ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THE CITIZENS
COMMUNICATION. I'M GOING TO CALL THE FIRST
NAME AND THE SECOND NAME AND WE'D ASK THE SECOND PERSON TO
PLEASE BE PREPARED TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM ALSO.
JOSEPH CASINO AND THEN VANESSA FAZ.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND
TRUSTEES, MY NAME IS JOE CASINO, HERE REPRESENTING THE
TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BROTHERS
AND SISTERS IN LABOR AND SUPPORTING A 22-DOLLAR AN HOUR
MINIMUM WAGE FOR OUR ACC EMPLOYEES.
WE PASSED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION SECTIONS OF WHICH
I'LL READ. WHEREAS WE ALL DESERVED TO BE
PAID FAIRLY FOR THE WORK WE DO, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF
AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS IS EXPERIENCING COSTS OF LIVING
INCREASES WHILE THE UNITED STATES IS FACING MASSIVE
INFLATION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO LIVE AND THRIVE HERE, AND
WHEREAS NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PUTTING FOOD ON
THE TABLE AND KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON, OR ON MAKING
ANOTHER TOUGH AND OFTEN DEADLY DECISIONS AND WHEREAS THE
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SHOULD BE COMMITTED
TO ENSURING EVERYONE CAN FIND A DIGNIFIED LIVING WAGE JOB
THAT ENABLES THEM TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR LOVED
ONCE AND WHERE AS THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE MINIMUM WAGE
IS 15.60 DESPITE THE DIFFICULT WORK TO ADAPT EDUCATIONAL
DELIVERY AND SERVICES DURING A DANGEROUS PANDEMIC, AND
WHEREAS THE 2022 CITY OF AUSTIN LIVING WAGE TASK FORCE
RECOMMENDED A LIVING WAGE OF $22 AN HOUR IN 2022 AND A GOAL
OF ACHIEVING $27 AN HOUR BY 2027.
AND WHEREAS ACHIEVING A 22-DOLLAR AN HOUR LIVING WAGE
FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS PRIVATE EMPLOYEES DOING
PUBLIC WORK WOULD IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOUSANDS
OF FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WHEREAS THE
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER MAJOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS BY RAISING OUR LIVING WAGE.
AND WHEREAS RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $22 AN HOUR
WILL ATTRACT NEW SKILLED WORKERS IN A COMPETITIVE LABOR
MARKET AND RAISING THE WAGE FOR OUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WILL
HAVE BROAD BENEFITS BEHIND HIGHER EARNINGS, INCLUDING
IMPROVED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL
OUTCOMES. WHEREAS RAISING THE WAGE WILL
RESULT IN A GROWTH IN SPENDING AND HOME OWNERSHIP.
THEREFORE THE TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CALLS ON THE
TRUSTEES TO INCLUDE THE 22-DOLLAR AN HOUR MINIMUM
LIVING WAGE AS A MINIMUM IN THE 2023 BUDGET FOR ALL ACC
EMPLOYEES. AND THEREFORE THE TRAVIS
COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY COMMITS TO SUPPORTING THE 22
IN 22 CAMPAIGN IN THE PRESS, SOCIAL MEDIA FORUMS AND
CONVERSATIONS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEREFORE THE
TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CALLS ON ALL CANDIDATES FOR
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO ENDORSE THE 22 IN 22 CAMPAIGN
IN EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE $27 BY 2027.
THANK YOU. >> McRaven: OKAY, NEXT IS
VANESSA AND AFTER VANESSA IS DEANN -- AND I'M SORRY I CAN'T
READ YOUR LAST NAME. GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> HI, BOARD MEMBERS AND CHANCELLOR RHODES.
I COME BEFORE YOU AS AN EMPLOYEE, AN ADJUNCTS FACULTY
MENTOR, A TUTOR AND REGISTRATION LIAISON.
