In this issue:

• After district has failed to offer fair proposals on pay, benefits or other issues, negotiations for a new faculty contract continue with a mediator
  
  Update on pay, benefit and other proposals, how the District’s current salary offer equals a pay cut and what faculty can do to win a contract we deserve
• District’s strong financial position could easily provide fair faculty and staff pay & benefit increases
  District revenues remain strong with healthy reserves, but they are failing to prioritize faculty and staff pay & benefits, as they reallocate funds elsewhere and continue to violate the 50% law
• The District wants Dual Enrollment: Do we?
  Faculty raise concerns with Board Member, but he and the District still strongly support increasing Dual Enrollment programs at high schools
• AFT 1493 reps attend CFT Leadership Conference
  
  AFT 1493 members Rika Yonemura-Fabian and Marianne Kaletzky attended the 2023 CFT Leadership Conference with Yonemura-Fabian speaking (above left) on the conference’s introductory plenary panel
• Problems claiming unemployment?  Help for adjunct faculty is available!
  Many adjuncts have experienced a wide variety of problems in trying to receive unemployment benefits from the California EDD. Learn how your local state legislator can help you.
• Remember to wear your AFT T-shirts every Wednesday until we win!
  
  Please support your AFT 1493 bargaining team as they work to negotiate a quality faculty contract that we all deserve. Wear your AFT t-shirts every Wednesday until we win!
• From the national American Federation of Teachers:
• Black history, Black future: A lifelong commitment
• Free online AFT student debt clinics – February 13, and 28
  New rules from the Department of Education have made Public Service Loan Forgiveness more accessible than ever for public service workers. The American Federation of Teachers will offer free, online student debt clinics on February 13, and February 28. Register here.