ADJUNCT JUNCTION

First of all, I want to thank all of you who voted me into office once again as the second vice president of the Guild. It is a great honor to represent you. I have worked with a lot of wonderful people and learned a great deal about organizations, politics and social issues while doing this job. It has taken a long time to get up to speed but I feel that my view of the world has changed as a result of being part of this leadership microcosm known as the Glendale College Guild. One concern that I do have for the future however, involves finding new leadership among the part-timers at GCC. As we adjunct faculty begin to share in the dividends of pay parity we must also be aware that true campus equity includes involvement in governance. By sharing our unique experiences on decision-making committees we can change our perceptions of the college and the college's perceptions of us. We can bring to the table the awareness that we have from other districts in which we teach where things are done differently. We can also share our knowledge of the teaching experience from a part-timer's point of view.

Hopefully once we part-timers get more comfortable financially (which the new parity money will help facilitate) and more certain of our place within the college (as I am hoping rehire rights will achieve), I believe adjunct faculty will be ready and more than willing to join campus governance. Their concern with pedagogy, fair working conditions and the excellence of this institution is much the same as the full-time faculty's interest.

In order to promote the involvement of part-timers in creating their own destiny the Guild and the college administration are sponsoring a regional part-time faculty conference here at Glendale College on Saturday, September 21, 2002. We will be inviting part-timers from all over Southern California to come and hear speakers, take informative workshops, learn about retirement benefits and how state legislation affects our working conditions, and network with others while getting more involved.

I hope some of you will step forward and take a small role in helping out with the hosting of this important event. Leadership doesn't have to be a big thing. It can just be an hour or two of paving the way for change.

For those paid on the B-1 pay schedule (the flat-rate schedule), your June check will reflect the new parity money salary rate. You should have received your retroactive payment of the parity money (dating back to September 2001) by the third week of May.

Remember that if you are not working at any other job after spring semester ends (even if you think you will be hired to teach in the fall) you are eligible for state unemployment benefits. Contact me for more information.

Any question or comments regarding this column can be addressed to Phyllis Eckler X5646 or peckler@glendale.edu v