Illinois’ forgotten teachers–faculty employed part-time by public community colleges–could see their rights restored by HB-2581, which would allow part-time faculty to bargain collectively.
Not so long ago, college teachers ordinarily taught on a full-time basis.
They developed a strong sense of community and collegiality, and devoted their energies to research and teaching.
Students learned in an environment of enthusiasm and commitment.
Part-time teachers were employed only under special circumstances.
In recent decades, however, use of part-time teachers has skyrocketed in an ill-conceived effort to cut costs.
Nationally, part-time faculty constitute more than 40 percent of college faculty.
While the best-known research universities hire few part-timers, some Illinois colleges rely on poorly paid part-time teachers to do as much as 70 percent of the teaching.
After long years of training, these college teachers find themselves paid at poverty rates.
Their jobs are insecure and typically they have no benefits.
Some devote many hours commuting from one part-time teaching job to another; others work on the side as secretaries or security guards.
Job turnover among part-time faculty is high, and full-time faculty must scramble to recruit replacements.
Faculty morale inevitably suffers.
As part-time professors hurry from one job to another, contact with students is minimized.
The quality of education is affected.
Part-timers at some private colleges in Illinois have turned to unions as an organized voice to address these problems.
Columbia College and its part-time faculty recently agreed to a contract providing for significant raises in pay, participation in decision-making and other improvements. Part-time faculty are considering unionization at several other private colleges.
But most part-time faculty teach at public institutions, and the option of collective bargaining is denied under Illinois law. No other teachers are denied this choice, yet no other teachers need it as badly.
Illinois’ community colleges educate and train a large proportion of the state’s work force. Their students deserve a climate of learning undisturbed by their teachers’ economic worries or resentment at exclusion. And the state itself has an obligation to ensure fair play for all teachers.
HB-2581 creates options for part-time professors, and it would strengthen Illinois’ public colleges. It deserves speedy passage.
