Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1545867
Roberts and Rohkea. I N 2 0 2 2 , our union filed a lawsuit against Long Beach Community College District on behalf of two adjunct professors, members of the Community College Asso- ciation, for violation of state minimum wage laws. The district only paid them for their hours spent lecturing in front of a class and not for hours spent grading, lesson planning and meeting with students. In February 2025, an LA County Superior Court judge issued a landmark decision ruling that because adjuncts are paid hourly and earn far less than exempt employees, they are not exempt and must be paid for every hour worked. The LBCCD board agreed to an $18 million settlement to compensate 1,450+ current and former adjunct profes- sors for back-owed wages spanning a six-year period. Following the legal victory, the Certificated Hourly Instructors (CHI-CTA) union at Long Beach success- fully negotiated their salary schedule pay rates from a 42% parity factor to 51% (an average 9% pay increase). Because almost all California community college dis- tricts utilize the same hourly pay structures for adjuncts, districts statewide have been forced to proactively rene- gotiate contracts to avoid similar lawsuits. Karen Roberts, center, and Community College Assn. and Long Beach City Faculty Assn. officers and other supporters attend a hearing in 2024. The outcome: The CTA-backed lawsuit filed by Long Beach City College instructors Roberts and Seija Rohkea was able to expand to include multiple LBCC faculty; the 2025 landmark ruling has since impacted community college districts statewide. Statewide Victory Parity for Part-time Community College Instructors The educators of WSTA were ready to strike. WEST SACRAMENTO TEACHERS ASSOCIATION After negotiating for over a year, 96% of WSTA members voted to support a strike in February. But members' solidarity and willingness to strike had an impact at the bargaining table, and WSTA reached a tentative agreement in March that included a 9% wage increase over two years, fully paid Kaiser health care through June 2027, increased stipends and higher investment in special education staff. Jessica Beard, Jackie Howard, Gabriella Landeros and Jonathon Mello contributed to this story. Additional reporting: Julian Peeples. Photo research: Amy Peruzzaro. 12 cta.org Year in Review