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State AFL-CIO stands in solidarity with community college teachers' union

Berry Craig
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The Kentucky State AFL-CIO has endorsed an AFT Local 1360 resolution against a proposed revision of Kentucky Community and Technical College System board policy that would weaken tenure protections for faculty.

"Great thanks to Berry Craig, Kentucky AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan and all Kentucky union members," said Barbara Ashley, Local 1360 executive director.

The revision would affect teachers at all 16 public community and technical colleges.

Craig, who is retired from West Kentucky Community and Technical College in Paducah, is a Local 1360 charter member and an executive board member. He asked the panel to support the resolution at today's board meeting in Frankfort.

Steve Earle of the UMWA seconded Craig's request, which was agreed to unanimously.

Craig explained that tenure is under attack at community colleges and four-year colleges and universities nationwide.

In 2009, the KCTCS Board of Regents voted to end tenure for all new hires. Local 1360 spearheaded faculty resistance to the board action.

Fifteen of the 16 community and technical colleges approved resolutions condemning the board action. Craig was the principal author of the WKCTC resolution, which the faculty passed by a wide margin.

Also, the Democratic-majority state House of Representatives approved a non-binding pro-tenure resolution.

The Louisville Courier-Journal agreed that tenure is the cornerstone of academic freedom. “A Limbaugh-style demagogue can target a professor with unpopular views, and tenure shields teachers from fearful administrators,” a C-J editorial pointed out.

The union also sought an opinion from then Attorney Gen. Jack Conway, a Louisville Democrat. He agreed that the board had overstepped its authority, and it backed down.

Here is the resolution in full: 

Resolution Opposing The KCTCS Board of Regents proposed revision of KCTCS Board of Regents Policy 2.8 KCTCS Employee Separation, section 2.8.2 “Termination”

WHEREAS the KCTCS Board of Regents proposes to revise the KCTCS Board of Regents Policy 2.8 KCTCS Employee Separation, section 2.8.2 “Termination”; and

WHEREAS the revised KCTCS Board of Regents Policy 2.8 KCTCS Employee Separation, revised 2.8.2 “Termination and Discipline” seeks a new means to dismiss employees “when it becomes prudent or necessary for KCTCS or any part of it to reduce the size of the overall workforce, eliminate programs, or reduce or reorganize an operating unit.”

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the KY Faculty and Staff Alliance does not endorse the proposed revision to the KCTCS Board of Regents Policy 2.8 KCTCS Employee Separation, section 2.8.2 “Termination” on these grounds:

  • The proposed revision fails to define what is meant by “prudent,” “necessary” and “reduce or reorganize an operating unit,” even though these indeterminate terms are proposed as a rubric for termination;
  • The proposed revision vests authority as to what needs to be “reduced or reorganized” and what jobs need to be eliminated in the judgment of unspecified administrators;
  • The proposed revision sets forth no objective criteria that would constrain administrative judgment and apply fairly to all employees;
  • The proposed revision therefore reduces all faculty and staff, tenured or otherwise, to “at will” employees despite statute and regulations to the contrary;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the KY Faculty and Staff Alliance bids the KCTCS Board of Regents to reject the proposed changes to the 2.8 KCTCS Employee Separation Policy.