Know Your Rights:

How to Get a Raise

By Mark Newton, Past President, FA, AFT 6157

I got a raise in my salary this fall that many of you did not get. How? I made use of one of several provisions in the FA, AFT 6157/SJECCD Collective Bargaining Agreement that allows individuals (both full-time and adjunct faculty) to improve their position on our salary schedules. You will remember on this fall’s opening Professional Development Day that Chancellor Perez spoke about her belief in the importance of professional development and how she was directing the District to keep on supporting it even in this tough economic year. Well, our contract also reflects the District’s desire for faculty to continue to expand their knowledge, skills, and experiences; there are several ways you could be rewarded for doing such.

In my own case, I got a 2.35% ($2,244/yr) raise via executing a professional development plan (described in Article 10.2.2 and at the bottom of Appendix C-1) that allowed me to advance from step 12 to step 14 on the full-time salary schedule. (If I teach for 13 more years, I have increased my earnings by over $29,000.) Although there are a variety of ways one could earn credit (Article 10.3), my plan simply involved completing nine units of computer related coursework at SJCC. (Note: district classes are completely free to faculty [Article 4.11]). Aside from the newly acquired computer skills, it was fascinating to again adopt the student perspective; and I am implementing some changes in my own teaching from all those experiences. This specific article is designed for more senior full-time faculty and it requires coordination with the Professional Recognition Committee (PRC). Step 17 (another 2.35% raise) is next for me.

Younger full-time faculty and adjunct faculty do not have the opportunity to advance through professional development salary steps on their salary schedules. However, both groups can vastly improve their salaries by moving across the salary schedules (across classes e.g. from Class III-Class IV) as described in Articles 8.9 and 9.8. These articles are specifically directed at individuals placed in Classes II through V. There are a number of ways to earn credit, including: graduate courses, undergraduate courses, non-academic experiences, Learning Communities, and Service Learning.

Lastly, individuals who simply want to take classes for professional growth can earn $175 per semester unit or the equivalent up to a maximum of six units within any three year period. Professional growth opportunities are out there and rewarding in many different ways. Seize them.