Welcome to the JUNE History Page of
 COC Part-Time Faculty United

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

The following information includes emails come from several sources (including California adjunct organization listservs).  There are included here for there direct or indirect relevance to the part-time faculty organizing campaign at College of the Canyons.  The names of Part-Time Faculty at COC (excepting the organizing committe) and VVC who authored some of the emails that follow are omitted to preserve their anonimity. 

June 25, 2002
The following email was forwarded to COC Part-Time Faculty United/ AFT concerning the COC and Victor Valley Community College organizing projects.

Dear Michael,
 
It's we who should  be thanking  you for driving all this way to give moral and wise support.  I  hope that we can make the progress you people have made at COC.
 
Regards,
 
Kevin
VVC Organizing Committee

June 23, 2002
The following email was forwarded to COC Part-Time Faculty United/ AFT concerning the COC and Victor Valley Community College organizing projects.

Dear VVC Organizing Committee, 

It was most enjoyable meeting with you all last evening in Hesperia, to share our war stories and experiences, and to share each other's perspectives and sense of solidarity. Separately and together we face very similar situations and many of the same entities working hard to undermine free choice for the part-timers at our respective colleges. 

Congratulations to each of our group’s efforts for taking on this worthy effort on behalf of our colleagues and ourselves. Your efforts are an inspiration to the COC organizing effort, and help us all to push on in our goal of organizing adjunct faculty in order to bring some degree (and hopefully greater degrees) of fair play, recognition, and parity for our hard work.  Your group pointed out the fact that the use (and abuse) of part-time faculty as a scandalous situation, and indeed it is! The blatant attempt of the CTA and our districts to thwart our endeavor to make our own choice of representation is beyond scandal; it is an awful insult to all of us. 

I look forward to future meetings with the VVC core group, and joint meetings between both the COC and VVC organizing committees. I think we can all learn much from each other’s journey along the organizing road, and in short, I think that together we can strengthen each of our efforts. Other than that, it was a real pleasure making your acquaintance.

Sincerely,

Michael Ward
Adjunct Instructor, History
College of the Canyons

June 19, 2002
The following update was posted on the home page of COC Part-Time Faculty United/ AFT:

COC Part-Time Faculty United is organizing! The spring semester is over but our organizing efforts are just beginning!  Nevertheless, out efforts and successes so far are being challenged and forcefull opposed by the Santa Clarita Community College District and the College of the Canyons (full-time) Faculty Association (COCFA)/ California Teachers Association (CTA) who do not want part-time faculty at COC from forming a separate representative bargaining unit.   

At issue is BASIC FAIRNESS, and the COCFA/ CTA and COC/ Santa Clarita Community College District ARE UNFAIR! 

Moreover, at stake is our share of the state part-time faculty equity money - designated by the state for ADJUNCT FACULTY ONLY.  For details read related emails dated June 10 (scroll downthis page) and "issues/ rebuttals" numbers 1 and 2 on the "ISSUES PAGE" of COC Part-Time Faculty United.  The COCFA/ CTA are maintaining the argument that the injunction we won from the Los Angeles County Superior Court does not actually stop them from representing us, but that it stops the district from recognizing the COCFA/ CTA from being our agents.  The only reason they want us now is so they can control us and they don't want AFT to help us get part of what they consider "their" money 

If they truly are the friends of part-timers then they would STAND ASIDE AND LET US HAVE AN ELECTION! 

