Press Release for Strike Launch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, October 28, 2023
MEDIA ADVISORY
Columbia College Adjunct Faculty Will Strike on
Monday, October 30 at 9 AM
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Union Members, Students, and Allies Will Hold a
Press Conference at 10:30 AM
CHICAGO – The nearly 600 members of the Columbia Faculty Union (CFAC, IFT/AFT/AFL-CIO Local 6602) will go on strike this MONDAY, OCTOBER 30 at 9 AM, with a press conference at 10:30 AM.
The part-time adjunct faculty members at Columbia College voted overwhelmingly to strike late Wednesday evening; more than 81% of members voted, with 88% voting YES to strike. Bargaining between the union and administration on Thursday was unproductive once again, forcing union members to move forward with the walkout.
"Despite repeated attempts to collaborate with the Kim administration to address student needs and faculty's equity concerns, college leaders continue to reject our efforts and ignore the voices of Columbia's students and educators," said Diana Vallera, CFAC president and photography professor. "This administration has made it clear that they do not intend to work with us to find solutions, so they have forced us to strike to make our voices heard."
The strike is in direct response to the faculty's extreme frustration with the administration's mandate to eliminate hundreds of already-enrolled classes and dramatically increase class sizes in others to address their claims of a financial crisis. Despite being in bargaining with the union, Columbia leaders made no effort to inform the faculty of the plan or to bargain a better solution. These ill-conceived cuts will be detrimental to the student experience. In response, CFAC filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge against the administration with the National Labor Relations Board in August.
WHO: Members of the COLUMBIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION (CFAC Local 6602, IFT/AFT) with students, labor leaders, and allies
WHAT: COLUMBIA COLLEGE ADJUNCT FACULTY ON STRIKE and PRESS CONFERENCE
WHEN: MONDAY, OCTOBER 30
Picketing: 9 AM - 1 PM - Press Conference: 10:30 AM
WHERE: 600 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago (Main picket line and press conference location)
Visuals: Strikers, students, and other supporters will carry signs. Large union inflatables will be displayed.
"This administration has a choice," Vallera added. "Instead of partnering with us as professionals to find a better path forward, they have chosen to cancel hundreds of courses that our students need and part-time unionized faculty teach. It is a callous attempt to close a budget gap that they have refused to clearly define. Columbia's most marginalized faculty and students will suffer from their choice, and we won't let that happen."
The next bargaining session is scheduled for November 2.
The Columbia College Faculty Union (CFAC, Local 6602) represents 600 part-time faculty at Columbia College - Chicago and is affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) represents 103,000 teachers and paraprofessionals in PreK-12 school districts throughout Illinois, faculty and staff at Illinois’ community colleges and universities, public employees under every statewide elected constitutional officer, and retirees.
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