Welcome back to Chaparral, Andres! As I mentioned, this October issue of “Guild Haunts” focuses on identifying guild-related anxieties & fears. We asked Garfield Site Representative Andres Cruz what fears Garfield staff may have and how to address those fears.
Fear #1: Fear of not having a teaching assignment for the next semester. The majority of our teachers at Garfield are part-timers, so they may or may not be offered a teaching assignment based on many factors.
As Site Representative, I advise teachers to know their re-hire rights, look for ways to advance their salary at GCC, and hone their online teaching & technology skills to broaden their opportunities to teach online. I also advise them to attend Guild workshops and presentations about unemployment for part-time teachers.
Fear #2: Having to look for teaching opportunities in other districts because other districts offer more competitive salaries to teachers. This puts a lot of pressure on teachers, especially those who are part-timers and one-income households.
I advise teachers to apply for stipends to do extra work, which they benefit from not just by earning more money but also by acquiring new skills, taking on new responsibilities, and building their resume. I also encourage teachers to join the GCC Union, to attend Guild meetings and presentations, so teachers can support the Guild’s efforts in obtaining pay parity, free health care, and better working conditions for all teachers.
Fear #3: Part-time teachers who are close to retirement fear their retirement will not be enough to survive in California. In fact, I have spoken with many who had to move out of California due to low retirement, the windfall policy, and high cost of living.
I advise our future retirees to make sure they know what retirement plan they have signed up with CalSTRS. There are many teachers who do not know what plan they contribute to, what other saving plans they can choose from, and which one will yield the most after retirement. For instance, many part-time teachers are in Cash Balance Plan, but they do not realize that the Defined Benefits Plan may offer them more financial stability. Currently, we are working on inviting experts from CalSTRS to facilitate workshops at GCC for teachers to better understand their retirement plans and choices.
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