Message from a Bookstore Employee

Maida, I shall do what I can and see if I can get a few old colleagues to pitch in with me. It's hard to get people to speak up.

They are terrified to do so, even though I have assured people that bullies always pick on the weak, not the strong.

The best place to be is in the front lines of protest. As a Board member told me once after the administration tried to fire me for my protest of some wrongdoing, "Lee, you would be the hardest person in the college to fire."

I will go to the January Board meeting to speak. If you are there, come meet me and my husband of 51 years. I will try to get two or three of the old warriors to join me, but if I don't succeed in rousting them out, I will be there for sure and do all I can to see that you get a fair shake.

It's unfair to dump long-term employees. The administration is so busy feathering its nest that it doesn't have a care for the people on the lower end of the food chain. It's wicked to deprive these people of benefits at the end of long careers at HCC. Patrick Manteiga of La Gaceta has promised to get me a union contact for y'all to consult. This behavior on the administration's part demonstrates why employees need unions. I was union president at HCC, and Lord knows what the administration would have done to faculty unless we had been unionized. Hang in there. I will do all I can for you.

And don't back down. Don't lie down and show your belly to these bullies. You're goners of you do. Go down fighting. Never say die.

lee

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Maida Bello [mailto:mbello1@tampabay.rr.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 4:49 PM To: tdecesar@tampabay.rr.com

Subject: in regards to the bookstore outsource Hi my name is Maida Bello you know my husband. I am the bookstore supervisor at the HCC Ybor bookstore I was also at the board meeting but didn't stand to speak I am not a good speaker or letter writer but I stand behind my colleagues I appreciate that you are speaking up we sure need help.

We all are very disappointed with the faculty and staff because no one has stood up to help us. We are but 10 or so employess who will be only guaranteed a job for one year. Most of us have work at the bookstore for 10 to 20 years Beverly and Leeann have been there for at least 20 I have been there for 17 full and 4 part time.

A few of us are at the point of drop so we will not be able to take advantage of the drop program and some of us have heatlh issues . I couldn;t believe Sue Flagg at a meeting we went to I spoke up and she tells me oh you will get 3 months insurance and I said and what will I do with that. Anyway you are appreciated here thanks so much you need to get your email to all the college if you can.

Thanks Maida