College of the Canyons is preparing for part-time faculty to go on strike during finals week, which begins this Monday.

Unionized part-time faculty at COC are giving the institution until 6 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 5 to come to an agreement with them regarding contract negotiations before going on strike, according to union AFT Local 6262.

The union is alleging unfair labor practices and accusing the college of cutting part-time faculty pay, refusing to give them a fair pay increase and forcing them to work for free.

Their complaints are regarding their contracts with COC for the 2020 to 2021 academic year and the 2021 to 2022 academic year.

“We have been in negotiations with the District for nearly two years and they have refused to bargain in good faith…” read a statement from AFT Local 6262. “The District has left us no other alternative than to declare a ULP strike.”

Negotiations on the contracts began in February of 2021, according to Eric Harnish, spokesperson for College of the Canyons.

“The district and the union negotiated for more than a year, and they reached what’s known as an impasse,” Harnish said. “A mediation was held in April, and that did not result in an agreement.”

A fact finding panel was held in June and recommended part-time faculty not receive a raise for the 2020 to 2021 academic year, according to Harnish.

“They noted 2020 was a unique year because of the pandemic,” Harnish said. “No bargaining group at the college received a salary increase for that year.”

The board approved a 5.2 percent pay raise for part-time faculty 2021 to 2022, and those payments are currently in the process of being issued, according to Harnish.

The Santa Clarita Community College District plans to hire substitutes to minimize interruptions to classes next week, which is the last week of the fall semester.

“The college is working to find substitute instructors to ensure students have access to their courses during the last week of the semester, can complete their final exams, and receive grades so they are able to complete this fall semester,” read a statement from COC.

COC has also encouraged students to notify the institution if an instructor cancels classes.

“That is the District’s game,” read a statement from the union, referring to the plan to hire substitutes. “AFT will focus on the work we do on the picket line and in support of our members. The most important thing you can do is to withhold your labor from the District. Do not lose faith. Understand this is a long-term struggle and your contribution matters.”

“I think it’s important to note that this strike will not lead to any compensation changes for the two years in question,” Harnish said. “When the board implemented their last, best and final offer, that finished negotiations on contracts for those two years.”

More information about how strikes could affect students can be found here.

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