I AM ONE OF THE FORTUNATE EMPLOYEES IN HAVING THESE
JOBS, HOWEVER, THEY STILL DO NOT HELP SUPPORT ME AND MY
DAUGHTER. THE RISING COST OF FOOD AND
GAS HAS ME MAKING DECISIONS AS TO WHAT WE CAN EAT AND HOW
MUCH GAS I WILL NEED FOR THE WEEK, NOT TO MENTION MY RENT
INCREASE OF $300. APPARENTLY THIS IS A GENERAL
CONSENSUS AMONG OTHER FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS HERE AT ACC.
OVER THE YEARS, AS I START MY 15TH YEAR AT ACC, I'VE NOTICED
THAT ACC IS A TOP-HEAVY ORGANIZATION.
I NOTICED ON OUR WONDERFUL NEW PROGRAM CALLED WORKDAY, UNDER
CHANCELLOR RHODES AND THE PROVOST, HE HAS TWO EXECUTE
TOUGH VICE CHANCELLORS, SIX VICE CHANCELLORS, ACHIEVE
EQUITY DIVERSION AND INCLUSION OFFICER, AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR. UNDER THE VICE CHANCELLORS
THERE ARE ASSOCIATE VICE CHANCELLORS, FIVE UNDER TWO
VICE CHANCELLORS. THESE ARE ALL LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS UNDER THE, AGAIN, ASSOCIATE VICE CHANCELLOR
POSITIONS. LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ARE GOOD;
HOWEVER, ACC IS LOSING VALUABLE STAFF AND FACULTY WHO
ARE FAVORITES BY OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO
LIVE OR STAY HERE. WE ARE THE ONES IN THE
TRENCHES. AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING,
EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR VICKERS MADE AN INTERESTING
STATEMENT ABOUT CONSIDERING PAY IN THE HOME AND HOW MUCH
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE HOUSEHOLD.
THIS IS AN IRRELEVANT AND MOOT POINT.
IT IS UNFORTUNATELY NOBODY'S BUSINESS WHERE AND IF WE HAVE
ADDITIONAL INCOME IN OUR HOMES.
EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR NEIL VICKERS ALSO DOWNPLAYS THE
EFFORTS OF FACULTY AND STAFF AS HE HAS OVER THE YEARS SINCE
MY DAYS AS ADJUNCT FACULTY ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.
SO PLEASE REVIEW THE DATA CAREFULLY AND ASK QUESTIONS
FOR CLARIFICATION. I KNOW ANOTHER ASPECT THAT EVV
VICKERS TALKS ABOUT IS THE COST ANALYSIS AND HOW ACC IS
THE HIGHEST PAID COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE STATE.
THAT'S GREAT, BUT WE DON'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE
COST OF LIVING IN AUSTIN AS OPPOSED TO OTHER CITIES AND I
ASK YOU BOARD MEMBERS TO THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU MAKE
THAT DECISION, 234 CLOSING, I ASK YOU BOARD MEMBERS TO
CONSIDER REALLOCATING LEADERSHIP PAY TO HELP FUND A
SUSTAINABLE RAISE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
AFTER ALL, WE ARE ACC. [APPLAUSE]
>> I YIELD MY THREE MINUTES. TO OUR UNION PRESIDENT DAVID
ALBERT. >> McRaven: BUT DAVE ISN'T UP
YET. THANK YOU.
SAMUEL CARRILLO. AND AFTER SAMUEL IS ANTHONY
BENINI. >> MADAM CHAIR, DR. RHODES,
BOARD MEMBERS, I'M MANY THINGS.
MY NAME IS SAMUEL CARRILLO. I AM AN ACC GRADUATE.
I AM ALSO A CURRENT HOURLY EMPLOYEE, BUT I ALSO AM HERE
REPRESENTING THE TEXAS AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
TEACHERS. I WORK WITH THEIR PUBLIC
AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AS THEIR LEGISLATIVE FELLOW.
OUR UNION, THE TEXAS AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS HAS
BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT THE REAL CRISIS FACING TEXAS
SCHOOLS RETAINING QUALIFIED DEDICATED EDUCATORS AND STAFF.
