On Wed. Aug. 27, the Mills Action group, which is comprised of former Mills adjunct faculty, alumni, and adjuncts from the San Francisco Art Institute and the California College of the Arts, staged a protest in support of higher wages and more stable positions for adjunct faculty in front of the F.W. Olin Library at Mills. Mills Action formed in response to recent budget cuts and is partnered with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
This summer, the administration cut multiple positions for staff and faculty. According to the flyers, the College also negotiated a few staff members into early retirement. Due to a change in class enrollment minimums, class sizes have increased and course offerings have decreased. Programs such as the English department have received budget cuts, resulting in the loss of leadership in the department.
“After Mills adjuncts unionized,” a flyer that was handed out at the protest said,” the Mills administration enacted the summer budget cuts, coinciding with a larger push by college administrations across the country to reduce college expenditures by relying on cheap, part-time, contracted labor.”
Mills is one of at least 12 colleges and universities participating in protests regarding treatment of adjuncts nationwide.
The Mills Action will be holding an event called SpeakOut in the English Graduate Lounge on Wed. Sept. 10 to inform students about what they can do to get involved.
