Dear Faculty,
I would like to begin this update with a sincere thank you to all the faculty who wore red yesterday in support of the continued contract negotiations, the amazing 30+ faculty who marched over to the meeting room with the HCFA negotiations team and also waited patiently for approximately 30 minutes for the District team to "wait out" the working 12:00-12:30pm lunch we traditionally have taken with both teams, and to students who joined in the march as well in show of support of faculty. Thank you!
I would like to report that the HCFA Negotiations Team feels yesterday's session was more positive than negative. In our last session with the District we have provided a "path to settlement" and the District actually responded to each item of the path. Without going into too much detail because these items are still under negotiations this is how the team perceives the District's responses.
Service Bonus for long tenured FT faculty-Positive Progress
Reduction in Social Science class size-Positive Progress
Addition of 7th Step to PT Salary Schedule-Positive Progress
PT opt-in for Dental and Vision-Positive Progress
Increase in OSCAR rate for PT faculty-To be determined in future sessions
PT and FT Salary-NO Progress
Step advancement for part time faculty serving in temporary full-time positions-Positive Progress
PT movement on the PT Salary Schedule-NO Progress
In an effort to come to an agreement before the end of the spring 2026 term, the HCFA team will begin to meet more frequently with the District. We remain optimistic we can do so and make positive progress in multiple areas for PT and FT faculty. Please continue to support our efforts weekly by wearing red on Wednesdays and keep a look out for future HCFA activities that aim to unite all faculty during negotiations.
"I am with Hartnell faculty, and Hartnell faculty is with me!"
In "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray, his character is trapped in a time loop that he can't escape. Well, it's nearly day 365 of this round of contract negotiations and after today's session, the HCFA team is starting to feel like we are trapped in the same loop of negotiations as last contract. Once again, the District has chosen to draw out the process offering only the bare minimum in regards to salary. The HCFA team is extremely appreciative of all the faculty who chose to wear red today and as we enter March, we ask that you continue to do so every Wednesday as a show of solidarity and support.
In the 2/18/2026 session, the District provided responses on the following HCFA proposals:
The District is rejecting the proposed changes to class sizes across all disciplines but is willing to incorporate the clean-up language and unaddressed disciplines from the HCFA proposals.
HCFA had previously proposed new course section creation trigger language to assist with enrollment management in courses that reach capacity well in advance of the academic term. The District felt much of the language was already occurring and did not want to be handcuffed to any specific process in creating new course sections.
PT Oscar office hours rate and amount would remain as is.
Article 21 addressing speed of step advancement change, placement on PT scale, and rehire preference was to remain as is.
The District would wait on adjusting or adding coaching stipends until other money items were determined.
The District did not have an answer for if Athletic Camps qualified for Special Assignment Agreements or not.
The District said no to moving Academic Coach under the same stipend and extra day language of the CBA as athletic coaches.
Back in October, the District provided a salary proposal of 2.3%, COLA-1%, COLA-1%.
The administration continues their pattern of saying “no” and waiting for us to move.
Today, the HCFA team countered with the following path to settlement. The goal of the path to settlement was to identify all the cost items and get the District to acknowledge the growth funding coming into the budget for the coming years. This growth comes from the hard work and passion our PT and FT faculty put into the success of our students.
We acknowledge that this year has already been budgeted for, and we continue to press for part time issues and phase in a class size reduction for social sciences.
HCFA's Proposal
Year One
2.3% across the board
Longevity for FT faculty with 30 or more years of service $3500 on-going
PT faculty 25 years or more service one-time bonus $2500
Year Two
4% across the board
Social science class size reduction to 46
FT with 25 years of service $2500 one-time bonus
Add Step 7 to PT salary schedule/advance PT faculty who qualified for movement 2025-2026
PT faculty OSCAR hours paid at $50/hour
PT faculty can buy into vision and dental at 50% cost
Implement PT step increases based on 200% load taught vs every two years
Year Three
5% across the board (This year MPC gets 7%)
Social science class size reduction to 40 (adding ECE)
FT with 20 year of service $1500 one-time bonus
PT faculty OSCAR hours paid at $60/hour/Auto Opt-In w/Updated Time Sheet (HCFA provided)
The HCFA team will meet with the District on Wednesday, March 4th. Again, thank you to all the faculty who wore red today!
"I am with Hartnell Faculty, and Hartnell Faculty is with me!"