Posted by Vicki Root on October 11, 19101 at 23:58:13:
I have just read our webmaster's remarks about the upcoming hearings. For over 15 years I have asked associate deans, deans, and other administration types WHY couldn't certain things be done? Some would sympathize, and state there were legal constraints...others would just shrug, and say the same thing.
Over the last 26 years, and especially the last 12 years, I have at alternate times been frustrated, furious, depressed, and a score of other emotional or mental states regarding teaching part-time, eventually becoming objectively cynical (if that is possible) regarding our condition. Three years ago the then Faculty Senate president wanted me to apply as the representative for PIEC. No way-I saw that as an avenue to nowhere. Part timers have no recognition and no power or voice. Two years ago the organizers of CODAA asked me several times to run for vice president of the fledgling group. I didn't really want to do it--teaching at 3 schools and working part time in a restaurant trying to make ends meet left little time for any life, especially with my family. If I were paranoid, I would say it was a conspiracy, for some FT faculty and other PT faculty soon started telling me to do it. Now here I am, president of a group that started with about 35 people and is now over 300. Two years ago next month I spoke before the trustees, urging them to recognize us as the voice of the PT faculty of COD, and to work with us on the issues that every part-timer grumps about, and then some. There has been progress--lots of it--and not all of it with the college's blessing. There was a decade long policyhaphazardly applied across the college, of separating the two sides of the faculty, not only isolating them from each other, but fomenting distrust of each other. How? By telling them in a variety of ways, that whatever WE got, we got at the expense of the full time faculty. There was nurturance of an attitude among some middle administration people, to keep part time faculty guessing--availability of classes, staffing of classes, and more. The result is very much alive: fear, wariness, defeatism and weariness. Another result was unexpected by administration: anger and the reaching out to our full-time colleagues as more and more we recognized our commonality. For two years we have tried to work with the trustees and the administration on coming to terms over issues subheaded by the words recognition, rights, and respect. They are confused by this. They also challenged us, stating that the Illinois Higher Education Law that applies to community colleges constrains them from recognizing us (which means they can do what they want, and how they want, and when they want, and to whatever extent they want. You don't like that??? Well, you are just a short term employee with no ASSURANCE of employment (never mind how many years you have been teaching here)!! You want recognition, you say? The only way to legally recognize you (PT faculty) is to do it as a union of some sort. Lots of luck. What do you want? We gave you some of the benefits you wanted...
The Illinois labor laws give more rights to illegal aliens than they do community college contingent labor. The law is archaic; maybe it worked in the '50s and '60s, but it is so outdated, so ambiguous, and with the horrific Harper decision(talk about stupid judges who should get off the bench and try living like an adjunct faculty member for a term), it became hellish. The law needs to be changed, if not scrapped altogether.
I've worked hard for you, dear colleagues; so have the rest of the CODAA officers. It is time for you to come out of the closet, and no longer be silent and invisible. Come to the hearings being held by Sen. Cronin of the Ill. Senate Education committee; the bill that would change the foundation which categorizes you as educational migrant laborers is at
stake!!!