A group of CCA students came to Monday night's "informational" meeting to voice their support. They presented a petition with over 800 signatures asking the CCA administration to remain truly neutral throughout the unionization process. Here's a peek:
Have you been to one of the recent “informational sessions” organized by the Faculty Executive Committee and the CCA administration? You should go, and here’s why: As creative professionals we love imaginary worlds. These meetings aren’t the most fantastical works of fiction you’ve ever come across, but they are clearly not based in reality either. As much as we might like to believe that we, as contingent workers, can discuss these issues openly with our employers, the reality is that the existing power dynamic infuses these meetings with doubt, fear, and apprehension. This is precisely why a union is necessary, because it allows for faculty to negotiate as equals without fear of reprisal. We recognize that the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and department chairs may also be placed in difficult situations as they attempt to navigate the requests (either stated, implied, or assumed) of the administration. However, ranked and tenured faculty at other schools have either taken a position of neutrality or passed resolutions of support for their adjunct colleagues. Although these meetings may have been well-intentioned, they have been perceived as naive and paternalistic at best, and divisive and antagonistic at worst. Far from being "an open and deliberative process", these meetings have shown the existing power dynamic for what it is. Even President Beal and Provost Corn are trapped by this hierarchy - if they were to refuse the request of Faculty Senate Executive Committee it would possibly be viewed as being uncommitted to dialog; however, by attending these meetings they reinforce suspicions that they are merely playing out tactics from the anti-union playbook. So far, these meetings have not been "informational" (since the admin repeatedly emphasizes that they simply don't have enough information) as much as they've been illustrative of the lopsided power dynamic we experience as a college. Fortunately, James Gobel and Bob Aufuldish have been responsive to adjunct faculty needs by asking members of the CCA administration to leave the meetings after 30 minutes, allowing faculty a chance to speak amongst themselves. While we might like Steven Beal and Melanie Corn on a personal level, it is difficult and uncomfortable to watch them function in this capacity. President Beal repeatedly resorts to the talking points we have already seen in his letter to CCA faculty. Although he frequently states that he “just doesn’t have enough information to advocate one way or another” it’s clear that he has taken a position not to remain neutral by reiterating the same lines - doubt and delay. This has been his position since July, and it begs the question: how long does it take a college president to gather his information on such “an important issue that affects us all”? This question is not intended as an attack on either his character or his credibility; however, we owe it to ourselves to ask the tough questions. This is but one of many questions that these meetings have raised. Here are some others:
Join the fun! Believe it or not, there may be some contingent faculty who are still on the fence. Although some believe the administration is staging these meetings for their benefit, it's important to recognize that these meetings still provide us with an opportunity to build support within our community. So please, join us at the next meeting and help convince our fence-sitting friends that the lopsided power dynamic on display at these meetings is precisely why we need to form a union. Next Meetings: Wednesday, 9/17, 7-8 p.m., SF campus, Helzel Boardroom Thursday, 9/18, 11 a.m.-noon, Oakland campus, Macky Lounge • Why this union? SEIU has been organizing adjuncts nationwide since 2008 and currently represents over 21,000 adjuncts, including our colleagues (and many of us, as well) who teach at SFAI, Mills and the California State University system. By joining SEIU we build on this growing network and participate in a strong union that has a proven track record for improving adjunct working conditions. This is the union that is doing the most to support adjunct faculty throughout the country.
• What can SEIU provide? Other schools have seen pay increases ranging between 11-44% as well as increased job security, health and retirement benefits, and most importantly, a legal framework that enables faculty to negotiate contracts as equals (i.e., collective bargaining rights). SEIU provides their negotiating experience, legal expertise, and a widespread support network. • How much will dues be? After we successfully negotiate and vote to ratify our first union contract (and not before then) our dues will be 1.74% of our gross teaching pay. There are no initiation fees. • How does a union work? A union cannot force CCA to pay adjuncts untenable salaries. A union simply guarantees our right to sit at the negotiating table as equals and bargain contracts that help establish a just and sustainable workplace. During the bargaining process, the employer (CCA) is legally required to be transparent with its finances. Once both sides agree on the negotiated contract, CCA's adjunct faculty are then given an opportunity to vote on ratifying the contract. Under this legal framework, it is extraordinarily unlikely that the CCA administration would ever negotiate a contract that would lead to financial ruin, and equally unlikely that we, as faculty, would ever ratify a contract that would put CCA (and us) out of business. For more detailed info, please read our FAQ's page! As adjuncts, we often feel disconnected and alienated from one another. If you're only hearing from one or two voices, it may be tough to get a sense of the larger debate happening among CCA faculty. In our discussions with folks from all departments, we've been hearing overwhelming support for joining the union, BUT we are also hearing many of the same questions, concerns, and confusions. By providing a common space for a moderated discussion, we hope to bring our community closer together. We've all been through good critiques and bad ones, so hopefully we can make the most of this forum. Please take a brief moment to read through the "About" page and the "FAQ's" page before posting comments or questions. Thanks! Click "Comments" below to join the conversation! |
Speak Up!
There's a lot of loose talk, but here's the place to put it down in black & white. Questions, Comments & Contributions are welcome in this moderated discussion. Archives
August 2016
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