SCFT LOCAL 1533 | STUDENT GUIDE

CONTRACT ACTIONS & POTENTIAL STRIKE IMPACT

Understanding Faculty Bargaining, Student Protections, and What Comes Next Across FCC, Reedley, Clovis, and Madera Colleges

WHAT FACULTY ARE DOING AND WHY

Why are faculty taking collective action across State Center colleges?

Faculty across Fresno City College, Reedley College, Clovis Community College, and Madera Community College are standing united through the State Center Federation of Teachers (SCFT Local 1533). After more than 20 months of contract negotiations without an agreement that keeps pace with cost-of-living increases and regional standards, faculty voted overwhelmingly (97% YES) to authorize potential strike action.

What are faculty fighting for in negotiations?

Faculty working conditions directly define student learning conditions. When instructors have competitive compensation, manageable workloads, and reliable healthcare support, students receive dedicated mentorship and higher quality instruction. SCFT Local 1533 is advocating for:

Competitive Compensation & Healthcare: State Center faculty lag behind regional peers (such as College of the Sequoias) by approximately $10,000 annually in salary and $6,000 in district healthcare contributions.
Fairness for Part-Time Faculty: Ensuring equitable pay for adjunct instructors who teach a significant portion of student courses.
Lecture/Lab Parity: Currently, faculty who teach labs are paid for only 75% of the time they are in the lab. SCFT is fighting for faculty to be paid for 100% of the time they spend in the lab.

Does the District have the money to fund these improvements?

Yes. State Center Community College District maintains substantial financial reserves, including over $300 million in public reserves and additional unallocated funds. SCFT is asking the District to reinvest a small portion of these reserves back into the educators who directly support classroom success.

POTENTIAL OUTCOMES AND IMPACT ON STUDENTS

Is a strike happening immediately?

No. A strike authorization vote does not mean an immediate walkout. Under California's Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA), formal impasse procedures must be completed first. A strike can only legally occur after state-appointed mediation and statutory fact-finding reports are completed. The authorization vote simply empowers union leaders to call a strike as a last resort if District administration refuses to reach a fair settlement.

If a strike happens, will I lose my Financial Aid or GI Bill® benefits?

No. A temporary work stoppage will not impact your financial aid eligibility, Cal Grant, Pell Grant, or veteran educational benefits. Financial aid disbursements are tied to overall enrollment status, and short-term instructional disruptions do not forfeit aid.

Will I lose course credits, or will my graduation/transfer be delayed?

No. Your academic progress and earned units remain protected. When a labor agreement is reached, faculty and college leadership establish syllabus pacing adjustments and make-up instructional plans to ensure all required learning hours are fulfilled so courses complete on schedule.

How will Canvas, grading, and communications be affected during a strike?

If an official strike is called, faculty engage in digital and physical labor withholding strictly during active strike days:

Instructors will not hold classes, conduct online lectures, or grade assignments.
Canvas modules and grading updates will be temporarily paused.
Professors will not check or answer district emails until the strike is resolved.

What happens once the contract fight is settled?

Once a fair agreement is achieved, normal instruction resumes immediately. Faculty will provide clear guidance on updated assignment timelines, syllabus adjustments, and grading schedules to ensure no student is academically penalized as a result of the labor dispute

HOW STUDENTS & COMMUNITY CAN TAKE ACTION

Issue	Potential Impact on Students	Status / Resolution
Financial Aid & Grants	No loss of aid or eligibility.	Protected under state and federal regulations.
Graduation & Units	No loss of course credits or unit value.	Syllabus pacing & make-up plans preserve unit completion.
Class Instruction	Classes paused strictly during active strike days.	Full instruction resumes immediately upon contract settlement.
Canvas & Grading	Canvas updates paused during active work withholding.	Deadlines adjusted following return to work.
Student Support	Join practice pickets, wear blue, and submit trustee public comments.	Active community solidarity speeds up contract settlement.

HOW STUDENTS CAN GET INVOLVED

Student voices are vital in showing the District Board of Trustees that the entire college community values quality instruction.

👕 Wear Union Blue on Wednesdays: Join faculty and fellow students across all four campuses in wearing blue to demonstrate campus unity.

🏛️ Attend Board of Trustees Meetings: Share public comments or stand in solidarity during upcoming SCCCD Board of Trustees meetings.

📱 Stay Informed: Follow verified union updates via SCFT Local 1533 channels (@scft1533 on Instagram) and discuss the contract fight with your professors before or after class sessions.

FACT VS MYTH: WHAT NEGOTIATIONS MEAN FOR STUDENTS

Myth: A better faculty contract takes resources away from students.

Fact: Supporting faculty supports students. Competitive pay helps colleges keep experienced instructors, provide consistent courses, and support students throughout their education. The union argues that the District can use more of its $300M reserves to meet these needs.

Myth: The strike authorization vote means classes will stop immediately.

Fact: Authorizing a strike is not the same as calling one. The 97% YES vote gives the bargaining team the option to call a strike if necessary. The goal remains to reach an agreement, with a walkout as a last resort.

Myth: The District cannot afford competitive faculty salaries.

Fact: The union's analysis shows the District spends a smaller share of its budget on employee pay and benefits than many other California community colleges. Faculty are asking the District to prioritize compensation that helps attract and retain instructors.

Myth: Investing in faculty means less funding for student services.

Fact: Instruction and student services both matter. California's "50% Law" sets a minimum spending requirement for classroom instruction. Increasing instructional spending can create room within that requirement for additional spending on counseling, staff, and other student support.

Myth: Current administrative spending is the only way to keep the colleges running.

Fact: Faculty are asking the District to review administrative overhead and direct more resources toward classrooms and student support.

Myth: Faculty are asking for raises without considering students.

Fact: Faculty pay has fallen behind inflation and nearby colleges. Their request is intended to help keep experienced educators here and make these colleges places where instructors can build lasting careers.

FACULTY RIGHTS & WHY THEY MATTER TO STUDENTS

A Private, Protected Vote: The strike authorization election was conducted by an independent third party with confidential voting. This allowed faculty to participate without administrative pressure.

Protection from Retaliation: Faculty have legal protections for union activity under state labor law. Those protections apply to full-time, tenure-track, and part-time instructors, and the union actively challenges suspected retaliation.

The Goal: Faculty seek an agreement that supports their working conditions and students' learning conditions. A strike remains a last resort.