Hello Faculty Colleagues-
As we wrap up the Spring 2021 semester and look ahead to a gradual return to campus, we wanted to provide an update on the current status of negotiations with the District. During the Spring 2021 semester, we met regularly with the District team under their new leadership of VPHRS David Montoya. Much of the semester was taken up by getting everyone up to speed on previous work we had in progress and accomplished. Actual negotiations accomplishments were slower than we would have hoped this semester.
As a reminder, we are finishing up the second year of our three-year contract (2019-2022). For the 2020/21 and 2021/22 years, both parties can reopen articles for negotiation. For 2020/21, the PFF team chose not to reopen any articles due to the perceived precariousness of the District’s fiscal situation at the time (late spring 2020). The District opted to reopen Article 4 (Workload and Calendar), Article 15 (Compensation- Appendices F and G go along with this article), Article 16 (Benefits), and Article 20 (Working Conditions). We negotiated changes to Article 16 in late spring/early summer 2020. Since then, we have been waiting on the District to present any proposals related to the other articles they chose to reopen. We expected these proposals to happen this spring semester and are disappointed that negotiations for this contract year have barely begun although the academic year is ending. Once these negotiations are complete, we will sunshine any articles either party wants to reopen for negotiation for 2021/22.
At our most recent meeting on May 6th, the District team gave us a last and final response to our many repeated proposals to use CARES Act money to provide one-time payments to faculty to offset the many costs and hardships of working from home. The District team made it clear that the Governing Board is unwilling to approve any sort of flat stipends and are only interested in reimbursement or PD-related proposals. This is even though several other colleges throughout the state, including many of our regional neighbors, have used CARES money to provide no-strings-attached payments to employees. To say we are disappointed in this response is an understatement.
2020/21 Negotiation Successes:
Compensation for faculty to complete DE addendums in Fall 2020
Compensation for part-time faculty to complete POET in Summer and Fall 2020
Temporary changes to class caps to account for the switch to DE during COVID closures
Adjustments to sabbatical leave deadlines
Application towards salary schedule advancement for the employee sections of AS 101 and AS 102
Compensation for faculty to bring their online courses in line with accessibility standards. Logistics will be in place by the time the Governing Board approves this MOU in June 2021.
Finalized and agreed upon the academic calendars for AY 21/22 and 22/23
Approved changes to TERB forms and processes
Multiple MOUs related to individual faculty or department situations
Anticipated Upcoming Items for Negotiation During Summer 2021:
District proposals and subsequent negotiations on Articles 4, 15, 20, Appendices F & G
Restarting our epic and ongoing class caps negotiations (started in Summer 2017 and paused in March 2020 due to COVID)
Working conditions for return to campus, including potential mandated vaccinations
We have worked hard over the past year to stay on top of the ever-changing needs of faculty during the pandemic and associated campus closures. We have polled faculty, collaborated with our Classified colleagues, been in communication with our faculty colleagues up and down the state and have attempted offering many creative solutions to offset hardships and costs for Palomar’s faculty. While we have been stymied at times by a reluctant Governing Board and nearly continual administrative turnover, we are hopeful that some more meaningful progress can be made this summer.
As we look ahead to returning to campus during the next school year, we hope that you will let us know if you have concerns, ideas, or items in need of negotiation. We will be working all summer and remain committed to equitably representing faculty interests at the bargaining table. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for all you do for our Palomar students, and your continued support of the PFF.
In Unity,
Your PFF Negotiations Team:
Jenny Fererro, Lead Negotiator Barbara Baer, Teresa Laughlin, Lawrence Lawson