A SURVEY BY AFT MEMBERS, BOTH K THROUGH 12 AND HIGHER
EDUCATION REVEALED THAT 66% OF THEM ARE CONSIDERING LEAVING
THE PROFESSION. ANOTHER SURVEY THIS YEAR FROM
THE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
HUMAN RESOURCES SUPPORTS THIS CRISIS FROM A NATIONAL
PERSPECTIVE. 57% OF HIGHER EDUCATION
EMPLOYEES RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY SAYING THAT THEY ARE
SOMEWHAT OR VERY LIKELY TO LOOK FOR NEW EMPLOYMENT IN THE
NEXT YEAR. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY
REASONS FOR THIS. THE PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED A
NUMBER OF EXISTING ISSUES, BUT WE KNOW THAT FROM LISTENING TO
OUR MEMBERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND K THROUGH 12
THAT PAY IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN THIS.
THROUGHOUT THIS PAST SPRING AND THIS CURRENT SUMMER, AFT
LOCAL UNIONS HAVE AGGRAVATED FOR MEANINGFUL PAY RAISES, PAY
RAISES THAT REFLECT THE -- REFLECT THE WORTH OF THE WORK
THEY PUT IN DAY IN AND DAY OUT ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS.
AND THEY HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESSES IN WORKING WITH
THEIR DISTRICTS ON PROPOSALS A THAT SHOW RESPECT FOR HARD
WORKING EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.
FOR INSTANCE, IN HOUSTON ISD, TEXAS AFT MEMBERS HAVE LOBBIED
AND WON AN 11% INCREASE FOR EDUCATORS, SUPPORT STAFF
MEMBERS, MEANWHILE WE'LL SEE ANYWHERE BETWEEN A 6 AND 16%
PAY RAISE. MANOR AFT MEMBERS HAVE WON A
7% RAIDS FOR EDUCATORS IN MANOR ISD.
FROM [INDISCERNIBLE] ISD IN WEST TEXAS TO BROWNSVILLE ISD
IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY TO CEDAR HILL AND DESOTO ISD IN
NORTH TEXAS, OUR UNION AND ITS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING
FOR WHAT THEY NEED AND LEADERS HAVE BEEN LISTENING.
IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION FIELD, LONE STAR COLLEGE, A LOCAL
AFFILIATE WITH 1.3 MILLION MEMBERS, OF THE AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF TEACHERS AND REPRESENTS LONE STAR, THE LONE
STAR SYSTEM, THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED AN 8% INCREASE FOR
FACULTY AND 8.75 FOR STAFF AND, SURELY, AUSTIN COMMUNITY
COLLEGE CAN BEAT THAT. IN COMPARISON TO ITS
COMPETITION. TEXAS AFT INVITES THE BOARD --
30 SECONDS. >> TEXAS AFT INVITES THE BOARD
TO FOLLOW THE SAME TREND THAT LOCAL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND ITS COMPETITORS IN HIGHER EDUCATION -- TO
FOLLOW THAT SAME TREND IN ORDER TO LISTEN TO ITS
EMPLOYEES AND ACC AFT MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR WHEN THEY SAY
WHAT THEY NEED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> McRaven: THANK YOU. ANTHONY.
AND THEN DAVID ALBERT. >> HELLO.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN TODAY BY THANKING THE ACC BOARD MEMBERS
FOR LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG
WITH THE ONLINE RECORDINGS SINCE THE JUNE 20TH MEETING
AND IT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS AND
TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THINGS.
I ESTIMATE THAT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL FROM NEIL VICKERS
WILL MOVE A TOTAL OF 143 FULL-TIME STAFF EMPLOYEES
ABOVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S LOW INCOME THRESHOLD AND WILL MOVE
A TOTAL OF 371 FROM VERY LOW INCOME TO JUST REGULAR LOW
INCOME. THIS IS A GOOD START, AND I
THINK THAT WE ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH THIS.
HOWEVER, THE BOARD AND OUR ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE
PREPARED FOR THIS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE.
IN WHICH WE WILL LIKELY STILL NEED A LARGE INCREASE TO
SALARIES NEXT FISCAL YEAR. TO GIVE YOU A MORE PERSONAL
PERSPECTIVE, I HAVE A BACHELORS OF SCIENCE AND OVER
SEVEN YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE.
