CCSF Trustees Unanimously Pass Resolution to Rehire Laid Off Faculty

Dear City College Community,

It’s a new day for City College. As part of a grassroots movement for change, you–our community–worked together to propel three new City College Trustees to office in November, and very early Friday morning, we all got to see again why elections matter.

Susan Solomon and Anita Martinez’s Resolution to Rehire Laid Off Faculty (see here) passed unanimously, marking a new direction for our college. No longer will our leaders accept a downward cycle of cuts that leave the students of San Francisco behind. Meeting community demand–that again is our mission.

You can see AFT’s Media Release for the event here, watch video of the discussion and public comment here, and listen to Susan Solomon and student activist and Veteran Lawanda Liggons discussing this Resolution and its impact on our college tonight on KPFA here.

A huge thanks to all of the community allies and local leaders who joined students, staff, and faculty in speaking Thursday at the Board meeting in favor of this Resolution: Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC) Chair Honey Mahogany, SF Labor Council Executive Director Kim Tavaglione, DCCC Committee Member Gloria Berry, SF Firefighters Local 798 Secretary Adam Wood, California Federation of Teachers President Jeff Freitas, UESF President Cassondra Curiel, Harvey Milk Club Executive Board Member Sue Englander, and Chinese for Affirmative Action staff leaders Sally Chen & Crystal Van.

The decision to lay off 38 tenured and tenure track faculty one year ago meant that impacted departments this year were unable to add classes and services for students who needed them. From English as a Second Language to Computer Networking, vital City College programs turned away thousands of students this year–a travesty.

But this Resolution brings hope: it establishes the expectation that Chancellor David Martin will rehire laid off faculty as soon as possible and deliver a plan to do so at the next Board meeting June 22. We look forward to supporting the Board and the City College administration in implementing this plan. In the words of Board President Alan Wong, “This is a moment to redeem ourselves.”

It is a moment to build a college that is capable of meeting San Francisco’s demand for new skills, better jobs, and hope. As the union of City College’s teachers, counselors, and librarians, we’re all in.

AFT 2121