This Unions4Workers graphic offers a clear distinction between union and non-union workplaces.

Welcome, adjunct colleagues, to the new academic year!

Being union makes a difference

On August 27 I welcomed about three dozen newly hired adjuncts to the college and, during my presentation, I shared the image at right to illustrate why a union makes a difference in the workplace.

Unions protect members, negotiate for higher wages and better benefits, provide due process, represent mem-bers during disciplinary meetings and hearings and work with members to make positive changes.

I encouraged new adjuncts to join the FA to ensure union representation at disciplinary meetings and hearings. It is so important to have the union on your side in times of trouble.

The FA is a strong union and has negotiated the current contact that provides adjuncts with due process, seniority rights, promotion in adjunct rank, voting rights, a pay scale and several benefits.

The FA thanks the 90% of all adjuncts who continue to be members and stay union strong.

We urge those who are not yet members to join right away. The college's adjunct services office indicates that we have about 80 new adjuncts this fall, so please help us reach out and welcome our newest colleagues into the life of the FA.

Reminders

Remember to submit your professional development fund forms right away, before this first-come, first-served funding runs out. You can submit applications for the fall semester now to the adjunct services office.

	Kim Ng Southard, above, welcomed about three dozen new adjunct colleagues on August 27. Since that time, however, the college has noted that we have about 80 new adjuncts total. Please join us in welcoming them to the life of our union. (photo by Cynthia Eaton)

I'd also like to remind you that FA members are also members of NYSUT, which offers a variety of benefits. Go to nysut.org and create an account. You'll need your NYSUT ID number; if you don’t know it, our FA office administrator Anita (631-451-4151 or anita@fascc.org) can look it up for you. Once you set up your NYSUT account, click the For Members link, then click Benefits and Services.

Dates to know

On September 13 from 10 to 11 a.m., the college is offering a promotion workshop for adjuncts in the Orient Point Room (Babylon) at Ammerman. If you’re up for promotion now or in the near future, attend this workshop to learn the specific guidelines for each rank, procedures for applying and the evaluation process. Being prepared helps avoid delays in your promotion!

Please take note of the adjunct dates below, especially the NORA dates:

• 10/4 NORA forms available
• 10/25 NORA forms due*
• 10/28 Certification requests due
• 11/15 Assignments posted: winter
• 11/26 Assignments posted: spring and new hire observations due
• 11/29 Promotion observations due

* If not submitted on time, you won’t be on the seniority list and won’t receive an assignment until after all other adjuncts who have submitted the NORA receive their assignments.

Finally, if you did not receive your FA calendar yet, contact me or Anita to obtain one. The calendars should be in your areas by now; check your mailbox and spaces nearby.

Please contact me (631-905-6999, kimn@fascc.org) if you have questions about your FA membership, professional development fund, the NYSUT website or any other union-related issue.

Have a great semester!