CCSF Trustees vote today, Friday, May 6, at 4pm on whether to layoff hundreds of faculty & close hundreds of fully enrolled classes at CCSF despite a budget surplus​ & a serious revenue effort underway​. In February Trustees unanimously took an initial vote to dismantle CCSF  and slash classes by laying off a total of 218 faculty (58 tenured & tenure-track faculty and all the part timers in those departments). This would have closed classroom doors to 20,566 students next semester alone.

Yesterday, 11 people were arrested after they blocked Frida Kahlo Way at Ocean Ave. in a civil disobedience action chanting “cuts hurt students” and “layoffs are a false solution.”  AFT 2121 President elect Mary Bravewoman, AFT 2121 Vice President elect Alan D’Souza, AFT 2121 Secretary elect Robin Pugh, AFT 2121 Political Director Adele Fales-Carpenter, AFT 2121 Executive Director Alayna Fredricks, Dance faculty Kathe Burick, ESL faculty Wynn Newberry and spouse Alexi Lacey, Latin American and Latino/a Studies faculty Dan Elkin, Art faculty Anthony Ryan, and Political Science faculty Tim Killikelly  have all been cited and released.

Additionally, an appeals court judge ruled that eight pink slips should be rescinded but allowed the District to proceed on the others. Under pressure from faculty, students, community allies, and political organizations like the San Francisco Democratic Party and the Harvey Milk Democratic Club, college administration has pared their Friday board proposal down to 38 names of tenured and tenured track faculty, and all the part timers in those departments). The damage is still sobering and will still reduce educational opportunities for18,264 students each semester.

No responsible board should cut classes and programs during a budget surplus. What kind of employer throws workers out just to pad their reserves? Are we really going to hamstring the ESL department, in San Francisco of all places? The English department? Engineering?

Here’s the camp when Supervisor Gordon Mar came to show his support. Supervisor Dean Preston spoke out against the layoffs at yesterday’s action, Supervisor Connie Chan called the chancellor and trustees, and Supervisor Ronen spoke out against the layoffs on social media.

If you can’t come in person, attend the virtual BOT meeting:

Friday 5/6/22, 4:00 PM
https://ccsf-edu.zoom.us/j/95056703275
Phone Number: 415 762 9988 or 669 900 6833 ID: 95056703275

To make public comment:
Sign up ahead of time. Requests must be received at least 30 minutes before the meeting. Email publiccomment@ccsf.edu or call 669-444-1266 and let them know:

1. Your name

2. Meeting: Special meeting of the BOT, 5/6

3. Agenda item: A

4. Phone number if participating by phone

BOT agendas, times, and zoom links are posted here: https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/ccsf/Board.nsf/Public

Finally, here’s another tactic if you feel your words are falling on deaf ears:

1) Go to a trustee’s personal FB page
2) See what friends you have in common
3) Ask a *mutual* friend to write or call them and ask them how they will vote, and to tell them it is UNCONSCIONABLE for them to decimate City College.

The election results are in!

In this election, 426 ballots were submitted, representing 42% of the 1007 eligible voters. Thank you for voting!

And thank you to everyone who stepped up to run for a position in our union – your willingness to serve is appreciated. We are made stronger through the efforts of all our members, those in elected positions and those who support in other ways!

We welcome and congratulate our new leadership for the 2022-2024 term, beginning June 1, 2022. Winners’ names are indicated in bold.

AFT 2121 Officers

President – Mary Bravewoman, 352 votes

362 total votes with 6 write-in candidates receiving 1-4 votes each

Vice-President – Alan D’Souza, 363 votes

369 total votes with 5 write-in candidates receiving 1-2 votes each

Treasurer – Clare Heimer, 229 votes

358 total votes; Kovak Williamson with 129 votes; no write-in votes

Secretary – Robin Pugh, 360 votes

361 total votes; 1 write-in candidate receiving 1 vote

AFT 2121 Representative-at-Large (Executive Board) (6 vacancies)

1. Alisa Messer. 333 votes

2. Malaika Finkelstein, 327 votes

3. Tehmina Khan, 299 votes

4. Carolyn Cox, 284 votes

5. Diane Wallis, 281 votes

6. Beatriz Herrera, 277 votes

In addition, 14 write-in candidates received 1-2 votes each

Labor Council Delegate (8 vacancies)

The Election Commission wishes to acknowledge our mistake in listing 10 vacancies on the ballot instead of 8. While we verified with the Labor Council that AFT 2121 receives 10 seats, we failed to notice that per Article 12, Sections 4-5, two of those seats are reserved for the President and Executive Director of AFT 2121, ex oficio. We contacted the two candidates most directly affected by our error – those who came in #9 and #10 – and they both agreed to step aside.  

