We started out by attempting to gain clarity on the fall term schedule and modality changes that have been rolled out by the District President. In the last few weeks Federation leaders have heard from APs who are being threatened with discipline for not signing telecommuting agreements that do not make sense for their jobs. We have heard from faculty who are being required to hold in-person office hours despite teaching 100% online. Some APs are being told they must work evenings and weekends despite there being little demand from students for these hours. Others have had service hour changes that prevent them from working with students after hours. We’ve even seen emails from PCC managers apologizing for changing schedules and modality, saying the decision was out of their hands. In short, by removing flexible work arrangements, the administration has made a mess for students and employees trying to navigate the beginning of fall term.
After the Federation threatened to file an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint last week, some managers rescinded the schedule and modality changes, while others seem to be implementing them. In the words of one of our bargaining team members, “We just need to know what the hell is going on.” No one on the administration side had an answer, but, in a telling moment, the lead negotiator for administration invoked the adage: “Don’t assume malice when incompetence will do.”
Administration is attempting to move this conversation away from the bargaining table (and observers) by offering up a private meeting between federation and College leaders. But we were very clear: Our members need flexibility now, and schedule and modality are mandatory subjects of bargaining. If they refuse to talk with us at the bargaining table or if they implement the changes unilaterally, we will file a ULP.
Later in the day we continued our push for job security for existing part time faculty. We are asking (again) for preference to be given to existing PT faculty when hiring full time positions, and for classes to be assigned to the PT faculty at the highest step level once FT and MYC loads have been met.
After explaining that none of our proposed contract language would prevent administration from hiring someone who is truly a standout outside candidate for a full-time position, one of our PT faculty reps said, “All we are asking is that part-time faculty have hiring preference for full-time positions. I need to ask point blank: Do you believe that is detrimental to students?”
Administration’s response was, “I don’t really know if I could answer that.”
The idea of seniority is threaded throughout the contract-we pointed out it’s mentioned 17 times. But it only applies to APs and full-time faculty. Why are Part Time faculty not included?