Good Adjuncts:

I can’t speak for what others are doing on this day, but this is what we’re organizing locally.

At San Diego Mesa College we’ll be doing a pre-event lecture on the “History of Adjunctification,” which will be in Room H-117-8 from 2:30-4:00 PM, Tuesday, February 23rd.

On Wednesday, February 24th we (AFT1931) will hold a rally in from of the LRC from 10:00-11:00 AM.

In particular we will speak to:

1. The need to extend the Progressive tax provision for Proposition 30
2. The passage of AB 1690, an adjunct job security identical to last year’s AB1010
3. Increasing next year’s proposed COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) beyond the proposed .47%
4. The passage of a local minimum-wage ordinance in San Diego which would raise the minimum wage to $11.50/hr.
5. Amending AB 340 to include reporting on the effects of adjunctification on the campus learning environment

We will be circulating petitions calling for a Prop 30 extension and letters calling for the Governor to support AB 1690.

As for Southwestern College, there will be an SCEA rally in front of the Associated Students Center from 12:00-1:00 which will speak to the same items as the rally at Mesa.

Before some adjunct activists out there complain about not demanding more, or not walking out…

1) Understand it is has been, is, and will always be our contention that for the “adjunct crisis” to end that there must be:

A)  Adjunct-Full Time Pay Equity as it regards their identical duties

B)  That the ratio of full-time to adjunct employees be reversed to 75/25, as mandated by California Law, AB1725.

C)  That adjuncts be provided with safe and adequate space where they can prepare their classes and meet with students.

D) That equivalent to full-timers, adjuncts are encouraged to and properly compensated/credited for professional development.

E) That adjuncts working at a given institution long-term have realistic opportunities to gain or be converted to full-time status at that institution.

2) Because a walkout constitutes an illegal activity in violation of the CBA it has with a college, no union can call for a walkout.  As a union exec. rep, I cannot call for a walkout. I will say however, that I personally support whatever non-violent actions others choose to take, and I stand in the way of no one on this count.

3)  Some adjuncts have asked why we support an increase in the minimum wage, or would call for it on “adjunct’s day.”  First of all, there are some community colleges in which instructors, after their “true” work hours are figured in, make less. Second, many adjuncts who work second jobs, like as wait staff, would benefit.  Further, our students (you know, the people we are actually here for), struggle and make terrible wages doing jobs on the same campus.  They deserve better.  Moreover, when more students can afford to go to school, it means more work for adjuncts.  Finally, as adjuncts, it’s important that if we want social and economic justice for ourselves that we extend it to others.

Now, see our wonderful posters below, then get out there and agitate.

Geoff Johnson

A “Good” Adjunct

History of Adjunctification

Adjunct Action Day Rally Poster

SCEA Poster Adjunct Action Day