FACULTY SPEAK OUT ON NEED FOR PT FACULTY HEALTH CARE & PAID PARENTAL LEAVE AT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

AFT’s negotiators have made virtually no significant progress in contract bargaining due to the District’s flat refusal to show any movement on the following union proposals:

  • Quality, affordable healthcare plans for part-time instructors: AFT has proposed that part-timers with loads of 40% or more get access to medical, dental, and vision benefits equivalent to those offered to full-timers.
  • Paid parental leave: AFT has proposed a month of paid parental leave before new parents must use sick days or take leave at partial pay.
  • A clear disability accommodations process, including the requirement that the District give a status update on requests for accommodation within 30 days of receiving them.
  • A provision on remote work that gives all faculty the option to work up to 50% of their hours remotely.

Faculty members spoke out at the SMCCCD Board of Trustees meeting on Wed., Oct. 26, to call for the district to provide healthcare plans for part-time faculty and for paid parental leave.  California Federation of Teachers (CFT) President Jeff Freitas attended the meeting to support AFT 1493’s contract proposals. Watch the presentations to the below:

CFT President Jeff Freitas speaks in support of AFT 1493’s contract proposals

 

Shaun Perisho, Skyline College psychology professor, speaks on the need for paid parental leave

 

Sue Hwang, CSM ESL professor, speaks on the need for paid parental leave

 

Suji Venkataraman, Skyline College ECE professor, speaks on the need for healthcare for part-time faculty

 

Salumeh Eslamieh, Cañada College English professor, reads comments by her colleague Kiran Malavade on the need for part-time faculty health benefits

 

Alex Kobayashi, aide to State Senator Josh Becker, speaks in support of AFT 1493’s contract proposals

 

Rosa Shields, San Mateo County Labor Council rep, speaks in support of AFT 1493’s contract proposals

 

Dozens of faculty colleagues showed their support for the speakers:


(photo credit: Howard Gelman)


(photo credit: Howard Gelman)