Welcome to
 COC Part-Time Faculty United

College of the Canyons Part-Time Faculty United
Building a better profession, a better institution and better student learning.

Welcome to the AFT 6262 Contract Negotiations Updates Page.  Check in at this site often for regular updates on our progress - December 9th note: I will catch up on this during the break; the semester has been busy! - Michael Ward.

What we intend to gain in our contract
During the spring of 2004 our Contract Team developed a sound and comprehensive proposal, and one that spells out many positive changes and benefits that we seek for part-time faculty at College of the Canyons.

While much of this proposal is consistent with current practice in the district, there are a number of distinct differences.  Perhaps most importantly, we are proposing an immediate pay raise and a full salary schedule of steps and columns based on Teaching Load Unit comparable to the full time salary.  By figuring the same pay as full-timers for a course whether it is taught in the regular semester, short semester or summer semester, this amount comes out to about 80% of what our full-time colleagues make for the same work.  We are also proposing benefits, including access to the District’s medical plan, paid for by the district, based on the ratio of the employee’s load to a normal full time teaching load of fifteen units.

Moreover, we are proposing a faculty retention system with propriety assignment rights in order to retain the best faculty possible who are loyal to the district.  Under our proposal for seniority-rehire rights, part-time faculty members will receive the same assignment in a given semester as in the previous semester unless requested otherwise.  After three semesters employment a part-time faculty member will, under our proposal, be rewarded for her or his service with placement on a seniority list.  In the case of layoffs, such reductions will be made in reverse seniority order.

We are also proposing a professional growth article where the district provides a fund to be used for professional development for part-time faculty.  In an education institution everyone should be rewarded for improving and updating our knowledge and skills.  Also included in our proposal are provisions for academic freedom and non-discrimination.

Crucial to the maintenance of a sound professional academic environment is the ability to resolve grievances.  Thus, we have included in our proposal a grievance procedure similar to the full time faculty provisions but with the added protections of binding arbitration.  A contract is only as good as its enforcement mechanism and without binding arbitration a contract has less meaning.

Our contract proposal is something that we can all be proud of.  Achieving the benefits outlined above will take time, and our Contract Team is currently meeting each week with the District’s team to work out details and come to an agreement.  Through our newsletters and other announcements AFT 6262 promises to issue regular negotiations updates and report on our progress.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY!
Negotiating Teams Meet at the Table
As Summer Winds Down, Union Negotiating Team Winds Up
Our contract negotiating team met with the district’s team for the first time, on Tuesday, July 20, and set forth the ground rules and calendar to begin the actual negotiations process.  We have worked hard to begin this process since finalizing our contract proposal last April, and we are fortunate to have a good team with leaders who are experienced in faculty contract negotiations, including Marty Hittelman, Rob Collins, and Paula Olivares.  To finally arrive at the negotiations table is a landmark event for part-time faculty at COC, and we can all expect positive changes to make our work environment at the college better.