AND YET EVEN AFTER THIS 5,000-DOLLAR RAISE, I WILL
STILL BE ABOUT $22,000 AWAY FROM THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR A
SINGLE PERSON IN AUSTIN. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE IN MY
HOUSEHOLD PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INCOME.
I DRIVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD CAR THAT MAKES LOTS OF CONCERNING
NOISES. AND I LIVE IN A SMALL
APARTMENT IN A 40-YEAR-OLD BUILDING.
I EVEN SOLD MY TELEVISION EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR GAS
MONEY. IF MY SALARY WAS CLOSER TO THE
MEDIAN INCOME, FOR AUSTIN, TEXAS, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK
MULTIPLE JOBS, WHICH MEANS I WOULD HAVE TIME TO START
TAKE -- TAKING CLASSES AGAIN AT ACC.
I HOPE THIS BOARD WILL VOTE TO HELP THIS EMPLOYEES HERE AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> McRaven: DAVID, YOU HAVE
SIX MINUTES. >> I'LL TRY NOT TO USE ALL OF
THAT. BACK AGAIN.
MY NAME IS DAVID ALBERT. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF ACC AFT,
AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH OUR BOARD OF
TRUSTEES. WE'RE REACHING A MOMENT OF
DECISION AFTER A FAIRLY LENGTHY PROCESS.
SO YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF VIEWS.
YOU'VE BEEN HEARING FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CITIZENS
COMMUNICATION. THE TRUSTEES HAVE GOTTEN I
THINK THE LATEST COUNT I HAD WAS ABOUT 1600 E-MAILS.
WE'RE SORRY TO HAVE TORN UP YOUR E-MAIL BOXES WITH SO MANY
E-MAILS, BUT SORRY, NOT SORRY ON THAT ONE I GUESS.
YOU'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF MEDIA COVERAGE.
YOUR COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED. KXAN AS BEEN REPORTING ON
THIS. AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN HAD
AN ACC EMPLOYEE ON THE FRONT PAGE A WEEK AGO TODAY TALKING
ABOUT -- THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF
EMPLOYEES. AND KUT HAS HAD SEVERAL
STORIES INCLUDING THIS MORNING.
I HOPE Y'ALL LISTEN TO KUT THIS MORNING.
I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL GOOD KUT SUSTAINING MEMBERS.
I KNOW I AM. ACTUALLY ANTHONY WAS QUOTED
THIS MORNING. I LOVED HIS QUOTE THAT HE
COULDN'T AFFORD TO BUY MEAT. AND THIS IS TEXAS.
HOW CAN YOU NOT PAY THEM ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD
MEAT. I MEAN IT'S TEXAS.
OKAY. IN ANY CASE, WHAT'S OBVIOUS IS
HOW MUCH OUR EMPLOYEES ARE STRUGGLING.
AND IT'S OBVIOUS ALSO THAT THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY WANTS Y'ALL
TO DO BETTER FOR ITS EMPLOYEES.
FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF ACC. AND THE PROPOSAL HAS COME A
LONG WAY. IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN WHERE
WE STARTED; BUT IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW -- I
THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER. YOU KNOW ME BY THIS TIME.
SO I WANT TO THROW OUT A FEW MORE IDEAS.
THE LATEST PROS AL WAS 18-DOLLAR MINIMUM FOR
HOURLIES, 20 FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEES.
WE CAN CERTAINLY DO BETTER THAN THAT.
WE CAN GET TO -- AT THE VERY LEAST, AT THE VERY LEAST 20
ACROSS THE BOARD, INCLUDING THE HOURLIES, BUT I THINK WE
CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. I THINK WE CAN GET TO 21 OR 22
AS A MINIMUM WAGE AS WAS REFERENCED IN THE RESOLUTION
FROM THE TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
22 -- EVEN 22 IS BARELY A LIVING WAGE IN THIS CITY GIVEN
THE INFLATION THAT WE'RE SEEING, BUT IT WOULD CERTAINLY
BE A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT WOULD MOVE THAT MINIMUM SALARY TO JUST OVER 45,000.
