The following letter comes to us from a part-time faculty member outside the Santa Clarita Community College District.  It was forwarded on January 14 to COC Part-Time Faculty United from Ventura Community College District part-time faculty.  This letter provides a correct summary of what has transpired at College of the Canyons.

Dear Fellow Part Timers!

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing you today to tell you about the latest indignity that part time faculty are being subjected to at the hands the full time faculty union (COCFA/CTA), a CTA affiliate, and the School District Administration at the College of the Canyons (COC)  - Santa Clarita District.

In the twenty-odd years that full time faculty members have had the benefits of union representation at COC as a CTA local, part time faculty have been systematically excluded from the COCFA - CTA membership. 

A number of part timers at COC contacted the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in 2001, requesting assistance in organizing the part time faculty into a viable negotiating unit.  AFT undertook the rewarding but daunting task of organizing part time faculty at COC, only to be blind-sided by a nefarious and unethical maneuver orchestrated by the COCFA/CTA and the District Administration. 

Misusing the "unit modification" provision in the law - a provision designed to smoothly integrate "small" unrepresented "pockets" of members into the union- the District Administration and the COCFA/CTA signed a "sweetheart" deal WITHOUT THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF PART TIME FACULTY IN THE DISTRICT to automatically incorporate them into their union, potentially quadrupling their unit's size without the knowledge or support of even one
part time faculty member!

Part time faculty are being betrayed by the COCFA/CTA and the District Administration.  Their rights are being abridged and compromised and their interests WILL NOT BE SERVED by this one-sided and imperious kidnapping.

Rather than roll over and play dead, part timers at COC have decided to take the bull by the, ah, horns, as it were, and stand up for their rights by actively contesting this unilateral action and are calling on the COCFA/CTA and District Administration to withdraw their underhanded proposal and allow part timers to organize and develop their own bargaining unit with AFT.

The COCFA/CTA in full consultation with the statewide leadership of CTA have been working actively to marginalize and exploit part time faculty to the benefit of full timers and the district administration. 

At stake is the district's fair share of the $57 million that the Governor specifically allocated to address part time faculty - salary equity/parity.  The law stipulates that the funds are to be disbursed by the district, but only if the district negotiates rates and allocation with a recognized bargaining unit representing part time faculty.  Part time faculty in this district have historically been told that the administration and full time faculty see no reason for them to be organized - until recently.

The District and the COCFA/CTA continue to hold a paternalistic view of "their" part time faculty, refusing to apply for district-reimbursable health care benefits, and paid office hours  When asked, the COC/CTA has remained ominously silent on the issue of "one person, one vote."  Additionally, part timers do not benefit from binding arbitration, nor do they have seniority rehire rights - benefits that progressive districts a round the state already have or are working toward in concert with empowered  part time faculty bargaining units - benefits that the COCFA/CTA seem determined to deny their part time colleagues!

This kind of behavior is hardly honorable, nor does it fit my appreciation for all the work that CTA has done on behalf of part time faculty in the state.  If the COCFA/CTA local is able to get away with this ploy, it does not speak well for CTA at the statewide level, and should be stopped IMMEDIATELY. 

If a union's vision can be so easily corrupted at the local level, apparently with the advice and consent at the statewide level, we part timers need to become ever more watchful and vigilant, monitoring what CTA says and does in EVERY arena.  As a committed part time advocate and spokesperson, I am saddened that CTA seems to be taking the low road regarding part timers, and I call on the leadership of CTA to immediately cease and desist.

Part time faculty are marginalized and compromised at almost every turn.  We work under harrowing circumstances, are not paid fairly, and do not have the same level of benefits that our equally qualified full time colleagues have as educators in the community colleges.  Historically, labor unions have been our friends and supporters, carrying our issues forward and working with us to improve our working conditions.  I hope that CTA's recent activities at COC are not a harbinger of retrenchment and backsliding for part timers.

Please join us in contacting friends, acquaintances and part time faculty supporters in CTA to register your concern at their cavalier handling of part time faculty at COC and, I am sure, in other districts as well.  We are all in this together and we don't need to be further exploited and marginalized by any group, full time, union or administration.  With your help and continued vigilance we can keep moving forward to claim our rights.

In Struggle,

Margaret Quan 
California Part-time Faculty Association

This treatment of adjunct faculty by the COC administration is unconscionable!  Help us put a stop to such UNFAIR and UNPROFESSIONAL treatment. COC runs on the backs of its part-time faculty - we hold the same degrees and perform the same work as full-time faculty - we deserve to be treated with the same degree of respect and professionalism!                                                                          JOIN US!