​CCSF administration has just reaffirmed their intentions: the dismantling of our college. In an email sent today, David Martin explains to chairs that he is going to cut their department budgets to finalize the layoffs of most of the 38 FT faculty who received pink slips and the 136 part-timers in their departments. From Computer Networking, ESL, & English, to Floristry, Counseling & so much more, essential CCSF programs are under attack. 

The planned budget, the one the Board of Trustees voted for, was given to departments back in February. It included awful cuts. But still included enough FTEF to re-assign most of the pink-slipped full-timers and many of the part-timers. Administration could honor that. But now they have stated their intention to cut the budget even beyond what the BOT approved. AFT 2121 President Malaika Finkelstein sent an open letter to the Board of Trustees today to challenge this latest action to slash City College. 

Normally, there’s a budget and the departments assign faculty within that budget to serve our students. But David Martin has turned it upside down. He’s defined how many faculty he wants and he’s shrinking the budget to meet it. This demonstrates no thought for our students at all and is unconscionable. 

It’s hugely problematic that they would wait until after students have begun enrolling to announce this. It has been clearly established that they can not reappoint full-timers as part-timers. However, the BOT was assured that these cuts would not eliminate programs, since faculty would be reassigned. And this is one of the justifications given by the BOT for why they voted for layoffs, claiming they had been told no departments or programs would be destroyed. 

It’s time for honesty. These layoffs will throw students out of school and close entire departments. Board members, if you want City College to continue to serve students, you can push back against this. You can still demand that the budget you approved be implemented. You can show up for public education. If you can’t find a way to do that, you are welcome to step aside. 

​What comes next? 

Sign up & share with your students: Win revenue for our College:

The current layoffs & cuts are unnecessary and short-sighted. A stable and thriving CCSF needs local investment to meet the long-term educational demands of San Franciscans. Discredited agencies on the State level–the ACCJC and FCMAT–clearly want to shrink City College, and CCSF’s current leaders seem content to follow along. Now is the time to amplify your fight to combat this trend and bring more revenue to CCSF to support faculty, students, and staff.

Your union has been working with the CCSF Revenue Unity Coalition, a historic coalition of CCSF labor, student, & community groups, to launch a campaign to ask voters to pass the San Francisco Workforce Education Reinvestment in Community Success Act (SF WERCS), a progressively applied parcel tax, this November.

•  See a summary of the measure here.
  
  

• Sign up now to start talking to voters about City College, & encourage all of your colleagues, friends, families, & peers to join you!
  
  RSVP:https://bit.ly/ccsfREVENUE
  
  Signature gathering shifts will be 10am-1pm & 1-4pm weekends and 4-8pm weekdays beginning June 2. Each shift will begin with a short training, and focus on a strategic location from parks to groceries stores to Sunday streets. 

• Come out to the SF WERC Launch Party at Dolores Park from 11-2pm, Saturday, June 11. 

To get this measure on the ballot, you need 14,000 SF voters to sign a petition endorsing it by July 11. Join us in taking action to make this real. 

What the trustees and David Martin are trying to do is unconscionable. From Computer Networking, ESL, & English, to Floristry, Counseling & so much more, essential CCSF programs are under attack. Discredited agencies on the State level–the ACCJC and FCMAT–clearly want to shrink your college, and CCSF’s current leaders seem content to follow along.

Now is the time to amplify your fight for better leadership and more revenue. Sign up now to talk to SF voters about City College & share this email with your students.

While the current layoffs & cuts were unnecessary and short-sighted, a stable and thriving CCSF needs local investment to meet the educational demands of San Franciscans. That’s why a historic coalition of CCSF labor, student, & community groups are bringing a progressively applied parcel tax to San Francisco voters in November. See a summary of the measure here & the measure itself here.

To get this measure on the ballot, you need 14,000 SF voters to sign a petition endorsing it by July 11. That means you need to take action!

• Sign up now to start talking to voters about City College, & encourage all of your colleagues, friends, families, & peers to join you! RSVP: https://bit.ly/ccsfREVENUE

• Your 11am-2pm Dolores Park launch party is now Saturday, June 11. Signature gathering shifts start June 2 & run to July 10. Shifts are 4pm-8pm on the weekdays and 10am-1pm & 1-4pm on the weekends. Each shift will begin with a short training, and focus on a strategic location from parks to groceries stores to Sunday streets.

