Negotiations Rally (Apr 2022)
faculty gather at SCC South Plaza before rallying outside Siegal Center/SCD District Offices (4/24/2022)
AFT Wage Negotiation Update, 3/15/2022
Text copied from email sent by David Krull (AFT 1789 Negotiations Chair) on 3/15/2022 to all faculty:
After our last joint negotiation session, one of our faculty members in attendance, shared out these excellent notes from the session. They were shared on the "faculty conversations" email list, so not all members had an opportunity to see them.
Spring 2022 MOU finalized
Linked is the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Seattle Colleges District VI and AFT Seattle Local 1789 for Spring 2022.
"This memorandum of understanding serves to define an agreement between the parties for the Spring Quarter 2022 as a continued response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the impacts on faculty, students, and instruction."
IN THE NEWS: "Seattle educators rally for a ‘Thriving Wage’" (Socialist Resurgence)
Thank you to Socialist Resurgence reporter, Steve Leigh, for attending and reporting on AFT 1789's Rally for A Thriving Wage.
A snippet from the article:
"Beyond this, the workers are demanding a 40% wage increase. As one member put it, “We have faced a total pay cut. Our wages have not kept up with the cost of living.” This demand seems radical to many, but union members said that especially since 2008-9 they have lost that much in real wages. They need this increase just to get back to where they were decades ago. This is an issue nationally. An English teacher noted that in 2019, 25% of part-time college teachers across the country had to rely on public assistance just to get by! After COVID, the situation is likely worse. The cost of living is very high in the Seattle area, which aggravates this problem. One teacher noted, “We can’t afford to live on Capitol Hill!” (where Seattle Central College is located)."
Link to the full article: "Seattle educators rally for a ‘Thriving Wage’," Socialist Resurgence, Feb 8, 2022
Union Song Lyrics
You're going to need these song lyrics for today's Rally for A Thriving Wage!:
SONG LYRICS_AFT Seattle BIPOC Caucus Union Songs
- "Which Side Are You On?" (Florence Patton Reese)
- "We Are Union"
- "We Shall Not Be Moved"
Secular Union Protest Song
(Traditional African American Spiritual Tune) - "Solidarity Forever" (Ralph Chaplin)
SONG LYRICS_There Is Power In A Union_Billy Bragg
- "There is Power in A Union" (Billy Bragg)
Rally for a Thriving Wage ahead of first 2022 Negotiations Meeting
AFT Local 1789 members will gather Mon, Feb 7, 11am-1pm at Seattle Central's South Plaza to Rally for a Thriving Wage, demanding a 40% salary increase to thrive in Seattle's high-cost of living and calling for an open, democratic bargaining process.
The next day (Tues, Feb 8), the first negotiations meeting between the AFT 1789 Negotiations Team and Seattle Colleges' negotiators will take place from 3:30-5pm via zoom. The agenda includes: introductions, scheduling of future negotiation sessions, and discussing AFT's demand that joint sessions are open to all faculty members to attend.
Executive Board's Statement of No Confidence in SCD
On January 5, 2022, the AFT Seattle Local 1789 Executive Board sent a Statement of No Confidence to Chancellor Pan, members of the Chancellor's Executive Cabinet, and SCD's Board of Trustees members.