COC Part-Time Faculty Solidarity/ United will issue frequent updates on developments related to our organizing efforts and those of the College of the Canyons administration and CTA/ NEA to keep us from organizing even though we have received majority support from our adjunct colleagues!  WE LOOK FORWARD TO AN ELECTION IN THE FALL!  The district and the CTA/ NEA do not want that to happen and are doing everything that they can to prevent it.  Despite their efforts to undermine our organizing campaign, the COC administration and its CTA/ NEA affiliated full-time faculty association (COCFA) are attempting to depict themselves as friendly to part-time faculty members.  The following is an email circulated to full time faculty at COC by the COCFA/ CTA/ NEA "Crisis Committee" sometime around May 18: 

Dear Colleagues: Time is running out! The Crisis Committee would like to encourage all faculty to approach our adjuncts and encourage them to join COCFA. CTA staff will be on campus throughout next week to talk to our adjuncts. The Crisis Committee will have a table in the main lobby of the Administration building and you are invited to join us by saying to our part-time faculty that WE CARE. Remember that we are all part of the same family.  Thanks  The Crisis Committee.

If they truly are the friends of part-timers then they would STAND ASIDE AND LET US HAVE AN ELECTION!

Our case at College of the Canyons is unprecedented.  The CTA/ NEA have also attempted to induct the part-time faculty at Victor Valley Community College; what happens at COC will certainly have a bearing on the outcome of VVC adjuncts' organizing abilities as well.

June 17, 2002
The following email came from COC Part-Time Faculty Organizing Committee member Michael Ward:

Things went OK out at COC during the visit by CTA representatives pretending to speak on behalf of COC adjunct faculty. . . Rachel Maldonado of CTA was there to distort the story.  One part-timer came by who was not at all happy with CTA . . .  Another came by later who mistook Rachel and CTA for AFT, stating
that "we won an important decision, right?  When are we going to be a union?" or someting to that effect.  Chuck and I were glad to be there to set her straight, and it appears that CTA's plan is to cause as much confusion as possible as a means to deny democratic free choice at COC.  Meanwhile COCFA/ CTA are maintaining the argument that the injunction does not actually stop them from representing us, but that it stops the district from recognizing the COCFA/ CTA from being our agents.  They still take the position that they represent us despite the injunction and merely must wait and sell themselves until PERB makes a ruling, that they apparently feel quite confident will not happen any time in the near future. . . . 

Michael

June 12, 2002
The following email came from COC Part-Time Faculty United Organizing Committee member Beverly Cope:

      It seems incumbent upon PERB to invalidate the agreement between COC and COCFA in order to make it clear that an election will take place and that fair competition between the unions is the only acceptable way to move forward.  The longer PERB lingers over this issue, the more it seems that they are pondering the validity of the issue.  It will appear that an agreement of this type is a tough dilemma rather than something so outrageous any school would be foolish to try this. . . . 

Beverly 

In reply to the above email from Beverly Cope, COC Part-Time Faculty United Organizing Committe member Michael Ward added the following statements:

Hi again Beverly,

Yes it is surely incumbent on PERB to do something, but as I have heard a number of persons familiar with this agency point out, they are notoriously slow to get things done.  In our case, however, time is of the essence and if something isn't done soon, then our basic rights to organize will be lost (again). . . .

Michael 

June 11, 2002
The following email came from COC Part-Time Faculty United Organizing Committee member Chuck Whitten:

Hi Guys-

. . .the college administration has answered our petition requesting recognition.  As expected they rejected recognition saying that we are already represented by a union.  Unexpectedly they said that the bargaining unit can only include both full and part-timers.  Seems weird to me, but then everything about this seems weird to me.

It does, however, explain the flyer that has been placed in our mailboxes.  Here is what it says (Not formatted as CTA had):

"College of the Canyons Faculty Association Part-time Faculty Membership Committee

"Invites you to meet

"CCA Vice President Rachel Maldonado Aziminia and CCA Staff Ray Barney (Boo!)

"Monday, June 17, 2002 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Administration Building

"Drop by and meet your CCA/CTA union representatives to learn how YOU can become involved with COCFA and have YOUR needs/issues represented at the bargaining table."

I didn't think of it while I was talking to Linda, but that last paragraph is really loaded.  My question is, "Isn't that a violation of the injunction?"  They're saying they are our "union representatives." . . .

