At the April 26 SMCCCD Board of Trustees meeting, AFT members read some of the dozens of comments faculty members wrote explaining how the lack of fair faculty wages and benefits impacts us and our students, and why we need a fair contract now!
Watch the comments made at the Board meeting:
Read a sample of the more than 100 comments AFT 1493 received from faculty about how the lack of fair faculty wages and benefits impacts us and our students, and why we need a fair contract now:
- From a part-time faculty member in STEM:
“It’s always a struggle for adjunct faculty to achieve a decent salary in such an expensive area like the Bay Area. Most of us have to be driving around long distances several days per week to make it to an affordable pay rate, which takes time away from teaching preparedness and creates a stressful life for us. On top of that, many part time faculty members have only basic medical insurance, which add to the burden of a salary that doesn’t match the economic inflation we are continuously going through. We deserve better than that.”
- From a full-time faculty member in language arts:
“I’ve never seen morale among faculty as low as it is now. Faculty are exhausted from the pandemic, and feel disrespected by our district. We’ve gone 10 months without a contract, living in one of the most expensive areas in the state, with cost of living continuing to rise.
Our instructional adjuncts deserve parity. Our part-time faculty deserve healthcare, and our district still refuses to provide it, even now that the state is offering to foot the bill. It’s disgusting that trustees can enjoy district-provided health coverage, but refuse to offer access to healthcare to the majority of our faculty.
This is not about money. Our district is one of the wealthiest in California. There’s money for construction, for bloated administrative salaries and for free college. What about educators? Without educators, there’s no educational institution.
It’s high time our Board got their priorities straight and stop paying lip service to social justice and equity.”
- From a part-time counselor:
“Due to increased housing costs, many of us commute and make many sacrifices to stay at SMCCD. Students report that it is the faculty and staff and make our district different. It is important for us to be treated fairly and with respect. It really is different to work for a district that shows you appreciation. For many of us this is not just work, it’s a mission and purpose.”
- From a full-time faculty coordinator:
“I’m most concerned about wages keeping up with inflation and part-time parity. Regarding the latter, we’re losing outstanding adjunct faculty colleagues to neighboring districts that pay more fairly. Please support faculty in fulfilling our life’s work: inspiring students to achieve their goals!”
- From a full-time faculty member in language arts:
“Many full time and part time faculty are struggling to meet cost of living expenses in the Bay Area under our current contract terms, which compromises the quality of education we can provide. You can help us all make a difference!”
- From a full-time faculty member in professional programs:
“Adjuncts need fair treatment and benefits! There’s no reason for a professor to have to work at three campuses; this is not the best for faculty or students.”
- From a full-time faculty member in language arts:
“I don’t understand why the district is not negotiating in good faith with our union. We all need the security and stability of a fair contract, faculty and administrators alike. Please show up.”
- From a full-time faculty member in social sciences:
“Please expedite the process.”
- From a full-time faculty member in social sciences:
“If only our district truly appreciated the work that faculty do for students! So sad and continually disappointing!”
- From a part-time faculty member in STEM:
“I also work at Peralta where Adjuncts receive parity pay and will be receiving healthcare. How can we expect anyone to take us seriously when we talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, while we work under such an inequitable labor system?”
- From a part-time faculty member in professional programs:
“The district’s priority should be to promote the quality of teaching and learning in the community. This can only be possible when faculty are supported with a fair contract.”
- From a full-time counselor:
“It’s hard to live and provide for your family on a faculty’s salary. We need raises and wages that compete with inflation, the rising costs of rent and home prices. I would love to buy a house one day for my family but I am unable to with the salary schedule we currently have and low raises we receive. It should not be this hard to provide those on the ground who are working hard to support student success, the raise we need to live comfortable and happily so we can do the WORK. It’s not fair to us who are the backbone of providing courses to our students. We feel neglected and not important. DO THE RIGHT THING ASAP for us!!! Thank you.”
- From a full-time faculty member in social sciences:
“Faculty do not want a pay cut in relation to inflation, including rising health care costs. Please negotiate in good faith.”
- From a part-time faculty member in creative arts:
“Cost of living wage increases are an important part of a healthy faculty and staff. If we can afford to live in the area, we can afford to continue offering the best teaching we can do.”
- From a part-time faculty member in business:
“Let’s stop treating our adjunct faculty like second-class citizens! Their many contributions to students both inside and outside the classroom have built educational success across the district.”
