“Plan your lesson, put together materials, teach the class, grade the papers, and get paid for themiddle third,” said Geoffrey Johnson.During SWC Equity Week adjunct instructors crowded grievances.
A part time teacher, or adjunct, is paid $60-$65 during class time, which is only 25 percent oftheir deserved salary, according to Geoffrey Johnson, Adjunct Representative for Adjunct English Professor David Hurwitz said that the promise of a full-time position was ideal.
On top of having a low salary, some of the SWC adjuncts do not have the benefits that full-timers do. Hurwitz said it is unequal. Part-timers receive no benefits at lower wages than the full timers who do receive benefits.
Hurwitz said this is unequal.
“If you do good you’ll get into this better job,” he said.
“When in fact, if we’re talking aboutequity, everyone would have a full-time job.”
Dean of The School of Language and Literature, Joel Levine, said that a student should notnotice the difference between a full-time and a part-time professor’s credibility.
“Every aspect of life is related,” he said. “We can’t have equity with full-time staff and not part-time staff, they have to have the same qualifications.”
Levine mentioned how in previous years 70 percent of SWC’s faculty were full-time professors and 30 percent were part-time. Now, he said, those numbers have switched with adjuncts taking on the majority 70 percent.
“In elementary school they would not stand for it–why do we stand for it in community college?”said Levine.Johnson said there is a little over 200 full-time instructors and 700 part-time instructors. According to Johnson, some adjuncts have worked at SWC for 30 years and have not received permanent positions. Hiring adjuncts ensures the college does not have to pay for health insurance or retirement benefits, he said.
A letter was sent to GovernorJerry Brown both this year and the last stating the troubles adjuncts expect to be acknowledged, respected, and most importantly, validated. Southwestern College Education Association (SCEA) Campus equity week asked Brown and the legislature to fully make good on last year’s temporary faculty. The proposal was of $50 million for pay equity, $30 million for office SCEA also asked Brown to pass a true job security bill for adjuncts that included: job security after six semesters, seniority based on date of hire, and one semester improvement plan for adjuncts in the event of poor evaluation. Adjuncts also wish legislation be introduced to make student loan forgiveness easier for adjuncts and that raising minimum wage for all part-time workers.