As many of you know, our lecturer colleagues—who teach over 30% of undergraduate student credit hours on this campus—have been bargaining for a new contract with UC for almost two years, and they have been working without a contract for more than one year. Their demands are basic, including 1) job stability provisions that reflect their qualifications and performance and 2) compensation that aligns with their training, experience, and contributions to the university (at present, the median annual salary within their bargaining unit is $19,067 and often they are not compensated for their service work). Here is a chart that lays out AFT’s positions in greater detail.
The Santa Cruz Faculty Association (SCFA) supports our lecturer colleagues in their fight for a fair contract—we know UCSC would not be able to carry out the University’s mission without their contributions—and we are writing to you to let you know that the best way Senate faculty can help our non-Senate faculty colleagues is to show our solidarity at their upcoming bargaining session on Friday, February 26.
Senate Faculty are organizing across the system to show up at this zoom bargaining session in large numbers, and the SCFA is working to turn out a large contingent. Introductions at the beginning of bargaining are the best time for us to show the full Senate presence and our solidarity, so we have been asked to attend from 1:45-2:30PM.
Can you attend? Here is the RSVP link AFT uses for bargaining: bit.ly/ucaftbargaining
Once you register at the above link, you will be sent the zoom link for February 26; the day of, the link will take you to AFT’s Community Room (it opens at 1:30pm that day) where everyone gathers prior to receiving the link to the bargaining session. There, AFT provides more information about what is to come at the start of bargaining.
The bargaining sessions themselves are fascinating, and you can stay as long as you like, but the show of solidarity will occur at the start and requires nothing from you beyond showing up and being counted as a Senate faculty member.