I look forward to seeing concrete actions on Secretary Solis' part to demostrate her support for contingent faculty.

Importantly, the statement by Secretary Solis affirms the right of contingent faculty to organize for the purpose of collective bargaining: "Adjunct faculty are being particularly hard-hit by the financial crisis at the state level. They deserve to be represented in collective bargaining, and their collective bargaining agreements should be respected." This is significant in two respects. It would extend the rights of faculty to organize in so-called “right-to-work” states. It would also set a standard for collective bargaining agreements throughout higher ed, so that the interests of contingent faculty are indeed fairly represented there. Both these developments are overdue, and it should make a tremendous difference that Secretary Solis is committed to them.

The Secretary's clarification helps somewhat, but only in general attitude. Even in her amended statement on the issue, she mistakenly emphasizes that contingent faculty's contracts should be upheld. But upholding our contracts is rarely the issue, nor is a simple matter of representation in collective bargaining or not. Because of the same forces that have aggravated and entrenched the contingency crisis, the terms of our contracts are often dictated by tenured faculty that have our interests secondary to theirs. This is the kind of much more complex inequity that needs addressing. The Secretary has called for "more faculty" with the current stimulus to community colleges -- without a word of protecting or solidifying the working conditions of serving contingent faculty. The problem is much more complex and will need further reaching remedies than the Secretary has indicated awareness of so far. I'm trusting that she'll devote the resources to changing that as well as ameliorating adjuncts' working conditions.

As an online-adjunct, I especially say right on to the comments of smstreet. It is clearly not about contracts being upheld but definitely about protecting/solidifying the working conditions of contingent faculty. It is about earnings below minimum wage, inconsistent hiring practices, benefits, etc.; it is about fairness and justice towards professionals who have paid the price educationally and especially financially. Therefore, the Secretary cannot begin to address the situation without first making a true commitment to understanding the problem from those who know it first hand.