There’s strength in numbers
No faculty feels more vulnerable these days than part-time instructors. From the loss of income from having their classes cut to having their jobs totally eliminated, part timers are the first to feel the impact of budget cuts to schools and colleges – which is why CCA is making a concerted effort to make sure part-time instructors become members of the union.
“Once we have enough part timers join the union, our needs can’t be ignored,” said Kristie Iwamoto, who recently helped recruit 40 new part-time members to the Solano College CTA chapter herself.
Iwamoto was part of a team of faculty who called 400 instructors on five campuses to tell them about the benefits of the union and to urge them to join. Early reports are that the ranks of part-time CCA members at Long Beach, Riverside, San Joaquin Delta and Shasta College as a result.
“If part-time faculty want to change things and improve their situation on campus, they need to become members,” said John Sullivan. “Only by being members can they make contractual changes and influence legislation. We need part-time members to vote.”
Although part-time instructors are currently considered “at-will employees” who can be terminated at any time, Sullivan says that could change if their numbers are strengthened by the union.
The benefits of membership for part timers more than pays for their dues. Those benefits include liability insurance, professional development training and conferences, credit union services, life insurance, financial services, health information and a Well Baby Program, home and renter insurance and a first-time home buyers program.
The effort represents the first-time non-member (or “agency fee payers”) part time instructors have been the focus of a concerted membership campaign.
More information can be found on the CCA website at www.cca4me.org or by contacting John Sullivan at j_m_sullivan@yahoo.com or John Martin, Northern California CCA board member representing part-time faculty at jmartinnte@gmail.com.