AFT Counsel Sends Demand Letter to District: ‘Correct Tenure Violations Now’

When the District laid off 38 full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty in May 2022, it was an unprecedented undermining of faculty rights. Unfortunately, since that time, the District has actively continued to undermine faculty rights.

AFT counsel has documented these violations and today sent the Administration a letter demanding the reinstatement of full-time faculty in all departments where 1) there is a clear demand for services those faculty provide and 2) where faculty rights under Ed Code have been clearly violated.

What we know about the layoffs is clear:

• No Financial Necessity: When final budget numbers were released for the 21-22 fiscal year, the District ended the year with a significant surplus.

• Unmet Student Need: Over the past two academic years, it has become painfully apparent that San Francisco’s students still need the services those laid off faculty provided in vital programs from Counseling, to English, to CNIT, to Auto Repair.

• Disproportionate Impact on Faculty of Color: The laid-off faculty are disproportionately younger, queer, and/or faculty of color, that is, they are precisely the faculty our diverse student body needs to see on campus and in the classroom.

• Unlawful Violation of Tenure: The District has violated California law by rehiring previously laid off tenured and tenure-track faculty as adjuncts, and, in some cases, ‘contractors.’

None of this has saved the college money–rather, the administration has put City College in legal jeopardy and undermined our enrollment. AFT is defending tenure at City College because it is critical for our faculty and supports our programs and students.