Health care for part-time faculty has been rare and something CCA has long advocated for. It was recently on the table at Hartnell College, and they won. Neighboring Gavilan College Faculty Association also negotiated health care for part-time faculty with an “AB 190-compliant agreement.”

AB 190 expands current part-time faculty health insurance programs and incentivizes districts by providing up to 100% reimbursement for health care costs. This empowers CCA local unions to bargain expanded access to health care benefits for part-time faculty.

How does it work? It varies somewhat by district, but upon receiving an assignment of 40% or more, unit members and their dependents are eligible to select health care plans paid by the district, which is reimbursed by the state. Among the CCA locals that have utilized AB 190 for the benefit of part-time faculty: College of Desert Adjunct Association, Faculty Association of Rancho Santiago Community College District, MiraCosta College Academic Association Faculty, Southwestern College Education Association and Riverside Community College District Faculty Association.

Negotiating health care is doable, said CCA Secretary John Sullivan, a former executive board member at the RCCDFA. “My recommendation to all chapters struggling with this is to work with your CTA primary contact staff to review your options and push forward, knowing that you are not alone in the process.”