Fighting for job security and better working conditions, Mt. San Jacinto College Associate Faculty calls on the Board of Trustees
November 29 marked a turning point in the efforts of UPTE Mt. San Jacinto College Associate Faculty, as fifty members staged a call-in campaign to the college's Board of Trustees. Members are fighting for adequate healthcare coverage, pay parity with full-time instructors, seniority-based rights, sufficient raises, longevity increases, and paid time for office hours. This includes time spent grading and supporting students outside of the lecture halls. The members targeted the Board of Trustees, which governs the Mt. San Jacinto Community College District.
Marina White, a part-time faculty member working at the Menifee Valley Campus and Temecula Valley Campus in the Political Science Department, broke down one of the consequential issues facing the Associate Faculty: "We're getting involved because we're fighting for equal pay," expressed Marina. "We have seen other colleges' pay rates, office hours, and seniority policies; they already have these things, and we're working each and every week so that we can be on par with the other colleges in the state."
On the evening of November 29, associate faculty members and allies, including classified staff, full-time faculty, and students, came together to make their voices heard. The strategy was simple yet powerful: to flood the Board's voicemail with a deluge of calls, each echoing our solid and united demands.
Marina explained getting members to participate in the call-in campaign: "We text, call, and mobilize the staff to participate during the bargaining process, particularly when we have the call-in actions. Those are some of the techniques, letting them know that there will be a call-in, which is why we're going to participate in the call-in. In the last call-in, we succeeded because we contacted some members of the Board of Trustees, and we could express our issues."
Our demands were clear—it is time for Mt. San Jacinto College management to acknowledge and respect the indispensable role and contributions of the associate faculty. Our calls, though brief, carried the weight of our professional dedication and the urgency of our demands for a fair and respectful contract.
The phone campaign was not just about making our voices heard; it was about sending a clear message to MSJC management. Each phone call reminded the MSJC administration that our demands were not just words but a reflection of our collective strength and unwavering commitment to fairness and respect.
"The hope is that some of these new board members will know what's happening at the college and help facilitate our demands," conveyed Marina. "So that's why the outreach was important: to let the new members know what's going on and to garner support. It's important that we show up in numbers because the school will respond to the numbers. I mean, if we show that we are going to be vocal and we have mobilized and we have support, then they will respond."
UPTE Mt. San Jacinto College Associate Faculty members will continue to apply pressure on the Board of Trustees, building off the momentum of the recent call-in campaign tactic. Let this action remind all that in our quest for fairness and respect, we are not alone, and together, we will triumph.