Dear Faculty,

I have several important announcements to make regarding our contract negotiations, and, more than anything, a call to action.

Other groups on campus have received raises of upwards of 14% over the past few years, while faculty have received only pay cuts and layoffs. To state the obvious, this is completely unacceptable.

• Sign your strike commitment card today: The majority on the Board of Trustees have so far been unwilling to direct Chancellor Martin and his team to engage in genuine negotiations for a reasonable agreement. It is an essential moment for faculty to show that we are absolutely united for a fair contract and more competitive salaries. Sign your strike commitment card, and attend the Strike Vote on Ocean Campus Dec 8, where you will vote on the type and duration of the strike necessary to defend our livelihoods and our college.

• AFT has declared impasse: AFT filed ‘impasse’ with the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB). Chancellor Martin and his team have refused to explain their bargaining proposals, refused to show their work, and refused to make reasonable compromises for the good of our college. Impasse will initiate a ‘fact finding’ process that lasts up to 30 days and will produce a non-binding recommendation. Both parties may agree, form their own separate agreement, or AFT may declare a strike.

• Tentative additional voluntary mediation session with the District Nov 30: The AFT Bargaining Team agreed to save the date for one more mediation session with professional mediator Paul Roose and the District’s team. Because of your organizing on Oct 26, up to 3 Trustees and Chancellor Martin would again be at this session. The decision to hold mediation will be made following a Special Board of Trustees meeting this month.

What does all this mean? It means you need to sign your strike card and prepare to strike for the good of your contract and your college. You deserve the respect of real, meaningful negotiations. Now is the time to stand together. See the graphic below detailing where we have been, where we are now, and remember that the solution is to stand together and say enough is enough.

In Unity,

Mary Bravewoman

AFT COPE Endorsement Results

Appreciate everyone who joined their Committee on Political Education meeting on Tuesday and participated in voting this week. With voting closed, AFT 2121 would like to announce that members have voted to endorse the full DCCC Labor and Working Families slate. In addition, members also voted to endorse H.R. 1134 as proposed by Barbara Lee, and to oppose the proposed “Election of Members of the Board of Supervisors” and “Substance Abuse Screening, Eval, and Treatment for CAAP Assistance” ballot measures.

Our next COPE meeting will be held on December 12th. Be sure to keep an eye out for the official announcement and official agenda