WHICH IS STILL REALLY ROUGH GIVEN THE WAY, YOU KNOW, RENTS
ARE INCREASING AND SO FORTH. SO I THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER
THERE. I ALSO THINK THE ONE TIME
BONUS THAT WAS PUT INTO THE NEW PROPOSAL IS A GOOD STEP,
BUT I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY MAKE MORE OF THAT A PERMANENT
RAISE. MAYBE NOT ALL OF IT, BUT SOME
OF THAT COULD BECOME A PERMANENT RAISE.
I MEAN WE HAVE THE MONEY. YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU SAW THE
NUMBER THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME, $7.7 MILLION SURPLUS IN THE
FINANCIAL REPORT. YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF SURPLUS?
WE CAN DO A BIGGER RAISE. HOW ABOUT HALF OF THAT
RAISE -- HALF OF THAT BONUS BEING A FULL RAISE THAT
CARRIES OVER? I THINK YOU CAN AFFORD IT.
AND THEN THERE IS ONE OTHER PIECE THAT I THINK IS
ABSOLUTELY VITAL. THE TREATMENT OF ADJUNCT
FACULTY, THEY'RE ONLY GETTING A 5 TO 8% RAISE.
AND THEY ARE GETTING THE SAME RAISE AS THEIR FULL-TIME
COLLEAGUES WHO MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY.
AND THEY ARE PUT ON -- THE ADJUNCTS ARE PUT ON THE
FULL-TIME SCALE AND BY PUTTING THEM ON THE FULL-TIME SCALE,
AN ADJUNCT WHO MAKES 20 OR $35,000 IS GETTING A RAISE
BASED ON THE IDEA THAT IN SOME BIZARRE WORLD THEY MAKE 70 OR
$80,000. SO THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE. AND IT MEANS THE ADJUNCT RAISE
IS REALLY SMALL. AND A 5,000-DOLLAR RAISE IS
PROPORTIONED DOWN TO SOMEWHERE AROUND 2,000 FOR MANY OF THE
ADJUNCTS. WHAT I'D SUGGEST IS
RECOGNIZING THAT MOST ADJUNCTS ARE MAKING 30 OR $40,000 AND
GIVING THEM A RAISE BASED ON THAT RANGE, I'D SUGGEST JUST
GOING WITH A FLAT PERCENTAGE, MAYBE 12.5%.
SOMETHING IN THAT RANGE. AGAIN, WE HAVE A $7.7 MILLION
SURPLUS. WE CAN AFFORD TO TREAT OUR
ADJUNCTS BETTER AND TO GIVE THEM A RAISE.
I MEAN ADJUNCTS TEACH ABOUT HALF THE WHATS AT ACC.
THE COLLEGE CAN'T OPERATE WITHOUT THEM.
AND WE NEED TO TREAT THEM BETTER.
AND SO LET'S GET TO IT, MY FRIENDS.
I'LL TELL YOU I AM ACC. I LOVE ACC.
I LOVE MY STUDENTS. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 14 YEARS.
I LOVE WHAT WE DO. BUT WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE CAN MAKE ACC BETTER. WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER FOR OUR
EMPLOYEES AND BY MAKING IT BETTER FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, WE
MAKE ACC A BETTER SCHOOL FOR THE STUDENTS.
AND GIVE THEM BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.
THANK YOU MY FRIENDS. TAKE CARE AND I TRUST YOU'LL
DO GOOD THINGS IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS TO COME.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> McRaven: AND OUR LAST SPEAKER THAT SIGNED UP IS
DAVID [INDISCERNIBLE]. DAVID.
>> THAT'S ME. THAT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK WITH YOU FOR A FEW MINUTES TODAY.
