Late last spring the California Community College Independents (CCCI) met for a two day conference in San Francisco. The CCCI is a collection of twelve independent faculty associations (labor unions), unaffiliated with the big teacher unions such as the California Teachers Association. Each of the various representatives provided an update on the current struggles to obtain fair contracts, improved benefits, wages and working conditions at their respective campuses. The uniformity in the methods used by the various districts to obstruct, mislead and divide faculty was striking. More than one attendee noted the lack of leadership and interests from their respective boards of trustees, and an apparent coordination by campus administrators, presidents and their attorneys to manage and re-direct faculty concerns that conflicted with the goals and interests of the district.

Santa Monica College was well represented with the largest delegation, and our own Teri Bernstein presented an excellent and informative perspective of the difficulties Santa Monica Faculty Association had in its frustrating and divisive contract negotiations. The attendees were extremely interested in the tactics used by the administration to misrepresent the issues and demonize the leadership, and how the Faculty Association rose to that challenge. The discussion eventually shifted to the 50% rule lawsuit, the "creative accounting methods" used and "loose interpretation" of how funds should be spent on instruction. Several remarks regarding the tendency of the chancellor to favor administrative interests and goals over that of the faculty were voiced. Two task forces were established by California Community College Chancellor Nussbaum's office, and Teri currently serves on the 50% Rule Task Force, along with representation from the Santa Monica administration.

The other task force established by Chancellor Nussbaum is the Part-Time Faculty Seniority Task Force. Margaret Quan, a member of FACCC's governing board is a member of that task force, and gave a stirring report on the plight of the part-time faculty. Part-time faculty concerns and issues are simply not taken seriously and the task force formed to address the concerns is mere "window dressing." Quan was emphatic, stressing again and again, the failure of the chancellor to take the lead in addressing the concerns of the part-timers, the failure of colleges throughout the state to address this major issue, and a lack of concern and or apathy among many full-time faculty.

Jonathan Lightman and Carolyn Russell of FACCC were also on the agenda, and presented a report on current state legislative issues. They were gravely concerned about the lack of leadership in the chancellor's office and felt it best to pursue legislative action as the best alternative. How to get the chancellor's office to take faculty, both full-timers and part-timers, seriously underscored much of the discussion throughout the conference.

This was the first CCCI conference chaired by newly elected president Zoe Close, replacing Deborah Sweitzer who served as president for the past five years. Close provided an interesting perspective on Council of Faculty Organizations (COFO) and on the Consultation Council. The latter advises the California Community College Board of Governors on budgetary, legislative and policy matters. It is chaired by Chancellor Nussbaum and includes two appointees from the state faculty senate, and one representative each from CCCI, CTA, FACCC and California Faculty Association. It was clear from Close's report that one of the major concerns attracting interests across the state is SMCFA 50% rule lawsuit. The case charging misapplication of funds has aroused Nussbaum who apparently is concerned that the actions taken by the Faculty Association at Santa Monica College represent the latest in a growing trend among faculty labor unions to move beyond the consultation process, (i.e., meeting with the college administrators and chancellor) to press their concerns in public, through elected officials in the state assembly or through litigation. Traditionally this had been the sole preserve of administrators and their board of trustees, but failure of college districts to address faculty concerns and obey state laws have led many faculty leaders to adopt stronger methods.

This was clearly on the mind of special guest Chancellor Nussbaum who identified eight issues which he explained connects his office to the goals and desires of community college faculty. They included open access; student success - especially among racial and ethnic minorities; more revenue per student; diversity in teaching staff- of which he said significant progress has been made; reduction in the number of part-time and the hiring of more full-time faculty; increasing faculty salaries; fair governance with in the consultation areas and avoiding airing disputes before the public and state assembly. Finally, Nussbaum provided a mission statement suggesting that "we have different means to achieve these ends… we can not allow a repeat of last year…we agree to differ. Let [us] not go before the legislators and attack each other." In what appeared to be a conciliatory tone he added, "we want to build on our success, let's start working together and trust one another."

However, during the question and answer time that following there was very little to indicate a willingness to work cooperatively. Nussbaum adamantly defended past practice, and indicated an unwillingness to modify current policies. In his view, barring a few district accounting errors, the system is fine. At one point Nussbaum suggested that all individuals who are paid as faculty but are performing administrative tasks probably ought to be included as part of instruction under the 50% rule. As for the part-timer issue, he is always willing to listens and welcome suggestions. But he provided little in the way of substance regarding distribution of funds through the Partnership for Excellence or the equity in the STRS-PERS packaging. Questions that were asked were either completely dodged or received cagey replies. While it is clear that faculty appeals to legislators, the media and the courts has moved the chancellor into taking notice, it is not clear who the Chancellor is really listening to.

CCCI publishes a newsletter which all faculty receive. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read it. Many of the concerns that we have as faculty at SMC are shared concerns of our colleagues on other campuses. CCCI will meet again from October 15-16, in San Diego. For more information call 619-644-7510.