Bargaining Team Candidates 2020

Andy Saunders (Motorcycle, Evans, PT, credit)	Dear AFT 2121 Delegates, I’m here today because of City College. My name is Andy Saunders, and I’m part-time faculty, motorcycle instructor, since 2007, at the Evans Campus. I came to San Francisco from England in the eighties, and was working at a motorcycle shop in San Francisco when I took my first City College course as a student, Fundamentals of Photography, in 1989. Completing that one course helped my career (thank you, Robert Dawson!): I was able to switch to a then well-paying position as a ‘Motojournalist’, specializing in writing and photography for a national motorcycle magazine in Los Angeles. Many jobs in the motorcycle industry later, back in San Francisco, I started instructing in the Motorcycle Program in CCSF in 2007. I was happy to see graduates of the program (both male and female: one Moto course in 2017 was 50% women, our usual ratio is 25%) find jobs in the motorcycle industry locally and in other parts of California and the US. I am also delighted to see plenty of other people use the one or two courses they’ve taken to leverage their careers into other industries, as I had. Many of them have well-paying tech jobs, others have made different choices, but I’d like to think that all have been helped by City College. Over 30 years, I’ve seen City College bounce from one disaster to another, with an occasional triumph on the way, but always have been impressed by the commitment of faculty and staff to provide the best possible educational experience for students. I’d like the chance to work to give back some of the help I’ve had from City College faculty over the years, as teachers, mentors, colleagues and friends, by working with the Bargaining Team to get the best deal for everyone. Thank you for your consideration. Andy Saunders Motorcycle Instructor
Barbara A Johnson (Administration of Justice, Ocean, PT, credit)	After a three decade career in local juvenile justice, I was fortunate to be asked to join the faculty approximately thirteen years ago, part time. I was a Bargaining Team member during the 2018 contract period. I’m a native of this city, and a former student at CCSF. I have been a lifelong union member, and have been precinct 24 delegate for the last several years.
Clare Heimer (Mathematics, Ocean, FT, credit)	Hi! I’m Clare, and I teach math. I frankly think our bargaining situation as traditionally conceived is pretty dire: I think it’s true that the administration basically does not have the money to maintain the college at current service levels, and if the status quo persists at the bargaining table we will be facing impossible choices. They are operating with one hand tied behind their back, and from the way they’re budgeting and the plans they’re presenting it seems like they do not want that hand untied. My read is that that means we need to reimagine what bargaining is away from the formalized dance we do under the auspices of labor law: our bargaining team needs to be strategizing to bring mass action or the threat of mass action to bear on the actors who can meet our members’ needs and demands. Our lobbyists are great but if the most important action in setting our working conditions (including the most important working condition, which is whether we have jobs at all) is taking place away from the bargaining table, we can’t rely on our lobbyists: our power is in our members, and we need to gather our members, bring the bargaining table to those decision makers, and pressure them to sit down and bargain. I want to be part of figuring out how to organize for that. In terms of descriptive representation, I’m a trans woman and a mother of a toddler, which I think are both important perspectives to have represented at the bargaining table. I think folks should also take seriously that we need strong representation from faculty of color, disabled faculty, part-time faculty, non-credit faculty, and faculty in departments that are on the chopping block in ways that math isn’t! I don’t meet any of those needs and I’m excited to work with folks who do.
David A Hurwich (Visual Media Design, Ocean, PT, credit)	Dear Delegates of the Assembly, My name is David Hurwich, I am a part-time instructor in the Visual Media Design Department at City College of San Francisco. I am here today to ask for your vote to become a member of the AFT2121 Bargaining Team. I have been an instructor at City College of San Francisco since 2006. Through the years I’ve watched City College change and evolve. I’ve seen the school through good times and bad, I assisted when City College faced accreditation issues. I assisted in getting the word out about our proper accreditation when false rumors and speculations were spread in the media. I also assisted with student recruitment when courses were having issues meeting class minimums. I consider myself an active member of the City College community. I always enjoy Flex day at the beginning of the semester, when I attend department meetings and get a chance to mingle with other instructors. I usually attend at least one City College Rams game per season to cheer the team on. I’ve been a strong and helpful instructor and have a good rapport with students which can be seen in my student reviews: https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=1312062 Over time I have built strong and lasting relationships with students and my colleagues. I have strong rapport with colleagues not only within my department but outside as well. This is evidenced by the number of the nominations I received from outside my department of Visual Media Design. In addition to my strong communications skills, I bring additional skills that may be valuable for this position. I am a graphic designer whose focus is in web development. I can assist with digital campaigns and other forms of media to disseminate information. I also bring experience with taxes and tax law. I am an official volunteer for the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and every year to with the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) in complete taxes for Bay Area residents for middle to low incomes. I have a practical understanding of how salary, benefits and taxes affect people in different income brackets. Finally, I have good ties to the San Francisco community as a whole. Since 2004 I’ve built relationships with different San Francisco communities through contract design work and teaching. Some of these San Francisco organizations include the Mission Economic Development Agency, the Bay Area Video Coalition and Hunters Point NOW. These are organizations that have strong roots in the working class San Francisco population. These are organizations that we might want support from in the future. I also have a friendly relationship with many local newspapers outlets in San Francisco including Mission Local and 48hills. These relationships with community groups and organizations can be helpful in terms of support and getting out Union messages. Finally, my partner is a government worker, a city planner for the Port Department of San Francisco. I have met many of her colleagues in several departments of the San Francisco government. I have met many of these government workers and politicians at social events, and I believe I have a good rapper with them. These interactions have given me a stronger sense of how to accomplish work within the San Francisco government. Thank you for reading my letter and giving me a chance to explain why I believe I would be a good candidate. I ask kindly for your vote. Sincerely, David A Hurwich
David (Vika) Palaita (Interdisciplinary Studies, Ocean FT, credit)	Vika would bring a wealth of experience, teaching at CCSF for over 10 years, founding entire programs and certificates, working daily on equity issues for all marginalized students, holding an interim department chair position, mentoring part-time faculty in the department, sitting on many participatory governance and hiring committees, and a strong vision of equity and inclusion. He would be an asset to the team!
