In a giant step forward for adjunct faculty, the Guild is delighted to announce that we have just concluded negotiations with CalPERS so that our eligible part-time faculty can now qualify for any of their health plans! Any adjunct paying a share of the benefits premium cost with pre-tax dollars through our Premium Only Plan (POP) will have the same choice of CalPERS plans as fulltime employees. Adjuncts will continue to be responsible for any premium cost above the level of the district’s contribution.

When talks with CalPERS began several months ago, plan officials believed that state law precluded adjuncts from being able to participate in CalPERS plans. At the time we wrote you that adjuncts might be limited to a separately arranged Kaiser option. But we were able to find a way to get adjuncts covered.

Adjuncts would also be eligible for enhanced compensation if we make the move to CalPERS health care.

Effects on part-time compensation

Because the CalPERS plans cost significantly less than current LACCD plans, moving would generate millions of dollars in savings. For part-time faculty, these savings could be used to fund two compensation enhancements:

• A new step (Step 10) on Column K of the credit teaching schedule that would increase the top rate (without office hour, equity and doctoral differentials) by 3.2%, from $71.41 to $73.70. For an instructor teaching one 3-unit class fall and spring semesters, this equals $275.
• A $600 increase in the district’s annual contribution toward health insurance for eligible part-time faculty from $2160 to $2760 per year.

Our ability to implement these proposed enhancements is conditioned on a 2009-10 budget comparable to that of 2008-09.

Impact on health plans available to part-time faculty

Adjuncts who currently receive no district contribution and pay the full premium themselves with after-tax dollars will not be eligible for CalPERS plans. These adjuncts will need to qualify for the POP to become CalPERS-eligible. For complex reasons related to CalPERS criteria, part-time faculty who have chosen Social Security rather than STRS DB, STRS CB or PARS as their retirement plan will need to move into one of these retirement programs if they want to be eligible for health benefits.

The opportunity to participate in not only their Kaiser plan but any of the other CalPERS health plans is great news for our part-timers. In addition to an increased district premium contribution and a new salary step (conditioned on a 2009-10 budget comparable to 2008-09), our part-time faculty will have their menu of plan options expanded, not restricted.

Wider plan choice, a significantly increased district premium contribution, and a new salary step make the move very attractive for adjunct faculty in the district.