GRIEVANCE SET

The Peralta Federation of Teachers has filed a grievance for Laney College part-time professors Cynthia Mahabir and Matthew Hubbard. Neither professor was given classes for the current semester.

Mahabir has taught in the district for 17 years, Hubbard for 11. Several PFT union members met in the Tower building lobby Aug. 20 to discuss their strategy before taking the elevator to the eighth floor and the office of Laney President Elñora Webb.

Janell Hampton, executive board member of the PFT, read the union’s resolution at the meeting. The union asked for the immediate reinstatement of Mahabir and Hubbard. The PFT has called for an administrative commitment adhering to the spirit of the union contract, and an administrative promise to follow the process when taking action against faculty. “Acknowledgement of and respect for the Part Time Faculty Preferred Hiring Pool are the only shred of job security part time faculty have,” said Hampton.

It was after the informal resolution was read that members of the PFT began voicing concerns that this action by the administration to not rehire the professors has harmed relations between both sides and the integrity of the contract. And it was said multiple times that the biggest concern was the precedent that this would set.

Both instructors were part-time workers at the college, and part-timers are eligible for medical benefits and due process in the contract. Hubbard, who has taught mathematics and other courses, said at the meeting with the Laney president that his medical benefits were already taken from his account.

Dr. Webb said the questions asked by the union do matter, but that the decision and details for not offering the teachers’ positions in the fall semester could not be discussed. She emphasized that no professor was terminated, and that the administration had followed the rules of the contract.

When contacted for comment, Mahabir replied, “Think about it. How can instructors do their jobs without fair-mindedness and support from the administration? How can instructors be expected to help students succeed in the face of arbitrary and capricious treatment by the administration?”

Mahabir, who is also the Part-Time Representative at the PFT, was called by some at the meeting as the most sophisticated part-time advocate, and the voice of part-timers.

The matter of Mahabir and Hubbard will be discussed at the first Peralta Board of Trustees meeting of the semester, Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. in the District Board Room, 333 8th St. The public is invited to attend.