- From a full-time faculty member in STEM:
“The enrollments in community colleges are dropping and one reason for that is – good professors are leaving or not accepting jobs at community colleges. If you want to retain the talent then, paying faculty by industry standards is crucial. Or in other words, if you yourself eventually want salary increases, you need to give a fair contract now so that the enrollments are not negatively affected. Lower enrollments will eventually affect your salaries too. Our futures are intertwined.”
- From another full-time faculty member in STEM, who wrote a single word as their comment:
“Inflation.”
- From a full-time faculty member in social sciences:
“Faculty working conditions are student learning conditions. We work hard to support our students – it’s time for the district to support us!”
- From a part-time faculty member in creative arts:
“We hope you will join the other 10 progressive chancellors in California that supported health care for their part-time faculty.
As you know, our colleges are also far behind in parity.
We hope you will honor your commitment to the hard working Part Time faculty.
We appreciate your efforts on our behalf.”
- From a full-time counselor:
“The pool of job applicants keeps dwindling. Let’s keep the faculty and staff that we have and attract great candidates by keeping up with the cost of living. Many of us commute long distances because we cannot afford to live in San Mateo County. These concerns will only get worse in the future. Pay cuts are not an option unless you are looking for mass exit of talented and committed individuals.”
- From a full-time faculty member in professional programs:
“Our salaries should reflect our level of commitment to our students, our college and our community.”
- From a full-time faculty member in STEM:
“Cost of living is rising and our wages are not rising at the same rate!”
- From a part-time faculty member in language arts:
“We need a fair contract. We need full medical coverage. It is imperative we get what we deserve, a fair contract.”
- From a full-time faculty member in language arts:
“We need to be able to live and raise our families in the community we serve for this to truly be ‘the community’s college.’”
- From a full-time faculty member in business:
“We hope it is not only lip service that faculty are crucial to our community and that will be demonstrated in important ways that affect our lives!”
- From a full-time faculty member in language arts:
“We are making reasonable demands in our contract campaign. We need you to support our core goals.”
- From a full-time faculty member in social sciences:
“Show the public that you acknowledge and support public education by giving SMCCCD faculty members the contract that they need and deserve. Break the cycle of past hypocrisy.”
- From a full-time faculty member in professional programs:
“Faculty are not paid adequately for the time we give day and night to assist students in the learning process. Although I have taught longer than anyone in this district, I work longer hours than I ever have. I love the process of teaching and learning and do not complain, but I know that I am not paid a fair wage. I spoke to two very young employees at Kaiser recently who make as much as I do. They are probably 25 years old in support positions, got their training at Cañada and now have a salary like mine after my lifetime career in education.”
- From a full-time faculty member in allied health:
“As faculty we need your support with our request for a fair contract in order for us to provide the support our students. The cost of living in the Bay Area is too high and faculty deserves fair wages.”
- From a former part-time faculty member:
“I had the privilege of being an adjunct faculty member in our district for almost 5 years. I truly love teaching and wish I could sustain myself with just adjunct work; however, it’s not possible financially.”
- From a part-time faculty member in STEM:
“Part-time work is underpaid and on top of that we do not get insurance. The resources and compensation reflects on the education we offer to students. We are only asking what is fair—which is fair compensation to meet inflation rates and health insurance.”
- From a part-time librarian:
“We live and work in an expensive area and need to be able to afford it!”
- From a full-time faculty member in professional programs:
“The District needs to take responsibility for the stalled negotiations and take action to resolve this issue.”
- From a full-time faculty member in language arts:
“Please direct your negotiators to offer faculty a fair contract now. Please use your leadership to guide the District negotiations team in the right direction!”
- From a full-time faculty member in professional programs:
“Dear Board of Trustees – our district is in good shape financially. Please consider paying faculty what we are worth. If that is too much of a hardship, please look at the bloated administration at the college and district levels and consider paying them less. Just a thought…”
- From a part-time faculty member in creative arts:
“The cost of living is way up in every category! Help us keep pace!”
- From another part-time faculty member in creative arts:
“Inflation and fairness. Adjuncts work hard.”
- From a full-time faculty member in language arts:
“Please negotiate in good faith with AFT for a fair faculty contract. The District has enough money to provide better wages and improved healthcare. Keep your team happy and show you care!”
- From a FT faculty member in ASLT:
“Happy faculty = happy students. Faculty work hard and care deeply for our students. Our commitment to students and staying on top of our craft to meet their needs has been proven ten-fold, particularly over the past three years. Support our faculty with settling a fair contract so that we can continue to do the work!!!”
