A standout is scheduled on 4/29 at the flagpoles on campus (Graphic created by Jessica Lynch using images from Canva)
By Bec Rapacz
There will be a standout at the flagpoles April 29, noon to 1 p.m., as part of May Day related union activities. All are welcome.
On April 27, President of Cape Cod Community College Association Michael Bejtlich sent out a letter inviting the community to support the union chapters on campus. This comes after the Board of Trustees refused to pause their appointment of an interim president to hear comments and concerns from the college community. In a public virtual board meeting on April 22, the unions and organized faculty committees requested that letters they wrote expressing their desire to be included in the appointment process be read publicly; the Board declined.
May Day has a variety of historical meanings, the relevant one being International Workers’ Day. It is meant to commemorate the lives lost and victories won by laborers and union members throughout history. Currently, unions across the country are planning strikes, blackouts, and activities for May Day, inspired by the economic strikes performed by Minneapolis, MN during the recent ICE surge.
Bejtlich’s letter regarding the standout can be read below:
Dear Members of the 4C’s College Community:
Please join me for a Standout at the Flagpoles this coming Wednesday, April 29th anytime from 12:00 p.m. Noon until 1:00 p.m.
The standout was originally planned as part of May Day union-related celebrations (more on this later, in a separate email regarding additional Thursday, 4/30 activities).
Our participating in a standout is even more vitally important, given the Board of Trustees recent decision to not take a brief pause in selecting an Interim President, per our repeated requests, both in-person and in writing. We had made these requests in order for the Board to first hear our concerns and engage in an open, two-way dialogue, given the recent leadership crisis at the college. The crisis has shaken faculty, staff and our students to the core. While the Board was within their right to act as they did, many of us believe that not first hearing us out and allow our input, violates the spirit of shared governance, per several provisions of our contract as well as per NECHE guidelines calling for shared governance.
Please help me distribute this email with any members of the college and wider community, including members of AFSCME, SSA, our students, non-unit professionals, alums, retirees, related board members, and any members of the general public who may be similarly concerned about the direction we are taking at the college and the consistent failure by the Board to hear our voices as key stakeholders.
Since our Board of Trustees is not currently giving us a proper seat at the table, bring along a folding share to the standout both for comfort and as a protest symbol (and maybe an umbrella too, just in case, because I would like to meet, rain or shine!).
In solidarity-
Cpt. Mike_/)
