Earlier this week, Broward College adjunct professors and their representatives met with college administrators to continue bargaining discussions and, both sides said, look to be progressing towards a contract.
The school and educators have yet to agree to a contract since unionizing more than a year ago.
“People are anxious to get this done, which means you’re much more likely to meet in the middle, and everybody gets something out of the agreement,” said Rick Smith, the chief of staff for Service Employees International Union, the group the adjuncts joined.
The main discussion at Monday’s meeting was job stability. The adjuncts want multi-term assignments, giving them guaranteed work for an entire academic year instead of term-by-term. If an agreement is reached, it would be the first of its kind in Florida.
Jeffrey Nasee, an associate vice president for the college, said he thought the meeting went very well.
“We’re working to come to an agreement and we value,” he said. “We love our adjunct faculty. They do a great job for us.”
Adjunct English professor Michelle DeMarco agreed.
“Overall as a group, I think we’re feeling much better about this than before,” said DeMarco
Future meetings will focus on wages as well as a push by adjuncts for compensation if classes are canceled. Regina Ocasio, an early childhood education adjunct, said she hoped that the next meeting will bring them closer to getting a contract. Three more meetings are scheduled before the end of the year.
The next meeting will be between Broward College union officials and college administrators on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. A location has not been scheduled.