The following candidates are running for the Executive Board of UC-AFT Local 1474, for the 2008-2009 academic year. The election is being held May 1-7 online. Members will receive an email invitation to vote the evening of May 1. Only members of UC-AFT Local 1474 are eligible to vote.

Candidate for President:

Harrison Dekker, Librarian, Research and Collections, Doe Library, UCB, dekker@library.berkeley.edu (incumbent)

I have been employed at Doe Library as Coordinator of Data Services since 2002. As a second generation UC Berkeley employee, I am particularly passionate about maintaining the quality of this institution. Crucial to this is our ability to hire, develop, and retain the best employees at all ranks. I believe that without strong collective bargaining, this will be impossible to achieve.

As President I will continue to work in the areas in which I've already been able to make an impact, namely, improving communication among our members by developing the local website and by conducting research and analysis to support our ongoing negotiations with management.

Candidate for Vice-President:

Karen MacLeod, Academic Specialist, UCSF, kmac@phy.ucsf.edu (currently member-at-large)

I am excited about running for re-election to the UC-AFT local 1474 executive board. This year I’m pleased to be running for Vice President. I have belonged to UC-AFT for about six years and have served on the E-Board for the last two. Prior to holding an academic appointment at UCSF I was in the UPTE technical unit where I gained much of my union experience. In addition to being the UCSF UPTE President for several years I was a volunteer organizer for several successful organizing drives, on the bargaining team, and an elected member of the UPTE state wide E-Board. I also gained valuable experience serving as the co-chair of the UPTE system wide grievance committee and by planning and participating in several legislative efforts.

Organizing is a passion of mine and I have a vision for our local in the upcoming year. If elected, I would work to expand our local’s internal organizing program in order to bring our lecturer and librarian membership numbers up, and to increase our visibility in order to increase our bargaining strength. A solid, strongly organized unit of rank and file members makes for better contracts. I will work with our local executive board to educate and involve more of our members so we can build member power and bargain more effectively.

Candidate for Treasurer:

Kathryn Klar, Lecturer in Celtic Studies and Local President, kkestrel@berkeley.edu (currently vice-president, previously local president)

Non-Senate Faculty members and Librarians are highly-trained professionals without whose skills the University of California cannot deliver on its promise of excellence in education and research. Our union is the best way for lecturers and librarians to collectively work toward the professional recognition our training and experience entitles us to, as reflected in equitable and appropriate salaries, job stability, and professional development support. I am currently serving on the Professional Development Funding Committee for the 2008 competition, and this work has impressed on me just how critical this PDF funding is for our lecturers. The University didn't just give us that funding; we had to organize and bargain hard for it, and it's still just a small fraction of the resources we need. This is just one example of the importance of the collective work we do as a union. University management takes us seriously only when we take ourselves seriously--and devote our collective energies to defending our professional identities, our academic excellence, our students, and our educational mission.

Since I have been managing the Local's finances for the last few years, I've decided it's time to make that official by running for treasurer. But I plan to continue to fight apathy and the culture of fear at our University, and to speak out in support of the values that brought me here.

Candidates for Member-At-Large:

(You can vote for up to three.)

Virginia Abascal, Lecturer, Boalt Law School, UCB, virginiaabascal1@sbcglobal.net (incumbent)

I have been a lecturer at Boalt for the past 11 years. I coach Advocacy students in communication/delivery skills. I was a member of the AFT as a high school and community college instructor. I found the AFT feisty and effective. When the districts elected NEA to represent them all progress for public school teachers ceased. It is great to be back with a vigorous union. I have been helped enormously in finding my way as a lecturer on the Berkeley campus and am happy to serve again this year as an elected representative and contribute in the process of improving
working conditions for lecturers.

Diane Pearson, Lecturer, Ethnic Studies Department, jdp@berkeley.edu (incumbent)

I am dedicated to fair treatment of lecturers at all levels and in all departments. I am also devoted to providing research and publication opportunities, retention of retirement benefits, fair
teaching loads, and departmental cooperation and recognition of lecturers. I am committed to maintaining contract viability, and the MOU supporting a stable, professional teaching faculty.

I have taught American Indian Studies at U.C.B. for six years, and before that, taught American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona, Tucson. I was a corporate executive before doing my
doctorate and have always supported union activities and fair-play agendas in corporate America. I am firmly committed to extending these agenda to educational institutions. I have also seen our union at work and am proud to be a part of such a dedicated group of professionals.

Shary Rosenbaum, Lecturer, Graduate School of Education, sharyrosenbaum@gmail.com (incumbent)

For most of my working career, I have been a public high school teacher where we were required to join NEA with a hefty monthly contribution. They bargained away our benefits, and when I needed their support and help, they would not assist in any way. After one email and phone call to UC-AFT
representatives, I was given monumental support, encouragement and the School of Education policies I questioned were revised. I look forward to continuing to serve on the Local Board
for another year.