Why a Part-Time Faculty Union?

Too often, part-time faculty issues are neglected on campus.  Part-timers know part-time issues better than anyone!  In order to ensure the existence an advocacy body with adjunct faculty issues as a central theme to its objectives, we need a separate part-time faculty organization.  Moreover, the record of the College of the Canyons (full-time) Faculty Association (COCFA) shows a general lack of concern and respect for adjuncts themselves. 

In the past, there was no real way that part-time faculty could gain a raise in pay or select a desired section for a course other than to negotiate these desires with department chairs individually.  This led to differences in course selection methods, loss of seniority for recall to another semester and other disparities that have left many part-time faculty feeling left out of the decision making process and without a voice in the process.

The City College of San Francisco part-time faculty have 85% pro-rata pay (they make 85% of what full-time faculty make for doing the same job).  Part-timers in Los Rios Community College District (Sacramento area) make 80% pro-rata pay.  By comparison, COC part-timers (even those who have completed the district's celebrated Associates Program) make less than 50% pro-rata pay!

The only way that faculty can guarantee fair pay, benefits and inclusion into the decision making processes is to have them included in a collective bargaining agreement.  Through this negotiation process between the faculty and the college  representatives, a fair agreement on these important matters can be found.  By continuing to act as individuals, we have accomplished little to advance our professional status at COC.

By creating a democratically led adjunct faculty association, adjuncts can be sure that a newly negotiated contract will reflect their wishes because they will be negotiated by adjuncts, with advice from AFT when asked, and any tentative agreements will be ratified by the full COC adjunct membership.

Have You Signed a Card, or Sent Your Signed Card Back?  Now is the time to sign a card and mail back your signed and dated authorization card to Part-Time Faculty United - AFT, 305 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92832.  Even though we successfully obtained signed cards from slightly more than half of the adjunct faculty at COC to file for recognition with PERB, it is still very important that we obtain additional cards.  Without a sufficient number of these cards, we would not have been able to file for formal recognition to obtain the election that we have fought so hard against great odds for. Please send your card back today. If you need a new one, leave us an e-mail and we will send it to you today.

What Does Signing the AFT/CFT Authorization Card Mean?

Many adjunct faculty were recently given an Authorization Card to sign and send back to Part-Time Faculty United-AFT.  By completing and signing the card, the individual adjunct declares hers or his interest in AFT for the purpose of getting an election.  At a later date, assuming that AFT is chosen by adjunct faculty members, part-timers will have a choice whether or not they would like to become members of AFT (which entitles them to have a voice in the leadership of the union, input into union policy making, participation in the collective bargaining process, ability to serve as a union officer as well as other benefits).  When an election is had, a vote for AFT authorizes AFT to bargaining wages, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment, as well as to adjust grievances on the behalf of part-timers.  With the strength of roughly 380 faculty members, adjunct faculty will quickly gain their combined voice to make the changes needed to put them on an equal footing with the college administration. This will enable us to negotiate fair contracts to help part-time faculty gain the respect that we deserve. All signed cards will be kept confidential and will at no time be seen by college administrators.

Above are a few questions often asked regarding the benefit of organizing a part-timer's union.  Please submit any questions that you have - this is important because there has been some misinformation spread on campus by persons who oppose our efforts - let us know, and we will reply to your concerns and post questions (anonymously) and responses on these pages.

All contacts with Part-Time Faculty United-AFT are completely confidential.