Faculty and Staff From: FSCC
Re: Final Statement about the Retirement Policy
The new proposal to modify ASIJs retirement policy
constitutes an event that gives the community reason to reflect on who we are and where we are going. We of this years FSCC
feel that the advent of this proposal is a watershed that merits a statement on where we stand as a representative group that
has been and will continue to be involved in facilitating action on this complex matter.
First and foremost, we offer heartfelt appreciation to those members of administration, the Board,
faculty, and staff who have sacrificed their time and energy to participate in the process of addressing an issue that has
been impacting our working environment. Though the proposal includes elements that are not acceptable to some concerned individuals,
we feel that a first and significant step has been taken in terms of rectifying the issues that were raised.
Paramount among the ramifications of the retirement issue has been job security. Of the concerns
presented to the current FSCC representatives, none had been as grave as the predicament of faculty and staff facing unemployment
due to an impending birthday even though that eventuality was included in the employment policy. In a day and age in which
people are living longer and healthier lives, a 60th birthday is by no means a prudent cutoff age for a productive and valued
employee.
It should come as no surprise that an agreement regarding age would not be enough to mollify consequent
employee dissatisfaction. At the outset of this 2001-2002 school year, the retirement issue had remained on the table as one
of the major items yet unresolved by the FSCC. Though a portion of the faculty and staff did not and still do not perceive
this as a pressing issue, some teachers were leaning toward taking legal action against the school; others protested against
what they saw as injustice and hypocrisy in light of the schools stated mission. Consequently, the FSCC initiated action by
hearing out the concerns of those directly affected, soliciting opinions from other concerned faculty and staff, and then
facilitating dialogue that included administration and the Board. The Administrative Council also wasted no time in concurrently
devoting untold hours of meeting time to this issue.
The proposal that has emerged from this process is, in the opinion of the FSCC, a considerate gesture.
For if the proposal becomes policy, those who had expected to not have an ASIJ position from age 60 will continue to enjoy
job security and all of the contractual benefits until the age of 65. According to the survey results, 68% of the respondents
agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal, an outcome that seems to indicate that there is widespread support.
At the same time, the survey comments show that many people still feel strongly that the matter
of age discrimination has not been addressed. Among the issues that people commented on were the reduction in salary and the
fact that a mandatory-retirement age still exists. We suggest that these aspects be looked into by future representatives.
Though there is no denying that the new retirement-policy proposal is but one step in what we see as an ongoing journey, we
of this year's FSCC are gratified by the progress the proposal signifies: recognition that there is room for a compromise
that moves us out of a zero-sum paradigm and into a win-win situation for the school and its employees.
We feel that we have done as much as we are capable of in terms of facilitating attention to the
perceived concerns in regard to the issue of mandatory retirement, and we now respectfully leave all further matters to administration,
the Board, and future FSCC groups.
The 2001-2002 FSCC (Steve Harris, Ann Mckillop, Linda Hayakawa, Hisami Shimba, Barbara Sale, Ed
Staples, Nadine Rosevear, Atsuko Hull, Carl Knudsen, Debbie Studwell, Jacqui Tolin
