AFT members turn out en masse to District/AFT negotiations; District commits to goals and a specific response to AFT’s salary, workload proposal
Over 120 union members packed
Wednesday’s negotiations session, upset that the District had suggested offering faculty no more than the State-designated 2.51% Cost of Living Adjustment for 2018-19. Many faculty who were not able to attend took photos in solidarity and sent them to our team.
Speaking to a room filled wall-to-wall with faculty in AFT 2121 T-shirts, District negotiator Dianna Gonzales stated that it was not their intent to insult the faculty with that offer. She added that the District’s finance team had further analyzed the budget and now believed they might be able to offer some additional monies for salary schedule (Step/Column) restructure.
AFT responded that we need a specific, written counter-proposal that raises faculty salaries above the Bay Median within 3-years. VC Gonzales committed to work with the Board of Trustees and the finance team, and to return next week with such a proposal. She cautioned that because of fiscal uncertainties, the proposal would likely place contingencies on any increases in years 2 and 3.
The District also committed to continue meeting with our bargaining team to examine revenue and expenditure details for the current year, and projections for 2018/19. AFT’s message in response was that the prioritization of faculty compensation improvements is vital to any agreement.
What’s next? Let’s keep the momentum going. Show your solidarity!
- Thursday, April 26, Board of Trustees meeting
3:30pm: Teach-in (room TBA) on how our proposal will help to protect educational quality and student learning conditions.
4:00pm: Public Comment (MUB 140) to the Board of Trustees. The Board must approve our contract, so showing up is crucial! Wear your union T-shirt.
- Sponsor a Teach-in by a Bargaining Team Member at your department in preparation for the 4/26 Board meeting. Contact Athena Waid at 415-585-2121 to set it up.
- Wear your AFT 2121 t-shirt every Wednesday until we have a contract.
- Attend open negotiations sessions, Wednesdays 1pm-5pm, MUB 238.
Other bargaining news:
Sanctuary: We reached a tentative agreement on our Sanctuary Classrooms proposal protecting faculty from discipline for refusing to cooperate with ICE.
Lost & found: Whoever left a smart phone at bargaining, we have it at the Union office! Call 415-585-2121 to retrieve it!
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