Pasadena City College and Faculty Union Agree on Terms of New Contract

PASADENA — ColoradoBoulevard.net:

Pasadena City College has reached an agreement on terms for a new contract with the Faculty Association, outlining a three-year agreement with the union representing its full- and part-time faculty.

By News Desk

With the approval of the district’s Board of Trustees Wednesday night, the agreement goes for formal signature by the parties. The terms of the agreement were ratified by 93 percent of union members in April.

“This agreement grants a range of requests brought up by our faculty, providing substantial improvements to their quality of life — in a time of increasing economic uncertainty — and status as employees of the college,” said Board President Sandra Chen Lau. “At the same time, this agreement is among the first in the state to grant health care to our part-time faculty members, who experience much uncertainty in their employment. We look forward to implementing this fiscally responsible agreement and continuing the important work of educating our students.”

“We are very excited that the Faculty Association and the district have come to an agreement on this contract,” said Mikage Kuroki, an English professor and member of the Faculty Association bargaining team, in remarks at the board meeting Wednesday. “We are pleased to address issues such as salary, working conditions, and an increase on paid office hours for part-time faculty, among other issues. However, we are most excited that this contract for the first time includes PCC-sponsored health care for part-time faculty. And for this we are most grateful.”

PCC’s contract with the faculty union renews an established structure that governs teaching assignments, evaluations, and grievance processes. The agreement provides for pay raises of six percent in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic year and allows for further negotiation on pay in 2024-25. Faculty will also receive one-time payments of $3,000 for full-time and $1,500 for each semester worked by part-time members of the union this year.

The groundbreaking agreement on part-time faculty health benefits builds on funding provided by the state and the community colleges’ Chancellor’s Office. The Faculty Association and district have agreed that any part-time faculty member working at least 40 percent time in a semester at the college will be eligible for individual coverage, with the district paying 80 percent of costs. Eligible faculty will have access to coverage for their families and dependents, in addition to dental and vision insurance.

The provisions are intended to help reduce costs for part-time faculty, who comprise 71 percent of the instructional, library, and counseling personnel of the college.

Other terms include enhanced office hours for part-time faculty, providing increased access and guidance for students from adjunct instructors. The agreement clarifies definitions of professional development activities at the college and adjusts the evaluation process for faculty. A focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in teacher evaluations will be negotiated further in 2023-24.

The contract also addresses for the first time the role of athletic coaches in PCC’s instructional environment. PCC Lancer athletes will have a defined number of head and assistant coaches for each sport, and these union members will be able to rely on a set compensation schedule.

The document is expected to be formally ratified at the June 21 meeting of the Board of Trustees.

 

Source: PCC