Staying Strong at the Bargaining Table and Beyond
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Now, more than ever, community college faculty need to stay vigilant as we face challenges that threaten us. These challenges have come in the form of legislation that impact course offerings and have a direct effect on faculty salaries, hours, and working conditions.
Prohibitions on repeatability are decimating our arts and performance programs, leading to lower enrollment at our colleges. AB 705, which eliminates the requirement that students take remedial classes, have already resulted in class cancellations. Adjunct faculty have been disproportionately affected by cuts in course sections.
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In Unity,
Joanne Waddell
AFT 1521 President
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Guild Passes Unanimous ‘No Confidence’ Vote in Trustee Svonkin
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The Guild Executive Board at its February meeting unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in LACCD Board of Trustee member Scott Svonkin, who will be up for re-election in November 2020. If Svonkin declares his candidacy, the Guild is asking potential supporters to withhold their endorsements.
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Adjunct Faculty News
Kathy Holland and Ken Taira, AFIC co-chairs
Adjunct Faculty Issues Committee
Hello Adjuncts!
We hope that your semester is going well. The Adjunct Faculty Issues Committee (AFIC) is working hard on your behalf. Coming soon will be survey for those of us adjuncts who teach Dual Enrollment classes. The purpose is to formulate some Guild language that will strengthen our work environment when teaching in locations off campus.
Your AFIC co-chairs are available should you have any questions regarding EDD unemployment issues. This is a free service that we are happy to provide to all Guild members. Not a member? Contact us or go to the website,
www.aft1521.org
for an online membership form.
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Important Changes to FSA and HRA Accounts
Your Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) are transitioning from WageWorks to a new system administered by ConnectYourCare. Make note of the timelines and instructions for these important changes:
Claim Timelines
- The last day to submit claims to WageWorks is April 15, 2019 (You will not be able to use your HRA/FSA card from April 16, 2019 – April 30, 2019.)
- Beginning May1, 2019 you will submit all FSA claims to ConnectYourCare for expenses incurred after January 1, 2019
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FACCC Conference in Sacramento
Guild faculty and students had an opportunity to hear from top decision makers on policy and budget, share ideas and strategies with colleagues and lobby their legislators at the
Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC) Advocacy & Policy Conference March 3-4 in Sacramento.
Pictured are California State Senator Connie Leyva (center) with AFT 1521 student interns, faculty, and student intern coordinators.
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The LACCD Job Fair on March 2 at Trade Tech College drew approximately 700 participants, including adjunct faculty and members of the community interested in applying for full-time job openings at District colleges. The District is in the process of hiring about 90 full-time faculty this spring.
The Faculty Guild presented two workshops – “Get the Job” covered the process of applying, writing a succinct cover letter, interviewing, and the teaching demonstration. “The Department Chair Panel” gave participants insight on what chairs look for when hiring faculty.
For materials from the “Get the Job” session, go to our website,
www.aft1521.org
, then click on the Adjunct Faculty tab and scroll down to Employment Resources.
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(L-R) Guild members who serve as department chairs - Joe Guerrieri (Trade), Christine Park (City), Bill Elarton-Selig (Trade), Deirdre Wood McDermott (Trade), and Ron Mossler (Valley) - participated in a
panel discussion on what chairs look for when hiring full-time members for their departments.
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Scholarships Available! Tell Your Students!
AFT 1521 is offering several $1,000 scholarships to students who meet the criteria. The deadline for applying is Friday, April 19 for the two AFT 1521 Foundation Scholarships and Monday, April 29 for the nine AFT 1521 campus scholarships. The awards are funded by the Guild’s allocation to Good & Welfare and by contributions to the AFT Foundation and endowed scholarships established by the families of former Guild activists.
For information and applications, go to
www.aft1521.org
and click on the Scholarships tab.
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Motions Passed
Motions Passed by the Guild Executive Board January 15, 2019
Approve MOU granting a paid day in-lieu-of-assignment to honor the Day-of-Mourning for former President George H. W. Bush.
Sponsor Miguel Santiago’s bill, AB 2, making the second year of community college fee-free.
Contribute $1,000 to Trustee Andra Hoffman for her 2020 campaign for the LACCD Board of Trustees.
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