OCtober 2026

Hello, fellow faculty.

In this second issue of our Cerritos College Faculty Federation (CCFF) newsletter for fall semester, you’ll find a president’s message from Will Mittendorf, a “Know Your Rights” tip from Mariam Youssef, a link to our growing collection of “Remembering CCFF History with…” contributions from early members of our union, a list of upcoming trainings from the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), and information about becoming a CCFF member. Thanks to my fellow executive board members Will and Mariam for their contributions to the content of this month’s newsletter.

If you have a suggestion for a future newsletter, please send it my way.

In Solidarity!

Chad

communications@ccffcerritos.org

Message from Our CCFF President

Dear faculty colleagues,

Now that we’ve officially wrapped up our contract reopener, I want to thank everybody involved: our negotiations team, our executive board, all of our members who voted, and all of our faculty who participated in this process of giving feedback, filling out surveys, and deliberating over the merits and drawbacks of proposals. While this procedure ended in a vote, it is the exchange of reasons that gives this democratic process its strength and legitimacy, and ultimately led to what I believe is a very good outcome. Starting in Fall 2027, faculty will be paid from a single unified salary schedule that raises pay for every part-time faculty member and for all full-time faculty working summer and overload. Everyone will also see an ongoing 4.52-percent salary increase starting with the October pay period, with retroactive pay coming in early December.   

The American pragmatist philosopher John Dewey described democracy as a way of life. The value of democracy lies not only in elections and votes, but also in the daily exchange of reasons between political equals. He also described democracy as experimental. We work collaboratively to identify problems and hypothesize solutions. Then we test those solutions out and revise our proposals in an ongoing democratic process.

Likewise, our faculty contract is experimental. Every three years, our faculty deliberate and collaboratively determine which articles need revision to better solve problems. We all participate in this process, not just by filling out CCFF surveys and attending town halls, but by having meaningful conversations with our colleagues about our working conditions. Echoing Aristotle’s insight of “the wisdom of the many,” Dewey’s epistemic conception of democracy asserts that the more robust our deliberation, the better our solutions. 

Improving our working conditions is a democratic process, and I urge everyone to engage in this exchange of reasons with your colleagues in your departments, in your divisions, in your hallways, as well as through texts, emails, and surveys. Embrace it as a way of life, and we can continue to identify problems and test out better and better solutions together.

In Solidarity!

Will

president@ccffcerritos.org

“Know Your Rights” Tip: Large Class Pay

Beyond your regular pay, faculty can expect additional compensation for large classes! In our collective bargaining agreement (CBA), this is defined as fifty-five students or more at the time of census. This applies to both full-time and part-time faculty, and to cross-listed courses, as well. The additional pay ranges from $1,350-$1,650, depending on how large the class is. The understanding in the CBA is that once a class reaches that size, your workload changes in significant ways, and you deserve to be compensated for that.

If you have a large class and have not been compensated – or are not sure if you will be compensated – please reach out so we can look into that for you. You can contact grievance@ccffcerritos.org to ask any questions you might have.

In Solidarity!

Mariam

parttimevp@ccffcerritos.org

Our Growing Collection of “Remembering CCFF History with…” Contributions

The chair of our CCFF Membership Committee, Lisa Blod, has started a collection of firsthand accounts from early members of our union at Cerritos College. We’re calling the collection “Remembering CCFF History with…,” and you can access it on the “About Us” page on our CCFF website. At the moment, you can read accounts from Craig Breit, Robin Huber, and Janis Pizer. Thanks to Lisa, Craig, Robin, and Janis for their respective contributions to this growing collection!

Upcoming Training Opportunities from the CFT

Christopher Arellano at the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) has put together several training webinars for members. Here they are, listed in chronological order.

Immigration: Workers’ Rights and Responsibilities in the Trump Era

4-5:30 p.m. on October 28

Educators and school workers have growing concerns about the escalating actions by the Trump administration, from ICE showing up on our campuses, to the crackdown on free speech and peaceful protests, to attacks on academic freedom, and more. Join us for this timely Zoom training that will help us better understand our rights and responsibilities as educators and school employees during this difficult time to protect our students, ourselves, our coworkers, and our communities.

CalSTRS Retirement Webinar
3:30-5 p.m. on November 9

Find out more in-depth information about your CalSTRS benefits, the difference between earned and purchased service credit, and ways to bridge the gap between your CalSTRS benefit and your retirement income goal. 

Addressing Federal Employment Authorization Changes that Impact Our Members and Communities

4-5:30 p.m. on November 10

Recent federal changes to immigration relief programs and renewal delays threaten immigrant workers’ well-being and economic security. This presentation will provide an update on the status of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), information (non-legal advice) about what these changes mean for impacted educators, and resources to guide individuals on what steps they can take on their respective cases. 

Unemployment Insurance Workshop

4-6 p.m. on December 3

The Unemployment Insurance Workshop will guide contingent faculty through the online unemployment filing process, for both new and reopened claims. How to deal with phone interviews, denials, and appeals will also be covered. This webinar is open to all members, but focused on contingent faculty.

If you have any questions about any of these four trainings, please contact Christopher Arellano at carellano@cft.org.

How to Join Our Union

If you are not yet a member of our Cerritos College Faculty Federation, and you are interested in joining, please visit the membership page on our website for more information. When you are ready to join, please complete the membership form online.

CCFF Newsletters