Embedded Files
Below is the text version of an open letter sent to PCC faculty by other CFT local members from all over the state— check out their personal testimonials under their names!
January 26, 2023
Dear Pasadena City College Faculty,
We have eagerly signed onto this open letter to express our support and excitement about the possibility of Pasadena City College (PCC) becoming a part of the California Federation of Teachers: A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals (CFT).
As we understand it, PCC faculty have concern over losing your local autonomy; we, the undersigned, wish to assure you that this will not be the case should you join, because one of CFT’s core values is its commitment to its Locals’ autonomy. CFT is comprised of hundreds of ‘federated’ local unions that represent education professionals across the state and across the education spectrum. We encourage you to peruse the different CFT local websites where you’ll find unique logos, shields, and organizational identities among the federation. And perhaps most importantly, note the significantly different constitution and bylaws and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that lead to every Local’s unique governance structures, union dues structures, governing documents, and leadership bodies. This uniqueness stems from the priorities of each Local’s own community needs and interests in making sure their members’ voices are heard throughout their work.
Joining CFT will allow you to gain access to training, professional development, legal aid, staff experts, and organizing resources that can help with negotiations, strategic research (like analyzing District budgets), organizing to have an active and engaged membership, and local and statewide political campaigns, plus so much more.
CFT has been politically successful for its members by moving a statewide legislative agenda that supports faculty and students in having the best working and learning conditions possible. Standing in solidarity together, the local members of CFT helped to pass Propositions 30 and 55 which brought millions of dollars into the California Community College system.
As a CFT local member, not only will you maintain your local autonomy, as all CFT local members do now, but you will contribute to the collective voices of thousands of community college faculty and staff across the state who engage their work daily for the betterment of Californians. Together, with PCC, we will be stronger to do even more.
Should PCC join with CFT, as we hope you will, you will become part of a community with many opportunities to meet, work together, and plan for California’s educational future. CFT holds Community College Council (CCC) and issues-based committee meetings, facilitates Leadership Conferences, Union Summer Schools, State Council Meetings, biennial Conventions, and countless other statewide fellowship opportunities to come together as a union. The CCC has a very active listserv where member locals can easily ask questions of others regarding contract language, Covid protocols, District policies, or to simply share best practices about a myriad of other topics that arise. The value of this kind of peer-to-peer communication with those similarly situated in other Districts cannot be overemphasized. Further, in CFT, participation is not limited to just elected leaders; all members are welcome and encouraged to participate in our collective decision-making processes and campaigns.
As CFT Locals, we have maintained our autonomy, and will continue to do so in perpetuity, while simultaneously being strengthened and benefiting greatly from our affiliation with CFT. We, the undersigned, highly encourage PCC faculty to vote to join us, and do the same. We look forward to welcoming PCC faculty into a strong, democratic, and education-centered union.
In Solidarity,
Jason Newman
newmanj@crc.losrios.edu
Los Rios College Federation of Teachers, Local 2279
President
Andrew Park
a@bkpark.com
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Executive Council Member
Join us! There's power in number and in solidarity, and our federation structure means your local still retains a great deal of autonomy while having access to resources that's really only available with the state (CFT) or national (AFT) level.
Ann Killebrew
aklori@yahoo.com
San Francisco City College District Federation of Teachers, Local 2121
Retiree Chapter Chair
Belinda Lum
Bclum1974@gmail.com
Los Rios College Federation of Teachers, Local 2279
Chief Negotiator and SCC Campus President
Anna Roy
anna@pft1603.org
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Labor Representative
Sharon Hendricks
sharonaft1521@gmail.com
Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, Local 1521
Retirement Liaison
Jeffrey Sanceri
sanceri@gmail.com
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Grievance Officer, COPE Chair, Secretary
Dashiel Johnson
executivedirector@adfacunited.net
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Staffer, Executive Director
Firstly, I want to congratulate you and your colleagues' great work to organize a unionaffiliated with the California Federation of Teachers. Our local union, AdFac United AFT 6106 who reps part-time faculty in the North Orange Community College District joined the CFT in 2000 and their support has been tremendous over the years. This support has helped us engage with our members and develop new union leaders. This has empowered us to win a 12% pay raise, bonuses, stipends, an increase in healthcare benefits and much more!
Our affiliation with CFT has not only empowered to create the change *we* want to see in our district but has also empowered us to make change statewide. They sponsored a Sacramento lobby day last May where we spoke with legislators to fully fund healthcare benefits for adjunct faculty. Being an affiliate of CFT has not only allowed us to improve our working conditions in our district but has given us a powerful voice that extends far beyond our campuses.
There is also an abundance of support and resources that comes with being an affiliate of CFT. Their staffers have hosted unemployment clinics, student debt workshops and CalStrs workshops that have put thousands of dollars into our members pockets. CFT affiliation also comes with countless consumer benefits, discounted insurance programs and access to mental health services - all of which have improved the lives of our members.
We hope you join us and affiliate with the CFT - we would be honored to work with you and be part of a movement to make our California community colleges work better for all students and faculty members.
