Letter: Nassau CC union ignores big picture

In the letter "Nassau College raises are hypocritical" [Dec. 2], faculty member Faren Siminoff, an officer of the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, criticized president Donald Astrab for making sacrifice a "one-way street." In her letter, the writer refers to certain organizational changes that Astrab has made at the college. Unfortunately, Simonoff's analysis did not present the full picture, and, therefore, some clarification is necessary.

Beginning in July 2010, there has been a substantial reorganization affecting the non-union portion of the NCC administration. The resulting savings in salaries has been more than $1 million and has contributed to a 17 percent reduction in the non-union administrators' share of the overall college budget. Also ignored in Siminoff's analysis is the fact that this reorganization involved administrators taking on substantial new duties, including in some instances the consolidation of several positions into one, on top of their current responsibilities.

Moreover, Siminoff's reference to the termination of 39 full-time teaching faculty leaves unclear that these positions, from the outset, were temporary and set to expire at a certain date, according to the contract signed by the employees themselves.

Finally, let me emphasize that these administrative changes have sought to improve the quality of the management of the college's affairs within the context of generating substantial savings. Therefore, they are not inconsistent with the need for budgetary restraint. Instead, they are significant steps toward implementing such restraint. And, with the challenges that the college continues to face, it is clear that this process is ongoing.

Geoffrey N. Prime, Garden City

Editor's note: The writer is the chairman of the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees.