Allan Hancock Part-Timers Vote for Union Representation

by D. J. Brasket

AFTER MORE THAN two years of struggle, part-time faculty instructors at Allan Hancock College, in California, won union representation by an overwhelming majority. Of the 315 part-timers who voted, 84 percent supported representation by the Communication Workers of America (CWA).

Although part-timers began organizing for union representation in 1997, they spent more than a year working toward inclusion in the full-time faculty union. Many full-time instructors supported
the inclusion of part-time faculty, but a few were vigorously opposed, stalling inclusion long enough for part-timers to realize that belonging to the full-time faculty unit would not be in
their best interest. Even the full-timers who supported inclusion, it turned out, could not support such important part-timer issues as pro-rata pay, seniority rights, and preference for full-time hiring. In addition, many full-time faculty opposed appointing three part-timers to serve on the eight-member Executive Board, and some feared giving part-time instructors a full vote (the ratio of part-time to full-time faculty at the college is currently 3:1).

This is when the Part-time Faculty Organizing Committee–led by Debbie Brasket, Chuck Bailey, Robert Yoshioka, Stephen Wise, and Ralph Sutter–decided to form a separate bargaining unit and
began union “shopping.” The group subsequently selected the Communication Workers.

Once affiliated with the Communication Workers of America, things moved very quickly, despite some initial opposition by District officials. For example, officials opposed having part-time and full-time faculty in separate bargaining units. Officials also opposed the inclusion of noncredit faculty in the new part-time faculty bargaining unit.. However, officials subsequently withdrew
their opposition and recognized the new part-time faculty bargaining unit at Allan Hancock College.

Part-timers are now looking forward to negotiating their first contract. Collective bargaining priorities for this first contract are increased wages, seniority rights, preference for full-time
hiring, paid office hours and office space, medical benefits, and an improved pension plan. The new union also looks forward to developing Excellence in Teaching and Outstanding Service awards for part-time faculty.