Members at Mt. San Jacinto College ratify new 10.5% retroactive pay increase amidst ongoing negotiations

With negotiations still ongoing, members at Mt. San Jacinto College were excited to recently ratify a tentative agreement for a 10.5% retroactive raise for associate faculty for the 2022-23 academic year. Workers have been calling the college out on their misguided priorities and unfair proposals, even as management's bargaining team has claimed "they are not in the financial position to provide us with a fair contract."

Students from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula rely on the expertise of the associate faculty at MSJC to reach their academic goals, whether that be meeting continuing education criteria, enrolling in vocational or technical training programs, expanding their language skills, or eventually transferring to another educational institution. 

These members work tirelessly to support student success, including teaching a majority of the college's classes and donating thousands of hours a year in unpaid office hours. There would be no college without them, yet management has prioritized investments new construction, including a $41 million dollar athletic complex, over the needs of staff.

Despite the recent TA on retroactive pay, we still have some outstanding and key demands regarding future raises and longevity step increases, paid office hours, seniority rights, and healthcare. Members also want to strengthen our existing contract language around union rights and the grievance process. 

"The district has signaled some willingness to move toward us on most of these issues, but we will need to keeping fighting in order to hold the district to their word. The rights and benefits above are crucial to improving the quality of life of Associate Faculty, and members are prepared to keep up our momentum, should the district's bargainers continue to attempt to delay, frustrate, and discourage the process," said Cynthia Rojas, an Associate Faculty member in the Health Sciences Department.