Article Conversations – Explore Your Contract & Share Your Ideas

Meet with your colleagues and union leadership for a facilitated discussion of your ideas for our contract. The next conversations are on deck next week! We’ll be discussing Articles 8, 9 & 17 – Evaluations,  Professional Development and Leaves. All members of AFT are welcome–FT or PT, long-time or new – we need all our voices in the room! Register for all zoom sessions here.

Articles 8, 9 & 17: Evaluations, Professional Development, and Leaves

• Wed 11/5, 6 – 7:30 PM, as
• Fri 11/7, 2:30 – 4 PM, Ocean Campus, HBB Room 250

Article 20 Conversations 

On October 20 and 22, AFT 2121 kicked off our “Article Conversations”–a chance to dig into specific articles of our contract and for members to listen to one another’s ideas and priorities–with Article 20, salaries. This is part of our larger campaign to broaden member participation in negotiations and build the kind of power we will need to win a good contract. 

Our “soft opening” face-to-face meeting had about 10 attendees, while the Zoom meeting had about 30. AFT 2121 leaders shared some basic information about Article 20 and data points about the college’s finances. Attendees shared comments and recommendations for proposals. It was energizing and connecting to hear members’ different perspectives and this input will go into shaping our “Sunshine Document,” work that starts after the election of the next bargaining team. Want to get more involved in the organizing campaign? Join an Article Conversation (see above) or talk to your Precinct Rep. 

As the meeting was wrapping up, a member shared this comment in the chat:  “I’ve been driving home from my evening class listening this entire time, and I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for showing what faculty unity looks like – full and part time alike. Pay equity from both perspectives (FT and PT) is not an either/or but a both/and. Like I mentioned earlier – the compromise, transparency and willingness to dialogue demonstrated this evening is wanted, needed and welcomed by our union so I appreciate it all and the vulnerability of my colleagues to share.”

AFT Webinar: Defending Democracy: The Role of South Korean Labor Unions

Monday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m. PST. This webinar—part of the Albert Shanker Institute’s “Defending Democracy: How to Stop a Backsliding Democracy” series, and presented in partnership with the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and the AFT’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Task Force—will focus on the role of labor unions in mobilizing protests in response to the South Korean president’s martial law declaration, the call for the resignation of the president and the move to elect a new government. The discussion will feature firsthand, on-the-ground observations from leaders of the teachers’ union, the metal workers’ union and the South Korean labor federation who were in the streets mobilizing their members and the public. Register here.

More Power of Art Exhibit Events!

The faculty retiree art exhibit at the Chinatown Center continues now through December 11.  You are invited to join a special workshop next Thursday, November 6, 6 – 8 PM. Chinatown/North Beach Center, 808 Kearny St, Room 402.

More information on the Power of Art Exhibit and other related special events here. 

Webinar: Student Loan Forgiveness

The AFT continues to lead the charge for justice for student loan borrowers. Join AFT for an update on our HUGE win holding the Department of Education and student loan servicers accountable and protecting access to income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Our webinar will be held Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. EST. Register now!

In addition to learning how recent developments in the AFT’s lawsuit against the Department of Education will affect borrowers, the webinar will also include resources that can help borrowers better manage their student debt and advocate for making federal student loan repayment fairer.