Lake County, California — A state administrative law judge has ruled in favor of Yuba Community College District faculty in a labor dispute, finding that the district violated labor law and workers’ rights under the Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA).
The decision, issued by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) in July, mandates corrective actions from the district, which it plans to appeal.
The ruling determined that the district unlawfully eliminated the “right of first refusal,” altering the process for assigning classes to full-time faculty without proper negotiation with the Faculty Association.
The district was ordered to cease its current course assignment procedures, reinstate previous practices, and compensate affected employees for any losses.
Travis Smith, president of the Faculty Association, hailed the decision as a significant victory for collective bargaining. “This ruling is a resounding affirmation of the importance of collective bargaining and the protections it affords workers,” Smith stated, emphasizing the disruption caused to faculty by the district’s actions.
Despite the Faculty Association’s satisfaction, the district intended to appeal the decision.
Chancellor Dr. Shouan Pan expressed disappointment with the ruling, arguing that the “right of first refusal” impedes the institution’s ability to meet evolving educational demands. Pan stressed that the appeal is not meant to undermine full-time faculty but to allow for greater flexibility in course offerings.
As tensions remain high, the Faculty Association continues to push for fair negotiations, noting that faculty have been working without a contract for over two years.