David Pieper (Social Sciences, Ocean, FT, credit)	Experienced member of last contract bargaining team. Member of concession bargaining team (fortunately not necessary, but participated in all preparations). Attended all public bargaining sessions related to Evaluations under Covid conditions. Former AFT2121 budget analyst. Strong experience with budget analysis and data analysis. Teach economics, statistics and data analysis. Proficient user of Excel. Clear writer. Chair of Registration and Enrollment Committee. Former member of Enrollment Management Committee. Creative and out-of-box thinker.
Dayna Holz (Library, Ocean PT, non-instructional)	Librarians are organized! So there’s that. I’ve also been working with the Impacts Bargaining team, negotiating for the rights of faculty during this crisis and getting Administration to acknowledge and document that our work has changed. I have learned a lot about how research and outreach to members can influence how we advocate for ourselves and articulate our needs in language the District can understand.
Diane Wallis (ESL, JAD, FT, noncredit)	My name is Diane Wallis and I teach noncredit ESL at the John Adams campus. I have taught at CCSF since 1992 and I am honored to run for a position of the AFT 2121 Bargaining Team. I have been an AFT 2121 Precinct Rep both at the Civic Center campus and John Adams. I feel so fortunate that our union has so many dedicated, hardworking, intelligent and experienced members that have guided us through many difficult years. I hope to contribute to their work by participating as a member of the AFT 2121 Bargaining Team in 2021. I would be very grateful for your support. Let’s work hard to defend our college at this crucial juncture. In solidarity, Diane
Holly Stevens (ESL, FT, Chinatown, noncredit)	As delegate rep for many years on and off, I’ve been involved in previous negotiations. I helped organize the strike at CNB. I’ve taught at CCSF for 25 years, 14 of which were as a part-timer, so I understand and support part-timer concerns as well as those of full-timers. I can contribute time to research, writing, proofreading.
Jennifer Kienzle (Communication Studies and OOL, Ocean FT, credit)	As a communication faculty member, I am a clear and diplomatic communicator focused on actions. I also serve as the distance education coordinator at the college and would add in labor related to online teaching, a critical component in the COVID pandemic.
Kerri Ryer (Social Science, Ocean, PT, credit)	Growing up college always seemed just outside of my reach. As hard as I tried to achieve high marks, in the long run- it didn’t matter. I could not afford tuition. Then I discovered California’s community colleges. The college system allowed me the opportunity to go from a homeless single-mother and high school dropout, to a college professor. I don’t just care about our college, I live for it. I will forever owe a debt of gratitude to my past instructors and colleagues. We do make a difference, we do change lives. I know, I’m living proof. If you could please give me your vote of support, I would love the opportunity to serve the community that has given me so much. While I may not have experience on past negotiation teams, I do bring a fresh perspective and I am ready to listen, learn, and lean in. A contract that protects our community, embodies equity, provides parity for PT & FT, that understands the rising costs of living, and that recognizes the unprecedented times we are living in is necessary. If you do provide me with your support, please also make a commitment to sharing your thoughts and opinions with me so that we can make the most informed decisions possible. I look forward to our conversations, and thank you for your consideration.
Lijia Lumsden (Interdisciplinary Studies & Women’s and Gender Studies, PT, Ocean, credit)	Since 2014, I have taught in Interdisciplinary Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies. As WRC faculty advisor, I worked with student organizers and the Student Activities department. That role underscored the importance of partnership between our many student services and academic programs. I have also served on the Diversity Committee and recently joined the Student Equity Strategies Committee. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with AFT 2121 as a precinct rep, and I am committed to our collective efforts to fighting for a student-centered approach to budgeting.
Malaika Finkelstein (DSPS, Mission & Downtown, PT, noncredit)	I was your grievance officer for six years. Grievance work is basically enforcing our contract. That means I know this contract – its good points and also places where it could be strengthened. I’ve been a member of our last two bargaining teams, and have helped organize and fight for our union on many levels. This time around will be even harder because of the pandemic and the budget crisis. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves.
Mary Bravewoman (Mathematics, Ocean, FT, credit)	Mathematical skills and previous bargaining experience.
Richard Compean (English, Ocean FT, credit)	I served on the AFT 2121 Bargaining Team previously, for the contract before the current one. I have the experience of remaining calm but determined in the face of anger and conflict and I believe in the power of asking the right questions.
Robin Pugh (Business Downtown FT credit & noncredit)	I have experience with scheduling, I have managed budgets (although not as complex as CCSF’s), I’ve worked in noncredit for 16 years, I love looking for creative solutions for the common good.