faculty, and staff

Staff abuse report released—the Struggle Continues…

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Staff abuse report released

Committee makes recommendations to better workplaces

By Maria Romas

Staff writer

After six months of investigations, a committee published its findings of alleged widespread workplace abuse across the campus and submitted several recommendations to university officials to better the situations.

The report, emailed to members of the university community on Wednesday from university Provost Ann Wylie, is a 62-page call to action describing the findings of the Human Resources Working Group, which was tasked in April with investigating claims made last semester about workers allegedly being abused, assaulted and harassed in several university departments. Wylie could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Despite such claims made over the last several months in numerous public forums hosted by the Black Faculty and Staff Association, committee members concluded no evidence has been found of widespread toxic workplaces — although they did point to two systematic concerns they said clearly contribute to workers’ dissatisfaction.

In Facilities Management, officials noted the department’s existing Fair Treatment Guidelines — used to discipline employees — are “unnecessary and dysfunctional.” Additionally, the committee noted the training of supervisors and managers is inconsistent and needs more structure.

Members of the BFSA, however, said the report is too narrow and does not adequately address the problems dozens of university staff members have voiced.

The report was drafted by University Human Resources Director Dale Anderson, University System of Maryland Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance JoAnn Goedert and Phillip Ross, an associate vice president at Towson University. While compiling their findings, Anderson reportedly investigated the claims that workers feared retribution for complaining about supervisors’ abuse. According to the report, he did not find any facts supporting these claims but did acknowledge the perception of retribution is alive and well in many departments.

“One of the things that seemed to be happening was when employees would express concern about a particular situation or supervisor, there would be an inquiry made, sometimes actions taken by the institution, but nothing was ever communicated back to employees,” Goedert said. “The supervisors can’t go back and say what happened because of personal confidentiality. They need better communication that will say that the matter was looked into and resolved, which will be very much part of supervisor training.”

The report outlined nine different steps the administration should take to improve the working environments in Facilities Management and Residential Facilities.

To better train management officials in respecting employees and ensuring a healthy workplace, the report recommended mandating “Pillars (Building Great Supervisors)” training for all upper-level employees. It also recommended providing more English as a Second Language courses for employees, hiring a facilitator for non-English speaking workers and offering training courses in computer skills for all employees.

The report suggested creating a better grievance-reporting system for employees, forcing officials to have greater accountability for those issues and emphasizing new position openings to all possible applicants in the departments. Additionally, it recommended modifying or eliminating the existing Facilities Management Treatment Guidelines — which committee members said are too inflexible — and implementing a new Labor-Management Problem Solving Committee to more effectively solve wide-scale problems.

Robert Specter, vice president of administrative affairs, has been tasked with implementing these suggestions now that the administration has formally accepted them. Human Resources and Facilities Management will work through the recommendations and develop an implementation plan and timetable, according to university spokesman Millree Williams.

“Many of the issues that have been raised … were being addressed long before the allegations were made public,” Williams wrote in an email. “In the short term, the HR Working Group has identified a path to help us address the immediate staff concerns. In the long run, however, this process has also given us the opportunity to address the issues raised by a few and proactively map out a strategy that will ultimately benefit us all.”

University officials said the administration will internally fund the steps to ensure they’re successful. To fund the management training program, ESOL classes and computer training, the report calls for permanent funding from Specter. Additionally, it designates one-time funding from the campus Finance Committee over the next two years to support the training. It does not include how much these will cost. Each department participating in the training must pay $100 for every participant.

Williams wrote that implementation of the recommendations has already begun, noting that Human Resources has started working on the computer skills program. In addition, the fall sessions of ESOL will launch next week and last until Dec. 22. The rest of the recommendations will require more time and preparation, he said.

“We listened and for the most part heard unanimous feedback as to what significant issues were,” he wrote. “We reviewed and responded on the basis of the issues that were raised by staff within those organizations, as well as some of the forums by BFSA.”

Although some of its recommendations are already being put into place, some BFSA members said it is not specific enough to help individual staff members.

“It’s irrelevant whether [the abuse is] widespread or not,” said BFSA Vice President Brandon Dula. “If you have one employee coming forward with one issue and they have been afraid to come forward, you know it’s an issue.”

Others said the report will do little to yield long-lasting results on the campus.

“I have no confidence that the administration is going to follow through with what they say,” said Mike Fekula, former program management specialist in the languages, literatures and cultures school. “Wylie does a good job describing the problem and not so good of a job describing the solution.”

romas at umdbk dot com