Less than two semesters after testing the waters, adjuncts at Union County College in New Jersey hauled in the prize, when on March 14 they voted 113 to 22 to be represented for collective bargaining by the New Jersey Federation of Teachers/AFT.

The Union County College Faculty Federation, a unit of about 300 part-time faculty, coalesced quickly around the need for salary improvements, health insurance, prorated fringe benefits and a voice in matters at the college that directly affect them. These range from timely notification of re-employment (administrators create schedules six months in advance, but don't share them until the last minute) to a reasonable parking policy (for employees who arguably are the most dependent on efficient parking).

The election at Union County is only the first of what the New Jersey State Federation of Teachers predicts will be a chain of victories, says NJSFT president Janet Cole. "There are 19 community colleges in New Jersey," she notes. At one, adjuncts have an independent representative. "We plan to represent the adjuncts at all 18." The state federation already bargains for five adjunct unions at Raritan Valley, Camden County, Middlesex County, Sussex County and Mercer County. Two more elections are scheduled before the end of the school year, at Hudson County and Passaic County community colleges.

A recent state analysis of adjunct faculty in the state's two-year and four-year institutions found a total of 9,000 adjuncts--more than half of whom are employed at the community colleges. The AFT represents most of the state college adjuncts who are in locals affiliated with the Council of New Jersey State College Locals.

The NJSFT is creating an adjunct community college council that will provide centralized services to the locals and serve as a lobbying force in the state capital. Right now, the CNJSCL is working with the state federation and the Legislature to pass a bill that would allow the adjuncts into the state healthcare system, which would be a significant breakthrough.

"We're a household word among adjuncts," says Mel Driban, the AFT national representative in New Jersey. "They know we're the only ones representing them." [Barbara McKenna]

 [April 3, 2003]