The strike continues

Here's an excerpt from an email sent to employees (from the administration) after the negotiations yesterday... apparently, neither side is getting anywhere.

"There was some limited dialogue on the major issues regarding workload and salary, but there wasn't much progress and we believe we need to continue negotiating as soon as possible. We offered to meet this weekend, but the union declined to meet until Monday. Given that the education of our students is delayed every day that the strike continues, we think the union has an obligation to come back to the table as soon as possible."

I still have mixed feelings about all of this. I support the faculty and understand what they are fighting for, but I also am still in the classroom and see firsthand how this is affecting the students.

As far as continuing to teach my classes - there is a part of me that feels guilty, as the faculty is still begging the adjuncts for us to show support by refusing to teach our classes. The adjuncts who are in the union have a 'no strike' clause in their contract; therefore, the majority of them called in sick (so they technically weren't "striking") the first few days of the strike to show their support. However, since the strike has gone on for so long, many have returned to work. The rest of us adjuncts are non-unionized, with a 'no reprisals' clause in our contract, meaning that if we do choose to cancel classes in support of the faculty, we will supposedly not suffer any consequences (either way). However, if we do cancel classes, we don't get paid. I've spoken with several adjuncts and they have all agreed that this is an integral issue - most of us work several jobs out of necessity, not just out of a love of teaching. Although this is what I want to do with my life & I really enjoy it, I still need to be paid. I'm not going to sit around and pretend like the money doesn't matter - because it does - a lot! Unfortunately, I don't have a luxury of giving up my check for an unspecified amount of time, especially seeing that the holidays are coming up. I hate the fact that my check has to be the deciding factor, but I've come to realize that no matter how I feel, I cannot compromise in this area.

The students are also quite unhappy and confused. Many of my students haven't bothered showing up - I don't know exactly why, though I can make some guesses. It could be one of three reasons: they don't actually know we are continuing to have class, they are showing their own support for the faculty by not attending (students are also covered under the 'no reprisals' clause during the strike), or they are simply using this time as an excuse to not come to class. Whatever the reason, it's hard for the students who are diligently continuing to attend. In my writing workshop class, I'm averaging between five and seven students per night (out of fifteen); in the grammar class, between ten and thirteen students have continued to come in (out of twenty-five). Of course, the students who are there have a million questions about what is happening & how it's going to affect them. Several students have mentioned they feel the faculty is being selfish by refusing to speed up negotiations. Others have voiced their support, but still feel this is going to have a hugely negative impact on their learning.

I understand and sympathize with all sides & although I am trying keep all sides of the issues in my head, I'm still plain ol' frustrated. It's difficult to continue to have "normal" classes and teach as though everything is fine, especially when we can occasionally hear the chants of the faculty outside the window, urging the students to turn around and go home. It's hard enough to get the students to come to and care about intro-level writing classes at a community college as it is! It's also frustrating to realize that the instructors' (including myself) full attention isn't focused on the students and the quality of the classes because everyone is so preoccupied with what is happening with the strike.

I'll say it once again - school politics suck!

I need Starbucks!