News | Harper College Adjunct Faculty Association

Supreme Court Turns Its Back on Educators

Posted on June 27, 2018 by hcafawebmaster

We won’t give up advocating for our students

In a narrow decision, the U.S. Supreme Court today turned its back on the educators, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and public servants who make our communities strong and safe.

In Janus v. AFSCME, the court overturned common sense jurisprudence that was established more than 40 years ago. By overturning Abood, the court ruled non-members no longer have to pay fair share fees, but unions are still required by law to represent them. Allowing some to opt out of paying will make it harder for all public employees to provide the services that everyone depends on; it will be harder for our educators to advocate for our students and public education; and it will be harder for workers to join together in strong unions.

The key word here is harder, not impossible.

Let’s be clear, the goal of the people who supported this legal case, including Governor Rauner, is to try to silence IEA, NEA, local associations and other public employee unions. They want to stop us from using our collective voice to advocate for our students, for ourselves and for public education.

They will fail.

It has never been more vital that those of us who believe in fair contracts use our collective voice to make sure that all students have access to a high-quality public education. We will continue to spread the truth about the importance of union membership to all of our brothers and sisters working in schools.
We are aware that the Illinois Policy Institute is currently making plans for at least one campaign to try to get IEA members in fair share locals to cancel their membership. This campaign will likely try to convince you – by a letter sent to your home — that you can save your dues dollars each year by simply sending one pre-paid mailing to your school district to tell them to stop your payroll deduction and a second to your local to cancel your membership. The Policy Institute wants to make it very easy for you to do this because they know that fewer members in your local association means less power at the bargaining table – and that’s their goal. If you’re wondering, here’s a list of other things you would also lose if you cancel your membership.

But this won’t be the last you hear from the Policy Institute, or other entities, trying to get you to drop your membership. Their goal is to take power away from educators and our students.

This fight is just beginning. We won’t let them stop us. We will use their attacks to build a stronger IEA and we will move forward together because we know we are STRONGER UNITED.

In solidarity,

Kathi Griffin,
IEA President

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What Will the Upcoming Supreme Court Decision Mean to You?

Posted on June 13, 2018 by hcafawebmaster

Dear HCAFA bargaining unit members,

You have heard from us and the media about the “Janus case” which is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case – which began here in Illinois and supported by Governor Rauner – centers on the question if those who benefit from the protections of and benefits negotiated by a union must contribute to to the expenses of doing so.

A decision in that case is expected by June 30. The new composition of the Court leads to the fear that it might well cancel those “fair share” provisions.

Should that happen, there are potentially dire results for us at Harper. If membership – full or “fair share” – falls below 50% + 1 of eligible persons, the College might move to decertify HCAFA as representatives of eligible adjuncts. If that is successful, at that moment all provisions of our contract vanish! Our salary schedule, workplace protections, and all those contractual items are at the whim of the College.

We have to look only to nearby Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan to witness what happens when union representations are no longer available.

Full members as well as “fee payers” have our collective futures in their hands should the Supreme Court rule against public sector employees in this case. Please consider if you will see your membership as an investment in our local’s ability to represent you and provide a professional voice on local, state, and national levels.

It would not be unexpected if individuals or invested groups might contact you immediately and ask you to formally renounce your HCAFA membership. Please contact an HCAFA Executive Committee member before you do that.

Thanks for all you do for our students, the College, and your colleagues throughout the year. It’s going to be a decisive summer in this realm.

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HCAFA Members Are Urged to Attend the Next HCAFA Exec Committee Meeting

Posted on June 13, 2018 by hcafawebmaster

Hope you are all having a wonderful summer, whether teaching or off now. We’re having lunch and a meeting this Friday at Harper from noon to 2:30 in L-204. Drop in if you can and have some lunch with us! Stay as long as you’d like. All of our meetings are open to our members and we’d love to meet you if we haven’t already.

Please come if you can. Hope to see you then!

HCAFA Executive Committee

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Progressive Economic Policy Benefits

Posted on May 11, 2018 by hcafawebmaster

Ever wonder how conservative vs. progressive economic policies stack up in the real world?

EPI Senior Economic Analyst David Cooper has published a new paper comparing the impact that Governor Scott Walker’s policies have had on the state of Wisconsin vs. Governor Mark Dayton’s in neighboring Minnesota.

Since taking office in 2011, both governors have pursued vastly different state economic policy agendas. Because of the proximity and similarities of the two states, comparing their economic performance provides a compelling case study for assessing which agenda leads to better outcomes for working people.

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The Harper Adjunct Advocate Will Be in Mailboxes Next Week

Posted on April 11, 2018 by hcafawebmaster

Get an advanced look at some of the articles in our most recent newsletter. This newsletter is filled with information important to adjuncts. 1. Information on the Janus Supreme Court case, a case that well may decide the fate of HCAFA and its very existence. 2. Information on the Adjunct Level Two Program, a benefit won in our last contract. 3. Facts and deadlines for applying for professional development in the spring or summer 4. Upcoming meeting dates for exec committee meetings and adjunct unemployment compensation workshops

Adjunct Advocate 48 0418 v13n2

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HCAFA’S Rep to NEA-RA Elected

Posted on April 4, 2018 by hcafawebmaster

Congratulations to Taimi Wilk for being elected HCAFA’s representative to the National Education Association Representative Assembly. HCAFA is fortunate to have such a dedicated member represent us.

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