Upcoming Unemployment Insurance Workshop

Tuesday, May 24, 2:00-3:30 pm
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87472184212?pwd=Sks2ZzF1Vmd3M0doek9nZGdqN24wZz09​

Whether it’s your first time or fiftieth time applying for unemployment benefits, the process can be confusing, frustrating and intimidating. But your union is here to help you understand your rights and demystify the application process!

Join us for a step-by-step overview of the application, the benefits you’ve earned, and how to answer some of the obtuse questions on the form. Special bonus: Valarie Bachelor from CFT will be with us to share her knowledge and experience. Not to be missed!

And for the first time ever (sadly) we will have a breakout room specifically for Full Time Faculty who have received layoff notices and want to learn more about how this all works.

Remember, ALL Part-Time Faculty can file for unemployment when you experience a reduction in work. So PT Librarian, Counselors, Coaches, etc can file and should file for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.

We have many resources available to you any time at our Unemployment page.

Medical Insurance for Summer

Part-time faculty who have medical insurance through CCSF in spring semester keep those benefits for the summer. Benefits continue through the end of August even if we don’t have summer or fall assignments. This isn’t an extra or a gift – we paid for it. Since many part-timers don’t have summer work, deductions for summer are taken out of spring paychecks.

For full-time faculty who received pink slips, benefits continue through the end of June. If you are reassigned, we want to make sure there is no gap in coverage. Please let Malaika know ASAP what your assignment will be, and the load. (mfinkels@aft2121.org)

You can find more information on our benefits page. For anyone who needs to look for medical insurance outside of CCSF, here is an overview of some useful resources.

(Tues. 5/17) Committee on Political Education (COPE) and Delegate Assembly

All AFT 2121 members are invited to participate in your Committee on Political Education (COPE) and Delegate Assembly (DA) meetings Tuesday, May 17, at 1:30pm (COPE) and 3-5pm (DA).

• DA Agenda

• DRAFT Minutes

To attend either of these meetings, follow this link from your computer or smartphone OR call 1-669-900-6833 then follow the prompts to enter the meeting ID #810 1671 8065 and password: 783119.

At Tuesday’s 1:30pm COPE meeting we will launch the endorsement vote and review the latest updates and information on the Revenue Unity Coalition’s November Ballot Measure to bring over $40million per year to CCSF. We’ll also talk about the signature gathering drive needed to put in on the ballot.

At Tuesday’s 3-5pm DA meeting, we will review the latest updates and information about the layoffs approved by the Board of Trustees on May 6. There is an FAQ document about the March 15 Notices and Layoffs that provides answers to a lot of questions. If you don’t see your question answered there, please let us know via this Questions about Layoffs form before Tuesday. That way we can try to find the answers before the meeting!

(Saturday, 6/4, 11am) Ballot Measure Signature Drive Launch

Please join us Thursday, May 12 from 3:30-5:30pm for an emergency meeting. We will have an open discussion reflecting on the devastating vote taken last Friday night, and assess the next steps in our strategic plan. This is the time for coming together, supporting each other, and sharing our ideas about where we’re going from here.  

Emergency meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81016718065

Please note, this is not a business meeting. We will hold our final Delegate Assembly meeting of the semester next Tuesday, May 17th, from 3-5pm.

(Tues. 5/17) Committee on Political Education (COPE) and Delegate Assembly

All AFT 2121 members are invited to participate in your Committee on Political Education (COPE) and Delegate Assembly (DA) meetings Tuesday, May 17, at 1:30pm (COPE) and 3-5pm (DA).

• DA Agenda

• DRAFT Minutes

To attend either of these meetings, follow this link from your computer or smartphone OR call 1-669-900-6833 then follow the prompts to enter the meeting ID #810 1671 8065 and password: 783119.

At Tuesday’s 1:30pm COPE meeting we will review the latest updates and information about the launch of the Revenue Unity Coalition’s November Ballot Measure to bring over $40million per year to CCSF and the signature gathering drive needed to put in on the ballot.

At Tuesday’s 3-5pm DA meeting, we will review the latest updates and information about the layoffs approved by the Board of Trustees on May 6. There is an FAQ document about the March 15 Notices and Layoffs that provides answers to a lot of questions. If you don’t see your question answered there, please let us know via this Questions about Layoffs form before Tuesday. That way we can try to find the answers before the meeting!

(5/31) Parking Reimbursement