Subject: Re: Reasons to Reject LCC Salary Take-back!
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 09:36:02 -0800
From: "Michael Samano" <samanom@lanecc.edu>
To: LCC Faculty
As a second year newbie I have watched the discussion regarding our step
increase with great interest. I would like to share with you my opinion on
this matter.
Since I have been here I have heard many people refer to LCC as one of the
best (or better?) community colleges in the country. I am completely aware
that such rhetoric is good for morale. Yet, I can honestly say that I have
found this school to be more professional and more progressive in more areas
than my previous teaching assignments at Portland Community College and
Sacramento City College.
While I'm willing to give praise throughout the campus and centers (total
team effort, and so on), I cannot deny that a significant part of our
reputation must be attributed directly to instruction.
Taking all of this reputation/ranking stuff into consideration, I'm
disturbed by something that was shared with me recently: That we are
currently ranked no higher than 6th in the state in terms of pay.
Now, it ain't like I don't feel fortunate to work in an occupation that I
love. My father just retired as an auto mechanic, and my mother was a maid
for many years. But I was taught that you put in an honest days work for an
honest days pay. In my opinion, right now we are putting in an honest days
work, for a dishonest 6th-in-the-state pay [editor's note: its worse than that: we're 9th in the state).
Michael L. Samano
Coordinator, Ethnic Studies
Lane Community College
4000 East 30th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97405-0640
Phone: (541) 747-4501 x2186
Fax: (541) 744-4160