- From a FT faculty member in Language Arts:
“Last year, because of the ending of COVID work from home stipends, I made LESS money than the year before, while facing increased healthcare, housing, food, and gas costs. We deserve a fair wage increase that goes above the rising cost of living. You asked us to step up for you and our students during Covid — to go above and beyond –and now we are asking you to treat us with respect.”
- From a FT faculty member in Language Arts:
“It has been difficult for educators and students to teach and learn during the last three years of the COVID pandemic. And many of our students are struggling with their mental health or emotional health. Educators are still dedicated to supporting our student population because we care about them. But we need administrative leaders to care about educators, so we can also be healthy and supported during these difficult years. It is much more difficult to teach now due to the effects that the pandemic has had on our student population.”
- From a FT faculty member in Social Science:
” Please approve a fair contract. As a faculty member, we are instrumental in cultivating the next generation of leaders, teachers, creatives, and entrepreneurs. I urge you all to approve a fair contract to continue to serve our students and community.”
- From a FT faculty member in Language Arts:
“I don’t understand why the District won’t invest in the well-being of its faculty. My rent has been raised twice over the life of our current contract–up 17 percent. I am starting to feel abandoned by the District. We are being asked to do more and more for our students–online teaching, hybrid teaching, dual enrollment teaching–but we are getting less and less support from the District.
“Give us a fair contract so we can continue to live in this area to serve our students!!!! We deserve a fair contract that reflects our hard work and dedication. Please show us you value your faculty.”
- From a full-time faculty member in professional programs:
“Students come first and what better way to insure students are the highest priority than to negotiate in good faith and be willing to agree on a fair and equitable contract. Supporting faculty IS supporting students.”
- From a full-time counselor:
“I know you care. I know you support us. Please continue advocating for us.”
- From a PT faculty member in ECE:
“The district’s priority should be to promote the quality of teaching and learning in the community. This can only be possible when faculty are supported with a fair contract. Both adjunct faculty and staff here.
- From a FT faculty member in ASLT:
“We have consistently been asked to go above and beyond for our students with new initiatives but little basic support. Costs of living continue to rise, and yet we are always being asked to do more for less. In order to continue giving our best, we must have support. Otherwise, we will lose more than high quality employees — we will lose the very students who the district claims to support and serve. Do the right thing! Supporting a fair contract, in turn, supports our students and ensures our district’s future!”
- From a PT faculty member in KAD:
“To Whom It (Hopefully) Concerns,
Through stressful COVID, OUR adjunct faculty, who are already among OUR lowest paid while UN-benefited employees, were the ONLY SMCCCD employees who experienced SUDDEN and TRAUMATIC job loss, wage loss, increased workload, decreased IT support and increased responsibility for our precious students!
Remember that part about “students first” in OUR BOT mission statement? I personally helped HUNDREDS of anxious students, in fear and mourning, crying for relief from isolation during COVID. WE faculty held to our commitment to thousands of students despite our own personal COVID struggles and financial hardships, such as CLASS CANCELLATIONS! Adjunct faculty received ZERO District moral support, ZERO District financial relief. It was living hell. In STARK CONTRAST, through COVID, already-wealthy and financially secure Administrators were generously provided job security, wage and benefit increases and workload decreases.
PLEASE… (Re-) READ your BOT statement “Reaffirmation of Core Values” as the Employment Philosophies subscribe to: Equal treatment and fairness. KARMA roughly means “action.”
It’s time for our wealthy SMCCCD Administrators to take action NOW! It’s time for our ELECTED BOT to hold to their fiduciary duty NOW! It’s time to CHOOSE to be good human beings and agree to a fair contract! It’s a karmic win win!
Your consideration to take Right Action Now is deeply appreciated.”
- From a PT faculty in ASLT:
“We paid almost $1 million for two chancellors, one of whom was indicted and you cannot find the decency to provide faculty, especially part/time faculty, a contract we deserve. The state has provided funding for part-time parity and healthcare. How can you make claims of equity for our students when there’s no equity for those of us in the classroom. You are a wealthy basic aid district. It’s time to honor the classroom by honoring the equity that all of us in the campus community deserve.”
- From a FT faculty member in Language Arts:
“We have not had a raise in years, and inflation has us earning about 11% less than in 2020. We are underpaid for this area. If you do not start fairly compensating faculty, you will lose great teachers! Fair faculty compensation is part of Students First!”
