Heartland Plans Appeal of Arbitration Decision

Heartland Community College will appeal the decision of an arbitrator who said the college violated rules protecting union activity when it failed to give a part-time teacher a full-time job.

“We don’t find this a good decision,” said Heartland President Jon Astroth, later adding, “I think we’ll contest the decision.”

He declined to comment further, saying the board discussed the matter in closed session.

The grievance filed by adjunct art instructor Jane Camp claimed she was unfairly overlooked for a tenure-track position in fall 2005 because of public comments she made in 2000. That was when her adjunct-faculty union, Heartland Faculty Association Local 6077 was negotiating its first contract with Heartland.

In fall 2005, Camp was a finalist for a full-time opening in the art program. However, a California-based instructor was hired instead.

Camp couldn’t be reached for comment.

In her Dec. 27 decision, private arbitrator Anne L. Draznin determined that Heartland’s decision not to hire Camp violated Camp’s right to join a union and speak as a citizen. The arbitrator wrote that Heartland should hire Camp as a full-time, tenure-track faculty member.

Draznin also noted the hiring should be backdated to fall 2005, with respect to benefits, wages and seniority.

In January, Heartland board Chairwoman Cindy Brand said Camp would not be promoted to that position, and that no action would be taken as long as the issue is contested.

The Illinois Federation of Teachers, which represents the union in this grievance, hadn’t received word from the college that it planned to appeal, said Jon Nadler, IFT field services director in Springfield. He said the matter likely would go before the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board if Heartland appeals.
“We’re disappointed to hear they’re not going to live up to their side of the binding arbitration,” he said.

In normal cases of arbitration, the parties agree to follow the steps called for in a decision, he said. But Heartland’s plans to appeal weren’t totally unexpected, said Nadler.

“I’m sad to say, I’m not surprised, given the circumstances of this case,” he said.