Joaquín Rivera, Chemistry Professor at Skyline College & AFT 1493 Past President, Vice President & Chief Negotiator

By Katharine Harer

I’ve worked with Joaquín in our faculty union since approximately 1995 – just about thirty years. When we first met, I was a rank-and-file member with a strong interest in getting involved in our union, and Joaquín was an up-and-coming young leader.  At one of the first few meetings I attended, the current union president and chief negotiator appeared to be “in bed” with the administration.  They were making deals with district administration without consulting with the Executive Committee of AFT, deals that weren’t in the best interest of faculty. Joaquín asked pointed questions of them, and I did too. They threw up their hands, announced they were leaving their position because we didn’t trust them, and walked out the door. AFT 1493 never saw them again.

Joaquín Rivera

As a result of that sudden loss of leadership, Joaquín and I stepped up as temporary Co-Presidents and we were later elected to a number of terms as Co-Presidents of the union. We also both served on the negotiating committee, Joaquín as Chief Negotiator and I as a “learner” indebted to Joaquín for teaching me the protocols and strategies of the art of negotiations.  

I’m an English and Creative Writing teacher, not a numbers person. I don’t remember how many terms we served together, but I do know how much our skills and backgrounds complemented one another.  Joaquín kept track of the numbers, had the memory of an elephant, and a great mind for tactics, while I took copious notes during negotiations, contributed to strategy sessions and carried out the majority of communications with members. Joaquín and I met often, as our buildings, 7 & 8 at Skyline, were adjoining. 

When a mentally unstable student began stalking me at my home, making middle of the night calls to me, and one day stood outside my office door screaming my name, Joaquín and I were inside in the middle of a union consultation. I called campus police to ask them to escort the student off campus. The student began hitting and kicking the campus policeman, and furniture in the outer office was flying.  Joaquín stayed with me the entire time, keeping me calm.  He was more than a union colleague.  Joaquín and I became good friends, in and out of school.  I attended his wedding to his husband, Joel, and continue to spend time with both of them.

Joaquín has given his wisdom, his vast experience and his countless skills to our union and to the betterment of faculty working conditions.  More than any one person I can think of, Joaquín Rivera has been a devoted and hard-working leader of AFT 1493.