What is collective bargaining and why does it matter as PJC searches for a new president?

What is collective bargaining and why does it matter as PJC searches for a new president?


Collective Bargaining is a process of negotiation between employers (or their representatives) and a union on wages and other employment conditions.

Not everyone is aware that the faculty of PJC belong to a union. In a time where we often speak in acronyms, not everyone knows who PJCFA is. We are the Pensacola Junior College Faculty Association. We are members of the United Faculty of Florida, the Florida Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.

The primary purpose of the union is to represent workers in their employment and to negotiate a contract that improves wages, benefits and working conditions and protects workers from unfair treatment. PJCFA preserves the rights which have been negotiated and enforces the negotiated contract.

Why is this important as PJC searches for a new president?

The President of PJC must understand that the faculty work within the scope of a negotiated contract. This is a fairly unique situation in the South where unions are not as common as in other areas of the country. The President will have the responsibility of naming the members of the administration’s negotiating team as well as the college’s contract enforcement officer. These are duties that should be taken seriously and with knowledge and understanding of what it means to work within the parameters of a collective bargaining agreement.

Therefore, as the committee screens applications, I urge them to seek candidates who have experience working with a unionized faculty.