1. Malaika Finkelstein, 294 votes

2. Alisa Messer, 292 votes

3. Tim Killikelly, 289 votes

4. Alan D’Souza, 287 votes

5. Tehmina Khan, 234 votes

6. Adele Failes Carpenter, 202 votes

7. Bill Shields, 194 votes

8. Galina Gerasimova, 187 votes

9. Doug Orr, 171 votes

10. Susana Atwood, 170 votes

11. Rick Baum, 154 votes

12. Daniel Acosta Elkan, 139 votes

13. James Tracy, 124 votes

14. Rodger Scott, 103 votes

In addition, 2 write-in candidates each received 1 vote

AFT National Conference Delegate (11 vacancies)

1. Mary Bravewoman, 287 votes

2. Malaika Finkelstein, 284 votes

3. Alan D’Souza, 281 votes

4. Bill Shields, 226 votes

5. Robin Pugh, 225 votes

6. Doug Orr, 223 votes

7. Beatriz Herrera, 191 votes

8. Patricia Nunley, 177 votes

9. Joe Berry, 173 votes

10. Tehmina Khan, 173 votes

11. Galina Gerasimova, 173 votes
    
    

12. Kovak Williamson, 164 votes

13. Bob Price, 109 votes

In addition, 9 write-in candidates each received 1-2 votes

Precinct Representatives:

For precincts not listed, no valid votes for precinct representative were received. Votes for department chairs and votes for non-members (of either the union or the specific precinct) were considered invalid.

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precincts 1 & 30 which are merging) – Robin Pugh

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 2) – two representatives, one vacancy remains – Clare Heimer

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 4) – Constance Conner

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 5) – Simon Hanson

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 7) – Megan Sweeney

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 8) – Jesse Kolber

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 9) – Beatriz Herrera

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 10) – Patricia Nunley

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 11) – Harry Bernstein

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 12) – Scott Lau

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 13) – Michele Ochoa Oross

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 14) – two representatives- Darren Keast and Tehmina Khan

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 15) – two representatives, one vacancy remains – Carla Crocomo

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 17) – Alma Avila

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 18) – Anjali Sundaram

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 20) – Rhea Dellimore

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 21) – Marie Vareles

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 22) – Galina Gerasimova

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 23) – Anthony Ryan

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 25) – Stephen Brady

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 26) – Karl Westerberg

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 27) – Rick Riordan

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 28) – Diane Wallis

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 29) – Tracy Ousdahl

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 31) – two representatives – Wynn Newberry and Alison Datz

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 32) – Elizabeth Monique Comacchio

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 33) – Armen Hovhannes

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 34) – Marcia Weisbrot

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 36) – Billington Mbolo

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 37) – Thomas Wang

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 38) – Tanichya Wongprasert

Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 40) – Jennifer Hong

Retiree Precinct Representative (Delegate Assembly, Precinct 41) – Doug Orr

Retiree Chapter Election

Retiree Chapter Chair – Ann Killebrew, 54 votes

Retiree Chapter Vice-Chair – Susana Atwood, 51 votes

Retiree Chapter Secretary – Tie vote: Debra Wilensky and Jim McKinney each got 2 votes, as write-ins. 5 additional write-in candidates received 1 vote each.

Retiree Chapter Treasurer – Guy DePrimo, 53 votes. In addition, 1 write-in candidate received 1 vote.  

AFT National Retiree Convention – Ann Killebrew, 36 votes; Bill Shields, 18 votes. In addition, 1 write-in candidate received 1 vote.

Referendum on Change to Constitution & Bylaws

You voted YES on the change to Article XV, Section 6 of the AFT 2121 Constitution and Bylaws by a vote of 351 yes votes, 8 no votes. The approved change reads as follows:

Article XV: Nominations and Elections for Executive Board and Officers Section 6. Regular biennial elections shall be by ballots distributed to* to the membership within six weeks following the March membership meeting. For special elections, a three-week time limit shall apply.

*bold words changed from “mailed first class.”

For further details on the vote, including number of abstentions and names of write-in candidates, you may view the Election Buddy summary.

Please join us in welcoming our new union leadership at all levels for the 2022-2024 period. Your work on behalf of our college and our union is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Your AFT2121 Election Committee – Janey Skinner, Mitra Sapienza, Melissa McPeters, and Chad Stephenson

COME TO CONLAN AT 4PM FOR A LIVE BUDGET DEBATE & JOIN THE CONLAN CAMP OUT

Your colleagues, students, & community allies began an indefinite camp out against the proposed layoffs & cuts to CCSF (see latest press advisory). Supervisor Gordon Mar visited the Camp Out this morning to express his solidarity, and Supervisors Hillary Ronen & Myrna Melgar visit this afternoon.

KRON-4 covered the Camp Out this morning, NBC Bay Area covered it this afternoon, & SF Standard ran a story on the press conference and camp out that your union is challenging. In the article, CCSF Trustee Shanell Williams asserts, “I can’t justify deficit spending” with the implication that she therefore is obligated to support layoffs and cuts.