- From a PT faculty member in Language Arts:
“Access to quality healthcare would be transformational for my family. As an adjunct faculty with a deep focus on anti-racism and equity for my students, I am asking that my district consider equity for me and my adjunct colleagues.”
- From a FT faculty member in STEM:
“Faculty are having to commute from many miles away due to not being able to afford housing in the area. We need to be able to afford to live in the community we serve!”
- From a PT faculty member in Creative Arts:
“If the district wishes to attract high quality faculty who will become part of our community and remain in our area, then pay and benefits need to be sufficient to LIVE in the Bay Area and buy a house. Wages are currently insufficient for both tenured faculty and part time faculty. This is embarrassing. Compared to other parts of California we are falling behind and not keeping up with inflation.”
- From a PT faculty member in STEM:
“San Mateo County has the money. Please value the work of your colleagues. Your generosity will mean the world to faculty families who are just trying to make a living in the Bay Area.”
- From a PT faculty member in Language Arts:
With the state’s $200M allocation, the District will not lose, and may even save money, by offering health care coverage to part-time faculty. In an area where many adjuncts struggle to pay living expenses and build a dignified life, we need you to commit to being a humane employer!
- From a FT faulty member in Language Arts:
” If only our district truly appreciated the work that faculty do for students! So sad and continually disappointing.”
- From a FT faculty member in Social Science:
“Foot-dragging on a contract that should have been settled almost a year ago is bad enough, but failing to act to get health insurance to adjuncts when the State has already agreed to foot the bill? During a PANDEMIC that is still killing people? This is beyond unconscionable– it is downright evil.”
- From a PT faculty member in Language Arts:
“The SMCCCD Board of Trustees is an elected body with a duty to live up to the district’s mission: Trustees must respond to faculty proposals for equitable campuses by negotiating in good faith. We should not be out of contract EVERY TIME our contract is up for renewal!”
- From a FT faculty member in Counseling:
“Throughout my years with the district, we have never once had a faculty contract that was negotiated in good faith and in a timely manner. Let’s try to get on track.”
- From a FT faculty member in STEM:
“In spite of having a very healthy budget and requiring faculty to step up to the Covid challenges and aftermath with more work, the district continues to undervalue its faculty as indicated by their current pay proposal. This resistance, paired with the current economic climate of inflation, directly harms our faculty, making it harder to do our jobs and support our students. Please negotiate a new contract in good faith and let our faculty do their jobs and earn a living wage!”
- From a PT faculty member in Social Science:
We need to be fair with PT faculty. PT teachers are paid minimal pay and many will lose their houses and stop taking medications they need to survive. It is shame for a rich district to treat their students and faculty with contempt and exploitation.
- From a FT faculty member in Counseling:
“Again, the District has not prioritized a fair contract with AFT. Again, an agreement is months overdue. It is hard to believe that this is about the money. Still, the district is offering a net pay cut, even in light of current inflation. The lack of a contract after all of these months gives the appearance of stonewalling. Give us a fair contract now!”
- From a PT faculty member in STEM:
“Other Basic Aid districts are agreeing to use state funding to provide paid healthcare for their PT faculty. We PT instructors teach the same courses as full-time faculty, we hold office hours and counsel students, write letters of recommendation and give our students support on many levels. We deserve the basic human right of decent healthcare so that we can stay in this district and not look elsewhere.”
- From a PT faculty in ASLT:
“The faculty are what makes our colleges the top in the nation. Pay them a fair wage and provide benefits to further enrich students and the community!”
- From a FT faculty member in Social Science:
“The demands on faculty have only increased since the COVID crisis, the accompanying mental health crisis, and the switch to online learning. Despite this, our well-funded district is offering faculty what is essentially a pay cut. Even worse, adjunct faculty do not have affordable healthcare, even though adjunct faculty in neighboring districts like CCSF have employee-provided healthcare. How can faculty support our students equitably if we ourselves are not equitably supported?”
- From a FT faculty member in Language Arts:
“We need to spend money in the district on students, employees, and infrastructure. Students & employees deserve better.”
- From a PT faculty member in ASLT:
“With the cost of food, housing and healthcare on the rise, it is critical that those of us who work part-time obtain, and maintain, the resources necessary to continue living in the Bay Area. Caring for students as well as the individuals on the frontlines who support them should be a high priority.”