PCC Instructors Choose Faculty Association in Union Vote

In an email sent to Pasadena Now on Tuesday, an adjunct faculty member at Pasadena City College said that efforts to organize under a powerful teachers union have fallen short by less than 40 votes.

The vote would have decertified the college’s faculty association in favor of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) Union of Educators and Classified Professionals, the same union that members of the ArtCenter College of Design voted to join in June. 

In total 348 people voted to maintain the faculty association and 309 eligible faculty voted for CFT.

“I am saddened that the union organizing effort seems to be short less than 40 votes,” wrote Communications Instructor Stacy Bradshaw. “Drafting my resignation now.”

In total 1,211 people were eligible to vote, but fewer than 700 cast ballots.

Eight people voted for no representation and six ballots were challenged.

The votes were cast between October 9th and November 13th.

In July a petition circulated calling for the dissolution of the FA in favor of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) The California Federation of Teachers is a statewide union that represents education workers.

“PCC acknowledges the conclusion of a process that empowers the faculty to choose who represents them in collective bargaining with the District,” said Alex Boekelheide, PCC executive director of public affairs and public information officer. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Faculty Association and working together in the interests of PCC’s students and community.”

Last fall, the faculty association came up just one vote short of the needed votes to secure victory.

In April 22, adjunct professors and supporters held a peaceful demonstration outside Pasadena City College to protest what they describe as poor working conditions for part-time educators at the school.

Most adjunct faculty members have no health insurance and are paid thirty percent less for the same amount of work as full-time faculty are.

Bradshaw said she is already insured, but said in her opinion the vote was about respect and wage parity. At other schools, Bradshaw is allowed to serve on hiring committees and other things that adjunct faculty is not allowed to do at PCC. 

According to the association, the group has in the last nine years successfully negotiated a pay increase of approximately 25% for full-time faculty.

In that same time period, the association has also successfully negotiated a pay increase of just over 29% for part-time faculty, the association said.

Some members of the faculty were reportedly unhappy with PCCFA handling of the recent showdown with PCC administration over COVID-19 distance learning.

The FA claimed on its website and in numerous communications, they have shared the “impressive gains” made in the last 10 years, the gains they say came in contract negotiations, expanded leadership representation, and equity and transparency in operations.

Union supporters have until Nov. 24 to challenge the election results.

Bradshaw said she is sad to leave PCC and said the institution “is creating its own internal problems and ignoring Adjunct Faculty.”