Part-time faculty seeking self-determination in California has won another important ruling from the state labor board.  On March 7, the California Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) ruled that the Victor Valley College administration violated state law by attempting to fold the 375-member adjunct faculty unit, which was organizing as the Victor Valley Part-Time Faculty United-AFT, into the existing full-time union, represented by the California Teachers Association.

In early 2002, adjunct faculty were in the midst of organizing themselves and were leaning toward AFT representation.  But the college administration attempted to force them into the full-time union, says AFT national representative Linda Cushing, and the adjuncts, through AFT and the California Federation of Teachers, filed an unfair labor practice charge against the college. 

The adjuncts at College of the Canyons faced an almost identical predicament last year.  The COC administration made an effort to absorb the part-timers into the existing full-time union, the CTA/NEA, shortly after the part-timers had affiliated with the AFT, a card campaign and scheduled an election.

The PERB ruled Jan. 8, 2003, that Victor Valley College's actions unlawfully influenced employees’ right to select their representative in violation of state education labor law.  (The college is appealing that ruling.)

Now, with roadblocks removed at Victor Valley, adjuncts are in a vigorous campaign for a representation election. [Brooke Boeglin]

[March 28, 2003]