Chuck

June 10, 2002
The following email was posted on the Part-Time Faculty listservs, and relates to the part-time faculty equity funds that came down from the state to all of the California community colleges.  This money was originally designated for part-time faculty salary increases ONLY.  For this money to get into the hands of adjunct faculty, the part-timer bargaining units at each district are required to negotiate for it.  A few campuses, including COC do not have an adjunct faculty bargaining unit.  COC Part-Time Faculty Solidarity/ United is attempting to create one BY AJUNCT FACULTY, FOR ADJUNCT FACULTY, but the CTA-affiliated full-time faculty association and the district are blocking our effort every step of the way.  THEY would rather manage that money for us.  If they had our interests in mind, then they would have allowed us to join their organization when we requested to do so on numerous occasions in recent years.  BY CONTINUING TO STALL OUR RIGHT TO AN ELECTION, THEIR ACTIONS MAY COST US THE STATE EQUITY MONEY FOR ADJUNCT FACULTY!  Read on: 

In a message dated 6/7/2002 . . . [Christine Goudy, Pasadena City College] writes:

Unfortunately Pasadena City College is at [an] impasse, and the part-time equity funds have been mired down by other issues. 

[In response Margaret Quan writes] To the listserv:

There is a time certain that these use/distribution of these funds must be reported to the State Chancellor's office; if the deadline is not met then your district's funds will be returned to the state for redistribution to those districts that have met the timelines.

Margaret Quan

[Christine Goudy, Pasadena City College replies:]

Margaret, what is the "time certain," and how can a district be forced to implement the payment of equity funds if they are determined not to?  Does the Legislature know what the results have been this past year?  Is there any legislation pending that would in fact penalize districts with fines if they don't distribute the equity funds?

It seems to me that it is unfair to part-timers to return funds to the "pot" when they (PTers) have no control over the distribution process.

Christine Goudy, Pasadena City College

From:           MQuan9197@aol.com
Date sent:      Mon, 10 Jun 2002 13:26:13 EDT
Subject:        Re: non payment of equity funds

June 8, 2002
The following question came to COC Part-Time Faculty Solidarity/ United from one of our adjunct fraculty colleagues at COC:

Hello- just a quick question - will we ever have seniority in class selection?  I have 20 years, but it never matters-  I also lost a summer class due to low enrollment - no recourse, right??  Thanks!!

S.

COC Part-Time Faculty Solidarity/ United's response (dated June 9, 2002) came from Organizing Committee member Michael Ward, adjunct instructor of history at COC:

Dear S.,

Thank you for your email.  At this point, you are indeed correct; there is "no recourse" since we still don't have a union and a thereby a bargaining unit to negotiate rights like seniority and various protections in addition to pay increases and benefits (health insurance and office hours, etc.).  Once the district and the CTA-affiliated full-timer faculty union (COCFA) exhaust their appeals related to rulings that have gone entirely in our favor, then we will have an election.  This event should take place in the fall.  Then we can put together an effective bargaining unit with clout that can address these issues.  In the meanwhile, we must wait, while working to spread the word and create adjunct faculty unity.  For that reason your voice and concerns and participation are so important to finally pull this off, which we will!  We deserve it! 

I am sorry to hear that your summer class cancelled to to low enrollment; I too (like all part-timers), have had that happen several times.  Do you have any other classes going?  If not, then you might think about getting unemployment benefits right away - this is one effective and pro-active course that we all can pursue now.  Please contact myself of other members of the COC P-T Faculty United organizing comittee if you need assistance; we'll be happy to help!

Sincerely,

Michael Ward
Adjunct Instructor, History
College of the Canyons
for COC Part-Time Solidarity/ United

June 7, 2002
The following email came from a member of the Victor Valley Community College Part-Time Faculty Organizing Committee.  Like us at COC, they are fighting their district and CTA-affiliated full-time faculty association for the right to an open election.

COC Organizing Committee,

What is AFT and/or  PERB doing to help you get past CTA's insistence to join them? 

