Hi,

Like many of you, I am an adjunct for the City Colleges of Chicago (in the social sciences department of Harold Washington). I teach one class and I am not a member of any union. This is my first semester at Harold Washington College. I’m sure the strike is affecting you even though it is the full time faculty on strike. When I arrived to teach my class today I was faced with the decision to either cross the picket line and teach my class or not. I chose not to cross the line; instead I took my students to the Cultural Center until I could figure out what to do.

I have been told that the part timers are not on strike so we can get fired if we don’t show up to teach.

I support the faculty strike 100% but I have bills to pay and I’m not in a union so I’m not getting any support for striking. I am also concerned about my students who have been working very hard during the semester.

I would like to know what the other adjuncts are doing. Please email me or call me at 773-430-4688 so that we can coordinate some kind of response to the situation. I have already emailed the adjunct union but have not heard back yet but I will continue trying, meanwhile please get back to me so we can figure out how we can support the strikers while maintaining our job security. Please forward this message to any and all adjuncts or interested parties.

Thanks
Toufic El Rassi