Well, your AFT 2121 Executive Director Alayna Fredricks has publicly challenged Trustee Williams & other CCSF leaders to come show their work & debate her live today at Conlan Hall at 4pm. Watch the event live at Conlan Hall, or on Facebook live here: https://fb.me/e/1RJYvZ5Kq

We’re issuing this challenge because we know the truth: CCSF’s “deficit” is fake & has been designed to justify layoffs that will deprive 20,544 students at minimum next semester alone of their right to a quality education. If the Trustees & Admin want to challenge your union’s assessment, then they should be very comfortable coming and proving it.

CCSF FACULTY OCCUPY CONLAN HALL! TRUSTEES:  PLEDGE NO LAYOFFS! NO CUTS! WORK TO BRING NEW REVENUE TO CCSF! DON’T TAKE EDUCATION AWAY FROMMORE THAN 20,000 STUDENTS.

STUDENTS & COMMUNITY ENCOURAGED TO JOIN: WE ARE CAMPING HERE UNTIL THE TRUSTEES HEAR US

AFT 2121 hosted an urgent Press Conference today and dedicated faculty have now set up tents planning to occupy outside CCSF’s main administrative building (Conlan Hall) for an ongoing occupation. We demand that CCSF’s Trustees reject unnecessary layoffs and cuts, and instead direct college leaders to work with the CCSF Revenue Unity Coalition to grow back the college San Francisco deserves.

In the crucial final week of this campaign, you need to keep speaking up for CCSF.

• Students, Faculty, & Community are encouraged to join the Campout Occupation at 50 Frida Kahlo way outside CCSF’s Conlan Hall (where the Chancellor works). We are here & not leaving until CCSF’s Trustees hear our message: No Layoffs, No Cuts, More Support for Our Students, Not Less. We are the Heartbeat of CCSF. We invite you to join for s’mores, games, art, screen printing and activism to defend our college. Contact AFT 2121 Leader Alan D’Souza to offer your support (415) 203-5698 or adsouza@aft2121.org.
• Join more than 1,700 people (and counting!) in emailing a letter to the CCSF Board, telling our elected Board of Trustees to rescind the layoffs.
• Share this media advisory on the occupation​ with your Press Contacts.

More info:

With a final vote taking place as early as this week, CCSF’s elected Board of Trustees appear prepared to authorize faculty layoffs that will close hundreds of fully enrolled classes, impact 20,544 students at minimum next semester alone, and plunge CCSF even further into a downward cycle of cuts, decline, & crisis.

Despite budget surpluses through fiscal year 2023 and anticipated surpluses for the next 5 years, CCSF Trustees unanimously took a position at an initial vote in February to cut hundreds of fully enrolled classes and layoff 218 full- and part-time faculty, including 58 tenured/tenure-track faculty. If they choose to affirm the downsizing plan at their final vote at the beginning of May this will perpetuate CCSF’s era of cuts, decline, & crisis, and harm the thousands of black, brown, working-class, disabled, and immigrant residents whom CCSF serves.

The SF Democratic Party has spoken out against the layoffs, leaders of SEIU 1021 & the SF Building Trades have spoken, CCSF’s students have spoken, and you, our beloved CCSF community have spoken. It is time for the Board to change course, rescind the layoffs, and direct administration to fund CCSF departments at least at 21-22 levels to prevent further cuts.

​The budget news keeps improving. The Associated Press reported on 4/28 that according to Senate Democrats, “California’s budget surplus has more than doubled since January to a staggering $68 billion.” Previous estimates put the 22-23 COLA at an extremely healthy 5.33%, and as of this week, CFT estimates it will be as high as 6.56%. Our community understands that there is no budgetary need for layoffs. More than 1,700 people (and counting!) have sent a letter to the CCSF Board​, telling our elected Board of Trustees to rescind the layoffs. 

With a final vote taking place as early as this week, CCSF’s elected Board of Trustees appear prepared to authorize faculty layoffs that will close hundreds of fully enrolled classes, impact 20,544 students at minimum next semester alone, and plunge CCSF even further into a downward cycle of cuts, decline, & crisis. 

It is time for the Board to change course, rescind the layoffs, and direct administration to fund CCSF departments at least at 21-22 levels to prevent further cuts. 

• Come to AFT’s Conlon Hall press conference, today, Tuesday 5/3, at noon to tell the Trustees, the administration, and San Francisco: We stand together. No cuts, no layoffs!
• ​Join us in person in front of Conlan Hall (50 Frida Khalo Way) at 12pm. 
• Or watch online: https://fb.me/e/2CcuM7Wma​

More info on this struggle: 

• We, the working class of San Francisco, are the Heartbeat of this City.” Proud CCSF Alum, Teacher, and AFT 2121 Vice President Mary Bravewoman speaking truth @sflabor May Day Rally​
• 5/2/22 – AFT 2121 President Malaika Finkelstein’s Open Letter to the CCSF Board of Trustees​
• 04/19/22 – AFT 2121 President Malaika Finkelstein’s Open Letter to the CCSF Board of Trustees
• Media Advisory​​