Jul 24 2008
Bargaining in Bad Faith
Today’s the last day of the wage claim hearings. Trustee Colleen O’Neal and former business manager Carol Small, representing New College, are asking claimants to waive the penalties at $145 a day for each day they don’t pay back wages. People who want their severances are not being granted settlements as the Labor Department’s jurisdiction only extends to back wages.
From what I was told, that doesn’t preclude anyone from filing a separate claim. There are about 200 claimants all told. Settlements are to be paid by August 22nd in full.
The clincher is this, Trustee O’Neal already told claimants New College does not intend to make that payment deadline, and when asked where the money will come from to pay the claims, she said, “From collectibles.” (Outstanding student loans and continued pressure on the US Department of Education for release of funds.) There was also a response from O’Neal handed to each claimant chronicling the administration’s struggle with DOE. It said a small group was working to try to release those funds.
I’m told the Casa Loma and Creamery have been sold. Peter Gabel and Rod Holt, together, have a million dollar lien on the Casa Loma, and Peter has another half a million on the Creamery, along with others.
As our shop steward, Kush has been leading the charge for severance and grievances, so they’ve been after him. So far, not yet a peep from union attorneys. I’m hopeful that a thorough criminal investigation will yield financial malfeasance.
–faculty correspondent
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