Since the very first day of Governor Lamont’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” emergency declaration, essential on-site state workers risked their lives and the lives of their families, as well as their physical and mental health to deliver core public services for Connecticut residents and businesses. In the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, we worked with state officials to try to keep workplaces as safe as humanly possible during a global public health emergency. In recent months, the labor and management have turned to pandemic pay to provide a tangible recognition for the dedication and sacrifices essential on-site workers made during the height of the virus’s impact.
Many faculty have reached out to share concerns about proposed class caps listed in the Fall 2023 Rollover Schedule that was recently shared with faculty across our campuses.
Some campuses have begun soliciting intent for ‘non-instructional load’ for the Fall 2023 semester. Some Campus Schedulers asked faculty to report Additional Responsibilities, work as Program Coordinator or Department Chair, any projected Reassigned Time, Additional Courses, or service on state-wide committees.
In the last few weeks, we heard from several faculty after meetings at the campuses related to department structures resulted in misinformation. In these campus meetings, at least 2 deans reported every campus needed to have six departments and six department chairs. That is incorrect.
Across our states, many of us are essential workers who serve our communities, educate our children, and so many other services essential to making our communities safe and healthy. These are essential public services every community needs. Our work makes our cities run and our taxes fund our communities. So why do our schools and child care system continue to be underfunded?
The 4Cs will be partnering with Yale Professor Daniel Martinez-HoSang and Alliance for a Just Society to expand on our summer organizing intern program.
Many of you have joined newly formed shared governance bodies this Spring 2023 semester, such as College Senate, Curriculum Congress, Statewide Discipline Councils, and Subject Area Curriculum Committees. Serving on shared governance bodies is an extremely important and vital part of our work. Thank you for serving.
Our union has formed a Part-Timers Steering Committee to win big improvements for part-time workers in our community colleges this legislative session and in our upcoming contract campaign!
Celebrating our 50th Anniversary as an organization is a monumental occasion, and in addition to our membership conference, we asked one of our members, David C. Jackson to create an image that the 4Cs could use as a limited edition anniversary item for our conference t-shirt and conference materials.
Our union in partnership with AFT and CSU-AAUP is distributing an **Adjunct Survey** to help us better understand the challenges adjunct members face in our CSCU system and across CT. This survey will provide us necessary information to improve our contract and guide our union in improving working conditions for our adjunct members. The survey will also help inform a policy report to support legislative efforts to enhance equity for adjunct faculty across our state.
