Voices from the Bargaining Table: Jimmy Collins On Yesterday’s Session

I am a full-time faculty member in the PE & Dance Department, Head Football Coach, and member of our AFT Bargaining Team.

Being new to this role on the bargaining team, I have had the opportunity to form my own opinion. I am a true believer that there are two sides to every story, but it is very evident that the District is not interested in negotiating salaries. We had a session on Monday (10/23) and below are my impressions of where things stand.

What happened at Monday’s session?

About half of the session focused on the college’s budget–however, the District’s bargaining team was unwilling to provide the information needed to begin salary negotiations.

To my disappointment, the District did not make a counter to AFT’s last salary proposal and instead proposed that the parties enter ‘voluntary mediation.’ I wish the District proposed mediation months ago. AFT agreed to mediation on the condition that a deadline for an agreement be set, and if the deadline is not met, AFT will declare impasse (see what that is here).

What’s Next?

With impending mediation, our presence as faculty at the October 26th Board of Trustees meeting is more important than before. We need the District to see and know that our faculty is a unified group willing to fight for our common cause–HIGHER AND FAIR WAGES.

In the spring, faculty voiced to our union that our top overall priority is an increase in pay. We made it clear that we feel disrespected by our salaries. And now, with the college in the process of a leadership transition, it is time for us to stand together and make it clear to the District that we are united to fight together for the pay that we deserve.

Things have been tough for faculty, and we all have a variety of opinions as to why we are in the position we are currently in. However, we can all agree that now is the time to stand for a change that will impact this contract and all of the other contracts to follow. We are the gold standard of California Community Colleges, and as faculty, we deserve to be treated that way.

Let’s all join together on Thursday and make it clear that we need to be paid, and that we will fight until we receive a just and fair contract. See you all Thursday!

RSVP for Oct 26 here: https://bit.ly/Oct26MUB

The Details:
Date: Thursday, October 26th
Time: 5-7pm
Location: In front of East entrance of MUB building, Ocean Campus
Note: We will have audio broadcasting the Board of Trustees meeting to our Rally outside MUB. Supervisors, Press, students, community, & our classified staff allies SEIU 1021 will be on hand.