Geoffery Johnson
mixinminao@gmail.com
AFT Guild, Local 1931
Adjunct Representative
CFT has consistently worked to support adjunct faculty, most clearly in regards to the securing of 200 million dollars in part-time healthcare. This was a adjunct-centered effort which was specifically built around the notion of having individual locals organize, advocate, and ultimately negotiate quality affordable healthcare for part-time faculty. In addition, CFT is working to help locals in their push for pay pay, parity, office hours and ancillary pay, as well as strengthening rehire rights. Being a part of CFT is not about top down control, but rather member solidarity and a sharing of resources. It would be great to have Pasadena faculty, with their power, passion, and insight, as part of CFT's never-ending efforts to improve working conditions, job security, and overall respect.
Lynn Wang
president@ccffcerritos.org
Cerritos College Faculty Federation, Local 6215
Local President
Marlo Smith
nocevp@adfacunited.net
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
VP and Chief Negotiator
Tonya Cobb
love4books@sbcglobal.net
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Past President
Emmie Lim
treasurer@adfacunited.net
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Treasurer
CFT provides tremendous support but allows and in fact favors local autonomy.
Layal Lebdeh
layal@adfacunited.net
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Member Organizer
Monica Malamud
malamud@aft1493.org
San Mateo Community College Federation of Teachers, Local 1493
President
Join CFT!
Jory Segal
segaljory@gmail.com
West Valley-Mission Federation of Teachers, Local 6554
Grievance Officer
Nicholas Nicholas
nnicholas@sealbeachca.gov
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Member
Lisa Johnson
rjtemecula@live.com
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
E-Board member - Secretary
Timothy Durfield
tdurfield@fullcoll.edu
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Member
Rick Hobbs
calc67@comcast.net
West Valley-Mission Federation of Teachers, Local 6554
Executive Board Member (Retired)
Elizabeth Preger
elizabethpreger@alum.calarts.edu
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Adjunct instructor
Do the right thing and stand by your staff!
Olga Gonzalez
ogonzalez@cypresscollege.edu
Member
Tracy Sattler
bockels@gmail.com
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Teacher/Member
Maryam Rezai
mrezai@noce.edu
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Instructor
Kate Disney
president@wvmft.org
West Valley-Mission Federation of Teachers, Local 6554
President
Local control and power will be strengthened through your connection to CFT and the other CFT locals. CFT is a supportive organization that helps locals organize and grow in the way that works for the local; the ultimate goal is to be effective and win!
Danielle Short
dshortaft@pm.me
AFT Guild, Local 1931
Classified Vice President
Soon-Ah Fadness
sfadness@sdccd.edu
AFT Guild, Local 1931
Member, mentoring Coordinator
Richard Greenspan
rickfromalameda@sbcglobal.net
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Chief Negotiator
In solidarity!
Robin Watkins
nibordil@hotmail.com
AFT Guild, Local 1931
Vice President
Please take comfort in knowing your local will maintain local control if they become an CFT/AFT affiliate.
Jennifer Shanoski
shanoski@gmail.com
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
President
Seija Rohkea
president@adfacunited.net
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
President
We must all stick together in unity - we support PCC in becoming part of our CFT family. In solidarity, Seija Rohkea
Naveen Kanal
nkanal@fullcoll.edu
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
President
Emily Haraldson
edharaldson@gmail.com
Glendale College Guild, Local 2276
President
Lawrence Fike
fike@larryfike.net
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Member
Denise Beeson
beeson@sonic.ney
Santa Rosa Junior College Federation of Teachers, Local 1946
President
Please consider state & national power of your issues. Join CFT!
Roger Bowerman
bowerman.roger@gmail.com
Glendale College Guild, Local 2276
Public Information Officer
Take control of your own union, make connections that help you throughout the State and across the Country.
David Hassett
dhassett@glendale.edu
Glendale College Guild, Local 2276
James McKeever
jmckeever@aft1521.org
Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, Local 1521
President
The CFT's support and resources have made us a better and more responsive union for our members.
Linda Sneed
lagrump@gmail.com
Los Rios College Federation of Teachers, Local 2279
Elected Campus Representative
Phyllis Eckler
peckler@sbcglobal.net
Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, Local 1521
Member
Bill Zeman
williamjzeman@yahoo.com
Citrus College Adjunct Faculty Federation, Local 6352
President
You will not lose autonomy in the CFT. We keep more than 50% of our dues and presidents have a lot of sway guiding CFT policies and local boards call all the shots for their campus.
