Almost a year ago, instructors at Hartnell College in Salinas were engaged in a bitter strike in which they emerged with not only a 23 percent salary increase, but a stronger, more cohesive union.
“I had never been involved in a labor action before,” said librarian Bill Rawson, who is now secretary of the union rep council, “but I’d say it definitely equalized the power on campus.”
Since that time, the college president whom was the focus of faculty ire, resigned, and the college’s accreditation was placed on academic probation, forcing the college community to undergo and extensive review process toward regaining full accreditation. In addition, the association has become active in a campaign to replace several members of the board of trustees. The election has generated more interest than anyone can remember with contested races in four districts, including one where five candidates are running.
Formed a PAC
“We’ve had tons of interest in the board seats so we’ve formed a political action committee. That’s just one more positive thing to come out of the strike,” said Kelly Locke, a mathematics instructor.
As a sign of the increased awareness of the faculty’s role on campus, Locke noted that candidates being interviewed by the association all talked about how critical it was to them to have the endorsement of faculty.
“In the past, I never would have expected it to have mattered,” Locke said.
Locke maintains that even being placed on academic probation has been a positive thing for the college because “it’s challenged us to fix what was broken. I don’t think we would have come together the way we have without having gone through the strike,” she said.
There is some residual bitterness left over from the strike, including some philosophical differences and bad feelings within the association, but probably no more than is expected in such an action.
A positive experience
“It really has been a positive experience, overall,” said Ann Wright, president of the faculty association, and a biology instructor on campus. “Against all odds, we came together and executed a strike. I think that really shook people up.”
With the departure of the former college president, Wright wants to make sure the faculty has a strong say in choosing the next administrator.
“We learned a lot about what we don’t want to see in a president,” she said.
In addition to everything else going on, Wright said her goal as president is to keep people informed and to reach out to encourage faculty to take a more active role.
Experiencing one strike, however, has definitely prompted more interest from faculty who hadn’t previously been involved in campus activities.
“Our numbers increased because of the strike and we’ve gained strength,” said Leti Contreras, who was a new faculty member at the time of the strike. “Now that they know what we’re capable of, I want to be part of the change that avoids another strike.”
