A New Vision for CCA
Empowering Grassroots Efforts in Higher Education towards a future of Social Justice Unionism
Your Voice Matters! We live in a time when more members than ever are finding their voices, some of them for the first time in their lives. To combat the structures that have perpetuated racism in society, including our revered California educational system, we need to encourage, empower, and act upon them. CCA needs to be an organization that will listen to every member’s voice and raise each issue for consideration. We must actively fight for social justice in our classrooms, our districts, our states, and most importantly our union. We must actively search out the good trouble, and make sure that we are fighting for it, as much as, or more, than for simple wages and benefits. A slight to some is a slight to all, and only through raising all voices will we find an equitable direction forward for everyone.
Rejuvenated Collaboration with CTA/NEA
Our local affiliates can make lasting change within our districts. Similarly, CCA can advocate for lasting change within statewide structures, but this advocacy will be much more potent with effective and collaborative relationships between CCA and CTA/NEA. We must actively reach out to our representatives at these organizations and engage them in meaningful and purposeful dialogue about CCA goals and where/how these goals fit into the CTA/NEA plan, as well as how CTA/NEA can assist in the advocacy of ideas. Similarly, CCA can (and should) serve as the outlet for students after their K-12 experience, and our partners in CTA should trust that we will help students realize their goals after the state-mandated educational experiences have concluded.
Continuing the Educational Journey
Each educator is at their own point on their journey towards their best self. As we work collectively towards a future of social and environmental justice; towards a more equitable tomorrow for ourselves and our students, we all require different resources and support to be effective members in achieving this goal. As the Vice President of CCA, I will strive to ensure that there is open access to all levels of resources for all members, without additional cost, judgment, or other barriers preventing each member from continuing their personal journey of learning. This will be true regardless of employment status or longevity and will help to ensure that each member can find useful resources throughout long and sustained careers.
One for All, and All for the Union
A slight against one is a slight against all. The current state of our two-tier system in California is not just a slight, but an assault on the dignity and well-being of our most vulnerable Part-Time faculty members. No matter your personal employment status, it is a fact that students do better when their instructors are available to them not only inside the classroom, but also outside of class hours to help connect them with the material or campus resources more successfully. If a person works 40% of a full-time load, they deserve 40% of the wage and benefits that their full-time colleagues receive, and should be available for 40% of the time. Fair compensation for fair work. Any less will result, as it has for decades, in less successful student outcomes. Additionally, there have been bills that failed to garner support to increase the maximum load for part-time faculty from 66.7% to 80%. We must reinvigorate these efforts, paired with compensation equity, to allow our part-time faculty to instruct primarily at one college within a district, and forever be done with the phrase “freeway flier.”
“The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress. Out of its bold struggles, economic and social reform gave birth to unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, government relief for the destitute and, above all, new wage levels that meant not mere survival but a tolerable life. The captains of industry did not lead this transformation; they resisted it until they were overcome. ”
Contact
Please reach out with any questions, thoughts, or issues, no matter how big or how small.
Email
joshua4ccavp@gmail.com
Phone
(630) 864-7355