By Andrew Walzer and Lantz Simpson

Mark your calendars now.  From October 28 through November 3, 2001, there will be a week of coordinated activities on campuses in the United States and Canada. Campus Equity Week - designed to educate our campus communities, the public and policymakers - will focus attention on issues of fairness and quality of education. Our message: teachers' working conditions are students' learning conditions and equal work deserves equal pay.
Here at Santa Monica College we will be organizing a number of activities, including a week long tabling effort aimed at educating faculty, staff and students about part time faculty issues.  In addition, on Thursday November 1 at 11:15 am  in Science 145, we will be hosting a forum.  Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles), author of AB907, and SMC President Piedad Robertson have agreed to participate in the forum.
Campus Equity Week will take issue with declining labor standards and increasing use of temporary and part-time labor for all campus work. Campus Equity Week endorses the adoption of equitable labor policies and standards that encourage fairness and dignity for all members of the campus community. Campus Equity Week is part of a growing movement among working people from all walks of life seeking to address the inequities of contingent work. Campus activism is directly linked to that broader movement through the professional organizations, labor unions and member organizations of the National Alliance for Fair Employment that support Campus Equity Week and constitute its steering committee. 
Campus Equity Week developed out of the COCAL (Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor) conference held at San Jose last January.  A national steering committee has been at work planning CEW and will be announcing further plans soon.  Check out the CEW website at www.cewaction.org.

There are a number of different ways that you can be involved in campus equity week, including attending the conference, and signing up for a two hour shift to staff our information table.   We need volunteers!  Please contact the FA office at 4394 if you would like to help plan and participate in CEW activities on our campus.  By taking this action, you will insure better working conditions…for you!   To sign up for tabling contact Andrew Walzer at ex. 8616 or Walzer_Andrew@smc.edu.

Do hourly faculty have medical benefits?
After working three of the last six semesters at five hours per week or more, hourly faculty may choose from one of the following: single party Kaiser medical, a dental plan, or a vision plan.  The District pays the full cost of the plans.
Do hourly faculty earn sick leave?
Yes.  Article 17.2.8 of the contract states that hourly faculty earn sick leave at the rate of 6 hours for every 100 hours of teaching service.
Do hourly faculty have a retirement  plan?
Yes.  Pursuant to federal law, hourly faculty have two choices.  Upon employment, they are automatically entered into a defined contribution plan administered by MetLife.  Hourly faculty have the option of joining STRS (State Teachers Retirement System), a defined benefit plan.  Hourly faculty cannot simultaneously belong to both plans.  Please contact MetLife or STRS for plan details.
Do hourly faculty have access to SMC email?
Yes.  When hourly faculty are hired, they are put into the college email system.  More information about the email system is found on SMC's website (www.smc.edu).
Do hourly faculty have access to voice mail?
Yes.  Simply put in a request to the department secretary.
Do hourly faculty have the right to a parking space on campus?
Purchasing a parking permit gives all faculty a hunting license for a campus parking space.
Do hourly faculty get an office?
That policy varies from department to department.  Check with the department chair.
Are hourly faculty required to hold office hours?
Hourly faculty who teach English composition classes and have a 40% or more load are required to hold one office hour per week.  They are compensated at the same rate as their classroom time.  All other hourly faculty are not required to hold office hours and are not compensated if they do.
What if I have other questions about the Faculty Association?

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