This is a message I didn’t want to write
Dear Colleagues,
I’d like to tell you about the progress we’re making at the table. But I can’t.
We’ve moved on some issues, and this week we reached an agreement about break in service that will help some hard hit departments with staffing issues like ESL. But first, I have to tell you the bad news.
The problem, of course, is the economic issue. AFT engaged in careful budget research based on the district’s actuals; we crafted a proposal that raises salaries, provides restoration of the concessionary year, and protects FTE. It moves us in the right direction while avoiding problems when hold-harmless ends. Crucially, it is a proposal that the district can afford while maintaining their reserves.
However, David Martin’s team isn’t interested. The economic proposal they handed us this week was identical to their paltry proposal from last week, with a mere 1% increase in year two. No restoration. No COLA. They told us they estimated the salary cost of their proposal to be $5.9 million over 3 years. That’s less than the value of the wage concessions we took in one year ($7.4 million). It’s less than the one-year surplus the district ran in 2020-21 (roughly $7.8 million), the surplus the district ran in 2021-22 (roughly $9.2 million); and it will almost certainly be less than the surplus the district runs this year (AFT’s current projection is over $10 million). They received COLAS and ran surpluses, but they are not even proposing to restore the value of our concessions.
What can I say about this? We were insulted and furious! Then it got worse. The district admitted they hadn’t compared their proposal to the Bay 10 Colleges or taken inflation into consideration. They couldn’t answer basic questions about their own numbers. They instead chided AFT’s team for showing “emotion”.
In 2021, faculty took painful wage concessions during an uncertain time to prevent layoffs and keep our school open for students. But when the actuals came in, it turned out the college ended up with money that year. In 2022, they went ahead with layoffs, but it turned out our projections were right and they had money then, too. So yes, we have emotions about bargaining. Yes, this message I am writing today is emotional.
Faculty member John Carrese, who attended the 6/13 season, remarked:
“In past negotiations there was actual dialogue. Parties looked at spreadsheets together. This was completely different from the last round of CBA bargaining. The district is clearly stalling. They have nothing to talk about: no counters, just rejections of proposals. Insulting!”
David’s team is also proposing:
- No increase for clinical lab load, RN step, coaching, or PT steps
- Management can force faculty to perform online assignments from campus.
- Faculty cannot be assigned 100% online, exceptions allowed only with the VC or dean sign-off.
- No commitment to a timeline to address unsafe working conditions such as extreme cold.
- Restrictions on counselors’ compensatory hours.
- Increased dean control over faculty evaluations
You can see all the proposals and TAs here.
Your colleagues need you. They need you to come to open bargaining, to see for yourself what David’s team is doing. And they need you to stay informed and ready for action.
Please join me and your colleagues at our next open bargaining session: Tuesday 6/20, 1:00-5:00, Ocean Campus, MUB 251.
In solidarity,
Mary T. Bravewoman
President, AFT, Local 2121
The schedule is posted here.
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