Attaining SRP

by Shari Sharoki, EVC Adjunct Instructor-Philosophy

In this economy, life becomes harder for everyone and instructors, who are usually over-worked and under paid, are no exception. It is not hard to imagine how difficult things might be for Adjunct faculty today. I have been teaching philosophy, as a part time faculty, at EVC since fall 2007. Enjoying my work and having good relationship with my students and people at the Department, I have gladly accepted the offer to teach two classes, meaning taking 40% load.

After teaching two consecutive semesters at 40% with positive evaluations, I was offered another 40% load to move into my third consecutive semester. It was around that time that I realized, for the first time, that I was on my way to attain SRP status. Knowing about the budget crisis at the state level affecting all community colleges, I was glad to be at a relatively more secure status. Unfortunately, things did not go the way I expected. Fewer courses were offered, due to the lack of funding, and other faculties with higher seniority ended up teaching more courses than usual. Suddenly, I was “bumped” and could not teach a 40% load. In a usual circumstance, something like this may not be as drastic for an adjunct faculty, however, the fact that my chance of becoming SRP vanished, at least for a while, made the situation harder for me than just loosing half of my income. I needed to teach three consecutive semesters with 40% load in order to be qualified, and right when I could get there everything shattered.

Being disappointed and having no hope at the time, I turned to the only person who offered her ears to listen to my story, Barbara Hanfling, Executive Director of the Faculty Union. I have always admired the work of AFT members from the distance. As a part time teacher, however, I have never felt that my problems and issues could be taken seriously.

Despite my expectation, I have received email from Barbara on a regular basis in which she has offered her time to listen to any faculty member, full time or part time. Barbara’s emails were consistent and always encouraging. So, I decided to see her and share my story with her. Sure enough, she not only listened carefully to my story and made a couple phone calls right away, but also she has followed my case during the summer holiday.

As the result of her hard work and persistence, my case has been discussed in an official meeting on Wed June 10^th in which an agreement and understanding between the Union and the District regarding the Seniority Rehire Preference (SRP) issue in my case has been reached. I am very pleased to see that they reach agreement on this issue that is very important to me. For that, I am thankful to all the members present in that meeting especially Barbara Hanfling.

FA, AFT 6157 Meets with Adjunct Faculty

by Jess Votaw, SJCC Adjunct Representative

The Faculty Association, AFT 6157 held an informational meeting with adjunct faculty on Thursday October 22^nd at SJCC. The meeting was held in the Adjunct Offices of San Jose City College located in GE119. The standing room only crowd was one of the largest gatherings of adjunct faculty for a union meeting within recent years. The FA, AFT 6157 President, David Yancey along with Barbara Hanfling, Executive Director of the FA, AFT 6157, discussed many issues of concern for adjunct starting with the state of the budget and its impact on adjunct faculty within the district. Many adjunct voiced concerns about the potential class schedule reductions and cuts. The sad fact is that these reductions result in silent layoffs of our adjunct faculty. While this may be an easy way for administrators to help balance their budget, the pain of job loss is no less for our adjunct.

The process of obtaining and retaining Seniority Rehire Preference (SRP) was reviewed for everyone’s benefit. Many in attendance at the meeting had earned SRP. In light of the uncertain economic climate, it was reinforced that once you have SRP, you would not lose it due to a subsequent class cut or even in the event that you weren’t offered the classes due to schedule reductions. Adjunct negotiator Jory Segal was also present and contributed to the discussion of adjunct rights and the negotiations process.

Other topics of discussion included how one may move across the salary schedule, and the recently passed legislation, AB381-State Disability Insurance. AB381 provides adjunct within community college districts the opportunity to collectively elect to participate in the State Disability Insurance Program. It is an all or nothing proposition in that adjunct would have to vote to require everyone’s participation to have state disability insurance premiums deducted from their pay. Some stories were shared as to how this could be beneficial for adjunct who are not covered by state disability insurance elsewhere.

It was great to see the sense of community and concern of our adjunct faculty who attended that meeting. There was also a meeting at EVC. We will continue to hold meetings once a semester at both colleges.