Our Missing Job Security

As we examined earlier, tenure for 4C’s members offers no protection against layoffs; it only provides us with one extra month of notice in the case of layoffs. In fact, 4C’s members around our system who have alienated their college presidents have been advised not to apply for tenure. The benefit of tenure is too weak to risk being placed on a terminal contract as the tenure review allows.

Layoffs in the 4C’s are based purely on managerial whim.

In the AFT, not only is tenure systemwide, it also provides the foundation for job security. It is why the AFT refused to make a concession agreement in 2003. (Some folks might have you believe other things, but the reality is that in 2003 management wanted the AFT to give up their raises AND their superior contract language in return for the weak and temporary language we agreed to. The AFT declined, and none of their members were laid off.)

AFT Contract Article XXII-Layoffs details the hierarchy to be followed if layoffs are unavoidable. It reads as follows:

…the order of layoff of bargaining unit members shall be as follows:
a. Part-time employees on special appointment
b. Full-time employees on special appointment
c. Part-time employees on terminal appointment
d. Full-time employees on terminal appointment
e. Part-time members on regular appointment
f. Full-time members on regular appointment
g. Employees on tenured appointment

Layoffs in each category listed above in this section shall be based upon both the academic needs of the System and seniority.

Admittedly, a seniority-based system for determining layoffs is imperfect. However, the New Leadership Slate believes it is better than managerial whim. (Management knows this too; it is why they tried to get the AFT to abandon their contract language.) We pledge to work to achieve meaningful job security language for 4C’s members.

NEXT: Department Chairs and Program Coordinators--Unequal Pay for Equal Work