by Julio Leal
As Cabrillo College enters the post-Janus era, there is discernable angst and anxiety in most public sector unions. The shifting winds of political change will surely have lasting consequences here in California and elsewhere in the country as neoliberal “trickle down” economic policies continue to erode the residual elements of FDR’s New Deal initiatives and the public good. As illustrated by the 6 June 2017 case regarding “agency fees,” filed by the National Right to Work Legal Foundation, the Supreme Court has become increasingly politicized and sympathetic to right-wing ideologies of collective bargaining rights for public sector unions. Indeed, in the Janus v. AFSCME case, the Supreme Court essentially determined that unions did not have the right to collect “fair share” or “agency fees” from the employees they represent, and, of course, without the ability to collect union fees from its membership, union structures slowly begin to weaken because daily operations not only require volunteer and paid human power but of equal importance is the financial support required for union services, especially when unions are engaged in legal and/or political activities. Public school teachers everywhere should find it troubling that Janus allows non-union members to receive “perks” without paying fees for costly union activities, such as contract negotiations, healthcare benefits, retirement, and academic freedoms.
In this climate, it is not hard to read the signs that Janus sends to all Americans: it is an all-out assault on public sector unions. In the American sublime, there is imagined beauty in rugged individualism and communal egalitarianism, and though these two seemingly oppositional concepts appear contradictory and irreconcilable, they continue to be real and enduring forces in our collective psyche. Indeed, there is a long tradition of attacking unions (and sometimes violently and with the support of law enforcement). However, there is also a historical template we can use to navigate these turbulent Janus waters, for there is a rich tradition of supporting unions in American schools that many people endorse. It is therefore crucial that we counter false right-wing narratives wisely. In fact, CCFT has already begun to counter right-wing attacks by providing more information to its members so that they too may better understand the issues moving forward, and because CCFT operates under the ethic of collective bargaining, it is the hope that all union members will become increasingly activated and motivated to resist Janus-inspired policies. The Janus case can either cement our bonds as teachers, or it can splinter and fragment our energies and visions; it is up to us. It is important that we realize our fundamental democratic freedoms are on the line because without access to union “fair share” and “agency fees,” only the corporate elite are protected of their First Amendment rights. It is evident that the endgame of right-wing ideologues is to achieve the wholesale dismantling of public education so that they can profit from the public good, or our taxpayer monies.
To illustrate this point, we can look at the recent political maneuverings of Betsy DeVos. As Secretary of Education under the Trump administration, she recently lost a lawsuit in the District of Columbia for attempting to delay regulations implemented by the Obama administration that protected students who took out loans from predatory banks. In the privatized imagination of neo-conservatives, the public good is viewed as potential private profit, and they see themselves as endowed with some ascribed class privilege and power. Perhaps we have reached a juncture in our history where we may have to invoke our right to peaceful assembly and free speech to counter Janus? The recent appointment of Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh by the Trump administration suggests that more hostile policies are to follow Janus. In the event that things continue to unravel at such a frenzied pace, CCFT is preparing for a long drawn out struggle for justice in higher education. As Oakland teachers prepare to strike and follow the footsteps of their brothers and sisters in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and West Virginia, CCFT is preparing to provide support as needed because the struggle for a living wage, dignity, and equity involves us all.
To this end, CCFT is centrally focused on maintaining its strong membership by reaching out to more faculty with Commitment Cards; the union wants members to become more involved in union governance because the big decisions will be made collectively moving forward. CCFT wants to provide all faculty with the opportunity to talk with other members about the value of having a union and how to improve student success. The ability to operate in a productive working environment with administrative support and resources allows us to teach without fear of retaliation while exploring the uncharted terrains of possibility in our classrooms. CCFT council also wants its membership to become more informed as we work on our upcoming contract campaign—we must not take anything for granted. Can you do more to become more engaged with your union? In the post-Janus era, CCFT will become more politically engaged as it countervails right-wing policies, as illustrated by our successful endorsement of Tony Thurmond for State Superintendent of Public Education and former communications instructor Dan Rothwell for Cabrillo College Trustee. This is just the start of the CCFT revival, so please join us and help transform public education for all!