We are hopeful that your fight will help us to win our freedom to vote.

A.

COC Part-Time Faculty Solidarity/ United's response came from Organizing Committee member Michael Ward, adjunct instructor of history at COC:

Dear A.,

Thanks for your email, and I'll take the liberty of responding for our group.  As you know, AFT took our case to PERB in the form of an unfair labor practice charge.  When the Santa Clarita district and its CTA-affiliated F-T union refused to let go of us, then PERB took our case to the LA County Superior Court and successfully won an injunction that temporarily stopped these entities from representing us.  Once the injunction came down, we found that part-timers were willing to sign cards, and we collected signatures from well over half of the adjunct faculty at COC.  PERB confirmed this fact, thus paving the way for an election in the fall.  Now the district and the CTA are fighting us by stalling things through appeals in the PERB decision, which means that they might be able to keep us from having an election until later in the fall (and after the injunction expires).  We may need to get an extension on the injunction or another one, who knows?  Nevertheless, we will have an election, something that we never would have accomplished without the combined efforts on our behalf by AFT and PERB (but especially AFT). 

As I mentioned to you in an earlier email, we are very much in the same boat with regard to what is going on with our respective organizing campaigns, and each college's part-time faculty have the distinction of being the only ones to have suffered such an attempt (as far as we know) to induct the entire adjunct body into a full-timers' union againt their will.  We are only a step or two ahead of you all at Victor Valley, and what is happening with us will certainly apply to your situation. . . 

Take care, and I look forward to visiting the VVC core group on the 21st!

Michael Ward
COC Part-Time Faculty Solidarity/ United
Adjunct Instructor, History

June 2, 2002
The following email was posted on the Part-Time Faculty listservs.  This information is also available on these pages at http://home.att.net/~cocptsolidarity/cocptfu-unemploymentfactspage.html.

YOU ARE ENTITLED TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

This is a reminder to all part-time faculty---if you are not teaching this summer, you are entitled to unemployment benefits.  You should file as soon as you can after your final class. For more information go to the CPFA website: 

http://www.cpfa.org/unemployment.html

There are plenty of CPFAers who have gone through the process and are willing to help you should you run into any stumbling blocks, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.  If the EDD representative you
talk with tells you you are not eligible, or if your claim is denied by the EDD, don't just give up.  Community college part-time faculty are entitled to unemployment compensation during summer breaks and other periods between semesters or quarters.

Good Luck,

Mary Ellen

Likewise, feel free to contact COC Part-Time Faculty United for help. 

June 1, 2002
We are organizing and staying abreast of COC part-timer issues!  On June 1, 2002, COC Part-Time Faculty United core group members Paul Lin and Michael Ward attended the California Part-time Faculty Association (CPFA) Plenary at Santa Monica City College.  Many part-timer issues of relevance to College of the Canyons adjuncts were discussed.  The COC adjuncts' struggle for democratic free-choice has gained the attention of part-time faculty state-wide! 

The struggle continues.

Even though the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) has officially recognized COC Part-Time Faculty United/ AFT at College of the Canyons, the COC Administration and the Full-Time Faculty (CTA/ NEA-affiliated) Union (COCFA) continue to oppose our efforts!  Nevertheless, WE WILL HAVE AN ELECTION!  PERB reviewed the cards that we collected and confirmed that COC Part-Time Faculty United/ AFT received a majority of signatures!

In addition to moving forward in our organizing effort, COC Part-Time Faculty United will hold regular meetings and part-time faculty get-togethers begining this summer.  One of the many positive aspects of our organizing campaign has been getting to meet and network with other adjunct faculty members. The overwhelming positive response from our colleagues not only has ensured our ability to file for  and recieve recognition and thereby gain an election soon, but it has provided a means for regular communication and solidarity.  Together we have sown the seeds for a powerful organization to acheive part-time faculty rights at College of the Canyons!