Gavilan Faculty Unity Group
This site is funded with a grant from the Community College Association

“I need a union because…

Ali Arid
A union will use its bargaining power to get better contracts for part-time faculty and fair treatment.”
Ali Arid, Math

Jane Rekedal
Part time faculty offer the same level of expertise and teaching excellence as full-time faculty, and yet we do it at 56 percent of the pay and without benefits. A union will serve us and the students by improving this situation.”
Jane Rekedal, Art

Art College
It's the only fair and equitable way that part-timers can be recognized for the contributions that we make to the college. Certainly there should a reasonable and equitable structure, and representation for part-timers, that doesn't exist now. It's the trend across the state from what I can see.”
Art College, Accounting

Matt Johnston
It's critical that part-timers have a say in their pay and working conditions and that can only happen when we join the existing union and make ourselves heard.”
Matt Johnston, Philosophy

Retirement Options

Dear part-time Gavilan faculty,

Have you thought about retirement lately? Part-time faculty at Gavilan DO have some retirement options, though we would like to see them improved at the state and local levels. As the information from STRS that we're distributing to part-time boxes this week indicates (you can see it online at CALSTRS) part-timers who work for a total of five years become vested and eligible for STRS retirement benefits. We are currently discussing with the Gavilan Community College district its method of counting service credit, which is part of the formula (age, service credit, and salary at retirement all figure in to monthly pension amounts in the end.) Those who probably will not work a total of five years may be better served by the private Apple plan offered by the district. In addition, the Social Security windfall asset might affect part-timers' STRS benefits and should be considered in making any decision. Information below.You can also see, from the Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers, a matrix to help you compare.

And all workers need to be on top of their retirement options! We suggest the following non-profit resources:

Leah Halper , GCFA secretary
with thanks to Cabrillo College Teachers Federation and Shairon Williams of Gavilan's HR department