LRCFT Collective Action at Folsom Lake College
By Kalinda Jones, LRCFT FLC Campus Union President
“Freedom can’t be contained within a paradigm that is individualistic. One can not be free alone: freedom is collective.” -Dr. Angela Davis
This semester, LRCFT at Folsom Lake College (FLC) is making meaningful strides for our faculty community through collective action.
The semester began with reduced library hours – shocking the FLC community and impacting working conditions. Because retired classified professionals had not been replaced, faculty librarians were doing work outside of their job descriptions. Working together, faculty librarians, LRCFT representatives, classified employees, and classified union leadership brainstormed solutions, which included meeting with Administration. A plan is now underway to restore library staffing. Once 2 classified professionals are hired and onboarded, we will be excited to see the library hours restored and the faculty librarians working within the contract.
We look forward to supporting the work of faculty who are bringing the AI Summit to FLC on November 14 from 9:00a – 1:00p. We see this as an opportunity to better understand how artificial intelligence is shaping higher education—particularly its impact on workload creep.
The week of October 20 – 24th, during FLC’s LRCFT Faculty Appreciation Week, FLC’s LRCFT representatives, as well as representatives from other Los Rios colleges, were on campus connecting with faculty and participating in our membership drive. Discussions included: working conditions, faculty priorities, and upcoming contract negotiations. In coming months, LRCFT board members plan to visit all of the Los Rios colleges.
Finally, as faculty members, you are a vital part of making FLC’s union strong! LRCFT represents faculty on workload, academic freedom, benefits, and fair treatment. These decisions are made collectively by members — and our strength comes from acting together. To participate in collective action:
Join the membership drive. Check if you’re already an LRCFT member. If not, join. If you are, choose one small way to get more involved.
Read your contract. Set aside time to look through it so you’re familiar with what it covers. If you think you have a contract issue, consult the contract. Re-read the relevant section, consult with your representatives when needed, and then refer to those rights in your conversations with the people involved.
Plan to vote in the upcoming LRCFT elections. It is a straightforward way to have a say in how our union operates and invests in faculty success. Collective action needs to include all of us!