Anna Morrison
amorrison@cypresscollege.edu
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Member
Lawrence Hamilton Lawson
lhamiltonlawson@gmail.com
Palomar Faculty Federation, Local 6161
Co-President
Greg Baxley
baxleygreg@gmail.com
Cuesta College Federation of Teachers, Local 4909
President
Hello, this is a form letter but I will personally attest to locals having a great deal of autonomy. CFT never tells our local what to do or what rules to follow. We get a lot of great guidance and legislative/admin support from CFT. One thing we get is annual salary comparisons and district budget analysis, which is really helpful. The other thing that your new local CFT will get is access to an email list group with other union presidents. We can give each other advice, opinions, strategies, and sometimes just much needed emotional support. Having this group has enabled me to serve our local so much better and I think I’d be a mess without it. Being in contact with other union presidents via what is basically an informal support group will keep your local leaders healthy, wise, and sane. I’m only in my 2nd year as union president and being a CFT affiliate is totally worth it. I’m naturally frugal like many other faculty and I used to wonder why we bothered paying extra dues when we could go it alone and save money, but I’m convinced that CFT is worth the small added costs. Please contact me if you have any questions; I’ll give you honest answers.
Barbara Baer
63demeter@gmail.com
Palomar Faculty Federation, Local 6161
Union Co-President
I have been my union’s president for five years now, and was on the executive board previous to that. I have worked with CFT closely during most of that time. I have found CFT to be hugely helpful in all our local’s dealings. CFT is there as a support system and to provide resources. As part of a federation, I never feel coerced into anything that would not work for our local. Rather, I feel that we can have our local voice magnified if we choose to and the support we need for local issues. I urge you to join CFT, as you will be amazed at the power it provides in its level of support standing behind you. It also helps you to stay close and in contact with all your fellow union locals.
Tobin Keller
tobinwkeller@mac.com
Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers, Local 4400
President
Martin Hittelman
martyhitt@gmail.com
Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, Local 1521
Ex Board member
As a past president of CFT and the Community College Council, I can vouch for the independence that locals have to act in the interest of their members and the students they educate as well as the valuable assistance they get from the CFT.
Nathalie Baker
nathaliebaker722@gmail.com
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Member
I stand in solidarity with other adjuncts.
Carl Friedlander
carl.friedlander@gmail.com
Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, Local 1521
Past president, Retiree
Cynthia Azarcon
cynnasans2@gmail.com
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Member
Matthew Goldstein
mmgoldstein@gmail.com
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
bargaining team member
Our relationship with CFT has benefited our members greatly--PCC would do well to join the statewide org.!
Karyn Panitch
kpanitch@yahoo.com
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Part-time Faculty Representative
PCC Faculty/Page 11
Alex Madonik
alexmadonik@sonic.net
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Member
Daniel Dodge
CCFT@CCFTCABRILLO.ORG
Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers, Local 4400
Executive Director
Joseph Bielanski
Jbielanski@peralta.edu
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Negotiates our contract
John Holmes
jdholmes@igc.org
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Part timer representative on EC
Having worked at DVC where there is an independent union as well as at Peralta and other union colleges, I am sure that the Pasadena faculty can only benefit from joining the CFT.
Gabriel Winer
gbwiner@gmail.com
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Member
Lowell Bennett
lowell.bennett@alumni.stanford.edu
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Member
My experience at Peralta is that the local operates with a high degree of independence in negotiating and dealing with the administration, and is highly responsive to the needs of the local membership. So much so in fact that it feels to me like my own local union, but with the benefits as outlined in the letter.
Susan Andrien
saandrien@yahoo.com
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Part-Time Representative for Merritt campus
Honestly, belonging to PFT has changed my professional life for the better;in fact, being represented by my fellow faculty for the last 9 years has made my job secure and protected my position as an adjunct working from retirement. There has been NO downside.
Nora Castro
nora.casfer.89@gmail.com
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Union Organizer
Albi Romero
albi.b.romero@gmail.com
Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers, Local 4400
Chief Negotiator and COPE Chair
CFT has been extremely helpful in our organizing at the state level, coordinating political efforts with other school districts in our region, and supporting our local campaigns. They provide resources and information while respecting our autonomy and priorities. I hope to welcome Pasadena City College into our union family.
Rosie Kar
drrosiekar@gmail.com
Adjunct Faculty United, Local 6106
Member
I support PCC faculty!
Jim Mahler
aftjim@mac.com
AFT Guild, Local 1931
President
Matt Warren
mwarren@frc.edu
Feather River College Federation of Teachers, Local 4615
President
Mark James Miller
markjamesmiller@charter.net
Part-Time Faculty Association of Allan Hancock College, Local 6185
President
We have been affiliated with CFT for more than 20 years. With CFT's help we have done wonders for the people in our bargaining unit. CFT enables us to make our own decisions and then act of them to improve the lives of our members.
Nathan Cole
nlcole27@aol.com
Ventura County Federation of College Teachers, Local 1828
Interim President
Mary Bravewoman
mbravewoman@gmail.com
San Francisco City College District Federation of Teachers, Local 2121
President
Marx Gomez-Liendo
mjgomezliendo@gmail.com
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Member
Alan D’Souza
adsouza@aft2121.org
San Francisco City College District Federation of Teachers, Local 2121
Vice President
Rachel Goodwin
4goodwins@comcast.net
Peralta Federation of Teachers, Local 1603
Member
Page updated
Report abuse