Faculty, College of the Canyons Reach Deal
After a nearly six-month negotiation
process which was delayed by an impasse, College of the Canyons and the
union representing all part-time and adjunct faculty at the college –AFT Local 6262–have reached a new two-year contract
agreement.
Included in the new deal will be a 5.5 percent compensation
increase for all COC part-time and adjunct faculty–retroactive
July 1, 2006–the establishment of a third step on the part-time/
adjunct pay scale and a total compensation increase of a cost-of-living adjustment plus .75 percent for the 2007-08 fiscal year.
Additionally the contract will create a new timetable for department chairs to schedule and distribute teaching assignments, establish regular meeting periods between union and college officials.
Although parameters for the new contract were agreed upon
in December, union officials had to wait until after the holidays
to receive member ratification. COC board members then officially approved the agreement at their February meeting.
“I think both groups are pleased with the outcome of the negotiation,” said Diane Fiero, vice president of human resources
at COC. “We were able to hammer out some tough issues and
come to a consensus.”
With the creation of the third step on the pay scale, part-time
and adjunct faculty members who have been teaching at the college for more than 12 semesters will receive a total pay increase
of roughly 8.5 percent.
“It’s a well-deserved raise and an obvious recognition of their
service. It recognizes the value of people’s long terms of service
to the district,” said AFT Local 6262 union President Michael
Ward, referring to the creation of the third pay step. “We came
up with a pretty good increase that I thought was fair. With everything going on around the state concerning teaching, it’s pretty
much on par with other areas.”
Another major issue of concern for union officials was the
inability for its members to file a grievance for any problems
that may arise in the assignment and scheduling process for part-time and adjunct employees.
In the months leading up to the agreement, Ward said the lack
of a grievance process left such employees with “little or no job
security.”
However, under the new contract, COC department heads must
send the list of “known, available course sections or other work
assignments” to employees no later than November 1st for the
following winter session and spring semester, and no later than
April 15 for the following summer session and fall semester.
Additionally a representative of the State Mediation and Conciliation Service will attend joint meetings between COC officials and AFT on or about May 1, 2007, and on or about November 15, 2007, to review and mediate any unresolved issues
between the two parties.
“So within the two years, if there are issues that come up, we
can sit down and talk about them without actually re-negotiating,” Fiero said.
Though not the official grievance process that AFT officials
had originally sought, Ward seemed to be satisfied with the new
procedures.
“I like the idea that someone from the state will be taking a
look at that, so that’s a good positive step,” Ward said. “Because
there are consistently problems that come up; having some kind
of third party positive oversight is definitely a good thing, so
we’re happy with it from that perspective.”
