English Student Message | Restoration Grievance | COPE Vote | Parking Requests

Posted on May 29, 2024 by AFT 2121

Student Perspective: Why I’m Speaking at Tomorrow’s Board Meeting for More English & Chemistry Classes

My name is Katherin Olivares. I am from Guatemala, and my dream is to become a Registered Nurse.

English 1A was my first experience taking credit classes and gave me tools that will be useful for all my future classes. It also opened the doors for me to continue with my education, and I had a great instructor who knew well how to guide me. The final module of my class about self-discovery was particularly impactful. By interviewing a healthcare professional, I gained inspiration for my final essay. This project allowed me to hone my writing and critical thinking skills while exploring a topic I am truly passionate about. All of this made English 1A a very enriching experience.

I would like all people who want or need to attend an English class to be able to do so without complications and have an experience as enriching as mine. I would also like to make the request that more science classes be opened, since this coming semester I was not able to get a spot in the chemistry class that I need to take.

AFT 2121 Has Filed a Formal Grievance Challenging the District’s STRS Deductions in your 21-22 Restoration Payments

Your union’s contract enforcement team has filed a formal grievance to address the District’s clear and unambiguous contract violation in deducting 10.25% from your restoration payments rather than the agreed upon 8 or 9%.

This was a win-win agreement that would have saved faculty money in their restoration payments and also saved the District an approximate $1 million. That money should have gone to the classroom.

Instead, the District chose to treat your restoration as a standard salary increase with a Defined Benefit rate rather than a supplemental payment with a lower deduction.

Under compensation section 4 of your new contract (see here), the matter is clear: “Faculty concessions made in the 2021/2022 fiscal year shall be returned in full, as a STRS Defined Benefit Supplement payment for faculty in the STRS Defined Benefit program.”

We urge District leaders to correct this mistake for the good of faculty and our college’s budget. See AFT’s formal Grievance here, and stay tuned for more.

COPE Endorsement Recommendations from 5/28 Meeting–Vote Now

As we near election season, now is the time to help decide your union’s position in three important races across San Francisco. The outcomes of these races will shape San Francisco’s policies on education, jobs, housing, transportation, Free City, and more! This election will impact all San Franciscans, but the stakes are especially high for our students, as these policies will directly impact their ability to meet their educational goals at City College. As faculty, we know firsthand the barriers that our students face and can support them by making our voices heard through our union’s endorsement process. Vote here today!

At yesterday’s COPE meeting, members in attendance made the following recommendations for endorsements:

1. San Francisco Mayor: A rank-choice endorsement of Aaron Peskin (#1) and Ahsha Safai (#2). COPE members also recommend giving each campaign the maximum contribution of $500. Both Peskin and Safai are labor-friendly candidates committed to advancing student and community-centered policies, by preserving access to public education and expanding other public services across the city.

2. District 3 Supervisor: A double endorsement of Sharon Lai and Moe Jamil. Lai and Jamil are community leaders in their district who believe in building community, fighting poverty, and improving conditions for immigrants and low-income residents. This supervisorial race directly impacts CCSF as District 3 is the home of CCSF’s Chinatown campus.

3. District 11 Supervisor: A rank-choice endorsement of Chyanne Chen (#1) and EJ Jones (#2). Both Chen and Jones have expressed deep commitment to the working-class families in their district. CCSF’s Ocean Campus neighbors District 11, and these candidates will both work to support and strengthen City College for the benefit of District 11 residents.

These elections are crucial to the success of City College and public education across the city. Your voice matters! Vote here!

Submit Parking Requests by June 6

Under your current contract, you are eligible for partial reimbursement of your 2023-2024 parking fees at the Chinatown, Mission, and Downtown Campus. See Mission form here, Chinatown form here, & Downtown form here for more details, and see your Parking Reimbursement Worksheet here.

Faculty members are eligible to have up to 50% of their parking costs reimbursed until the fund is depleted.
If there are not sufficient funds to pay for a 50% reimbursement, each faculty member participating in the program will receive the same (lesser) percentage reimbursement.
Only receipts for parking on assigned working days during the time the faculty member is actually working at the campus (Mission, Chinatown, & Downtown) will be eligible for reimbursement. You must list your teaching/work hours and submit receipts in chronological order for those items.

You have until Thursday, June 6, 2024 to return your original receipts, worksheets and spreadsheets. The recommended way to turn in is via USPS, mail to AFT 2121, PO Box 951595, San Francisco, CA 94159. You can also send via campus mail to AFT 2121.

If you have any questions, please call Wendy Leung 415-585-2121.