Karina Gonzalez
I think we need to combine this story with Aaron’s
A total of $2 million will be spent to increase the pay of part-time instructors who teach 12- and 15-standard hour disciplines in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD).
On Thursday, Carl Friedlander, president of Local AFT 1521, made the announcement as the principle speaker at the monthly chapter meeting for the Pierce Faculty Guild which is one of ten faculty chapters which make up the AFT College Guild, Local 1521. AFT is the exclusive bargaining agent for full-time and part-time and faculty working in the nine colleges of the LACCD.
The money will go towards part-timers’ salaries who generally teach between 1 and 3 classes, according to Kathy Holland, executive board representative of the Pierce Faculty Guild and adjunct professor of political science. Full-timers generally teach 5 to 6 classes.
“The part-timers that will see this money are the ones who teach 12-hour and 15-hour subjects-such as English composition, literature, foreign languages, poli sci, sociology, philosophy, economics, history, chicano studies, law, administration of justice, business administration, psychology, accounting, anatomy, biology, geology, geography, anthropology, art, music, child development, health, journalism, etc. Basically, the 3-unit classes,” Holland said.
“A standard class, from a student’s point-of-view, is an academic class that transfers to a 4-year institution,” Holland said.
The $2 million will not be applied toward adjunct faculty who teach 18-hour disciplines such physical education and vocational programs such as auto tech, plumbing and nursing.
“The money will be distributed as a differential on the paychecks-meaning that it is an additional amount added to the paycheck above and in addition to the basic salary schedule,” Holland said.
“Absolutely!” Holland said, when asked if morale was getting better for part-timers who were receiving the raise. Because Holland teaches in the 15-hour realm, she will also receive some of that money.
Some of the faculty members who attended the luncheon were baffled by the complex orange handout that broke down all the calculations into different rows and columns.
“It’s an educational challenge explaining to our own listeners,” Friedlander said.
This is the first talk he has given regarding the extra $2 million. As president of the Local AFT 1521, his responsibility is to oversee work of unions at district colleges.
The decision was reached by the executive board, the governing body of AFT Local 1521, according to Dr. de Rubertis, chapter president of the Pierce Faculty Guild and professor of political science.
LACCD will provide the $2 million from its general revenue.
The extra $2 million is in addition to an across-the-board 4.6 percent salary increase for all part-time and full-time schedules which was supposed to be effective by July 1.
Mark “Marshall” Drummon, who recently replaced Darroch “Rocky” Young as chancellor, was supposed to attend but rescheduled to speak in February. -30-