information officer. In addition, the Merced College Faculty Association (MCFA/Union), with assistance from the California Teachers Association, has submitted this same complaint to the Public Employment Relations Board.At issue is whether the District has the right of assignment with regard to instructional teaching obligations. MCFA’s position is that the District does not have the right to assign the instructional schedule and work load for faculty.
“We maintain that the current faculty contract and the state education code clearly assigns this right to the District,” Shepard said. “While faculty, according to the contract, have the right to provide input to the Deans regarding their workload assignments, all assignments remain subject to the approval of administration.
“Colleges could not operate effectively, nor in the best interest of students and taxpayers if such authority does not remain in plac
As outlined in the mutual agreement between the District and MCFA, MCFA has exhausted four levels of grievance procedures, and is continuing to appeal through the binding arbitration process. The union’s grievance does not represent individual instructors, but has been filed as a global union action.
“We support a mutually agreed upon contract,” said Dr. Brian Ellison, vice president of Instruction, “a contract that is responsible to the taxpayers of Merced County and one that fully meets the needs of our students. A college’s right of assignment is the best way to be efficient and effective with taxpayers’ dollars as we continue to provide quality educational programs for our students.”
The District assigns full-time faculty to teach classes, counsel students, and to provide library services within a contracted 175-day annual instructional calendar, days for which they are paid.
According to the District, maintaining 175 days of instruction for full-time faculty is not only binding according to the current labor contract, it meets the demands of the California Education Code.
The California State Teachers Retirement System also requires that faculty work 175 days a year to receive full benefits at retirement.
“At the end of the day, the District’s administrative team and the Board of Trustees are adhering to the contract with MCFA and long-standing provisions in the Ed Code,” Shepard said. “This is really about meeting the needs of our students, and conducting the College’s business with integrity, while assuring that the community’s confidence and investment in their community college is deserving of their continued support.”
Source: Merced College
