October 24, 2018

Dear Faculty,

It has come to the Faculty Association’s (FA) attention that the English Department is considering a curriculum redesign resulting from the passage of AB 705.  Furthermore, the FA understands that some of the proposed models include lab hours. We are writing to address two areas of concern: pay and process.

Regarding the issue of pay for lab hours, as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative for all faculty, the FA is responsible for negotiating wages.  Under the current contract, lab hours are paid at seventy-five percent (75%) of lecture load. Switching from lecture to lab would result in a loss of pay for the faculty. No matter how the administration spins this, it results in doing the same work for less pay. This is unacceptable.  

We have also heard that administration indicated that this shortfall could be made up with overload. Again, this cannot be guaranteed by anyone and would still result in a loss of pay for lab hours worked.  

Lastly, there is rumor of a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the above pay issues. This, however, is absolutely untrue. We do not have an MOU, nor have we met or discussed this issue at all with the administration.  However, we can and will meet with the administration, but that requires negotiations.

Regarding process: first, curricular changes, whether the elimination of courses or the adoption of new curricula, are the purview of the faculty.  The administration did eliminate courses and now is attempting to coerce the faculty into accepting a lab scheme, thereby cutting pay, rather than fixing the issue through negotiations.  Neither the division dean nor any other administrator, and definitely not a member of a different division, can require the English faculty to vote on any proposal whatsoever. This is the purview of the division faculty and only the division faculty.

In short, all faculty affected by AB 705 should carefully consider the ramifications of the law and determine the effective pedagogy for their programs. Concerns and issues regarding the effects of any changes on wages and working conditions should be brought to the FA in order that they may be addressed through negotiations prior to presenting a proposal to Curriculum & Instruction (C&I). Any other process borders on a violation of labor law.

To reiterate the above:  

1. There is no justification for the English Faculty to take any action regarding this issue.

2. To take the action presented would result in less pay for the same work.

3. There is no Memorandum of Understanding regarding this issue between the Faculty Association and the district.

Should the faculty determine that a change in curriculum is necessary, such new curriculum should not be presented to C & I prior to an execution of an MOU.  We hope this clears up any misunderstandings for the English Faculty.

Sincerely,

The FA Board