The Yosemite Faculty Association (YFA) had seen enough. Thus both Modesto Junior College and Columbia Community College faculty went on strike against the Yosemite Community College District, November 27th and 28th of 2018.

After 86% of faculty voted with 89.7% favoring a strike, the YFA called for the two-day walkout. The YFA had been attempting to obtain a fair and equitable contract for more than three years. As far back as March, 2018, the YFA and the District had declared an Impasse.

The District played its hand and attempted to break the faculty union. However, the teachers would have none of it and the YFA filed an Unfair Labor Practice with the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB).

Incredibly the District threatened to fire faculty for exercising their right to engage in lawful union job actions. The District also was guilty of regressive bargaining as in early November its new contract offer featured less money than it had proposed in its “last, best, and final offer.”

The District’s “bad faith” incensed the faculty–paid 22.3% below the median salaries at comparable campuses. The District also attempted an increase in class sizes.

In late December, a Fact Finding Report found that salary steps should be reduced from 30 to 25 which would give faculty a 2% increase. While not raising Yosemite faculty salaries to the median of comparable colleges, the report did recommend a 2% increase back to July 1, 2017, another 2% July 1, 2018, and a 4% raise immediately.

After weeks of more negotiations, in early January the YFA settled with the Yosemite District.

According to the YFA website, total effective pay increases are between 10.37% and 11.23% depending on step and column of individual faculty. Also, a one-time only 1% ÒbonusÓ was granted faculty. Another victory allows significant reductions in English faculty workload so that composition classes will be 25% of a faculty load.

What is the take home message? Yosemite faculty stood their ground and refused to buckle in the face of some pretty nasty bare knuckle tactics by the District. Just like the Los Angeles K-12 teachers, you don’t get what you deserve unless you fight for it. PCCFA salutes the faculty at Modesto and Columbia Colleges.

Well done, Yosemite Faculty Association!