MY NAME IS DAVID [INDISCERNIBLE] AND I SERVED
AS THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR WORKERS DEFENSE, AN
ORGANIZATION MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, BUT FOR THOSE
WHO AREN'T, WORKERS DEFENSE IS A MEMBERSHIP-BASED
ORGANIZATION AND WE WORK ALONGSIDE LOW WAGE CONSTRUCT
WORKERS TO BUILD WORKER POWER AND TO HELP IMPROVE THE
STANDARDS AND THE WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY. AND SO WE ARE HERE AS YOU'RE
CONSIDERING A NEW BOND PROPOSAL FOR THIS NOVEMBER
THAT WILL LIKELY RESULT IN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OF NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE WANTED TO REACH OUT AND
ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN
DOING TO ENSURE THAT THE WORKERS IN THE ACC REGION, IN
OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY HAVE THE PROTECTIONS THAT THEY NEED AND
DESERVE AS THEY ARE BUILDING ACC CLASSROOMS AND FACILITIES
ACROSS THE REGION. AND WE'RE HERE TO ASK YOU TO
RECOMMIT TO THE VALUES YOU ALREADY EMBRACED BY CONTINUE
TO GO SUPPORT THE INCLUSION OF THE BETTER BUILDER PROGRAM,
WHICH IS -- I'LL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S WORKER PROTECTIONS THAT INCLUDE INDEPENDENT MONITORING
ON ALL ACC CONSTRUCTION AS YOU PLAN YOUR EXPANSIONS.
SO AS YOU LIKELY KNOW, TEXAS REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS AND DEADLIEST PLACES FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS TO DO
THEIR JOB IN OUR ENTIRE NATION.
EVEN BEFORE CONTENDING WITH THE UNCERTAINTY AND THE
DANGERS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THERE WERE ALREADY
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WERE FACING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
CONDITIONS ONCE EVERY THREE DAYS IN TEXAS WE WERE LOSING
THE LIFE OF A CONSTRUCTION WORKER.
IN ADDITION TO DISCRIMINATION AND RAMPANT WAGE STUFF,
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE OFTEN ASKED TO LABOR UNDER EXTREME
CONDITIONS OFTEN WITHOUT APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT, WITHOUT
APPROPRIATE PROTECTION AND EVEN WITHOUT BASIC SAFETY
TRAINING FOR THEMSELVES AND SUPERVISORS.
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS CAME TOGETHER WORKING WITH WORKERS
DEFENSE AND TO SIGN A PROGRAM TO OFFER A SET OF STANDARDS
THAT INCLUDE COMMON SENSE PROTECTIONS LIKE LIVING WAGES,
OSHA TRAININGS AND WORKER COMPENSATION.
THAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE BETTER BUILDER PROGRAM WHICH
HAS SINCE THEN BEEN WIDELY ADOPTED BY OUR COMMUNITY
INCLUDING BY TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS THE
BENCHMARK FOR THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF PROTECTIONS THAT ARE
REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT CONSTRUCTION IN OUR REGION
MEETS THE VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PROTECTS ITS
WORKERS. SO -- BUT IT WAS THE ACC THAT
FIRST IMPLEMENTED THESE STANDARDS ON A MAJOR
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT WHEN THEY WERE INCLUDED IN THE TWO
BOND PROPOSALS THAT WERE APPROVED BY VOTERS BACK IN
NOVEMBER OF 2014. SO ACC'S LEADERSHIP MADE A
REALLY ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE IN SETTING THE BAR FOR HOW WE
PERSPECTIVES DEVELOPMENT TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY DEVELOPMENT
THAT IS PUBLICLY FUNDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO THANKS IN PART TO THAT LEADERSHIP AND EARLY
COMMITMENT THAT ACC SHOWED, THE BETTER BUILDER PROGRAM HAS
HELPED SAVE LIVES AND RECOVERED OVER $100,000 IN
STOLEN WAGE EGGS AND IT HAS DIRECTLY IMPACTED OVER 38,000
WORKERS MANY WHO HAVE REPORTED RECEIVING OSHA TRAINING AND
WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIFE.
SO I CAN'T EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT YOUR SUPPORT HAS
BEEN. WE'RE HERE TO ENCOURAGE TO YOU
CONTINUE TO TAKE ON THAT LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUE
BUILDING ON THAT MOMENTUM AND INCLUDE BETTER BUILDER
PROTECTIONS INCLUDING INDEPENDENT MONITORING ON ALL
FUTURE PROJECTS. THANK YOU.
>> McRaven: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] >> McRaven: NOW WE WILL TURN TO REPORTS FROM OUR COLLEGE-SANCTIONED ASSOCIATIONS.