FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. . .
Part-Time College Instructors Organize for Equal Pay, Benefits
On Wednesday, October 13, Adjunct Faculty United, a grassroots
organization of adjunct faculty in the North Orange County Community
College District, filed signed proof with the California State Public
Employee Relations Board that a majority of part-time instructors at
Fullerton College, Cypress College and the School of Continuing Education
wish Adjunct Faculty United CFT/AFT to represent them.
Adjunct Faculty United is attempting to secure better pay, health
benefits, seniority/rehire rights and office hour pay for part-time
faculty. Two-thirds of all community college teachers are part-timers
who receive no health benefits and are paid one-third to one-half of what
full-time instructors are paid class-for-class. Furthermore, adjunct
faculty are not paid at all for class prep time, grading papers and
out-of-class meetings with students.
Filing with PERB is the first step toward gaining recognition by the
school district to negotiate wages, hours and working conditions for
part-time faculty. Although full-time faculty and classified employees
in the North Orange County School District are represented by unions, no
one has ever represented the interests of part-time instructors, many of
whom have taught for the district for over twenty years in a temporary
status with few rights and the only benefit being the right to
unemployment insurance at the end of each semester.
Although the North Orange County Community College District is mandated
to have at least 75% of all classes taught by full-time instructors, the
actual figure is closer to 60%. Part-time instructors have the same
academic credentials as regular faculty, and have the same
responsibilities in the classroom, but are paid so little that some
adjuncts end up going on welfare in a financial or medical crisis. Due
to the lack of openings for full-time teachers, many part-time teachers
(known as "freeway flyers")try to cobble together a full-time living by
teaching part-time at several community college districts. The frantic
pace, lack of stability or low income cause large numbers of adjunct
faculty to retire from teaching each year.
Linda Cushing, President of Adjunct Faculty United's Interim Executive
Committee, says: "We intend to gain medical benefits and equal pay for
equal work for part time instructors when we bargain with the district.
The inadequate pay and working conditions for two-thirds of the community
college faculty are a secret that few people in the general public have
known. I believe that basic fairness and human diginty are at stake
here. It is time to begin to do what's right."
For more information, contact:
Linda Cushing
Adjunct Faculty United
124 W. Wilshire Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92831
714/526-7220
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
