Human Resources

Collective Bargaining and Labor Relations

Negotiation Status Update

The collective bargaining process is critical to maintaining effective working conditions for all employees. The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) provides information to keep all employees and the SMCCCD community informed on the process and status of collective bargaining with the District's three employee unions. Please note that negotiation meetings are open only to the bargaining representatives and not to the public or the District community.

San Mateo Community College Federation of Teachers 1493

Expired Contract: 2019 - 2022 Contract  


Successor (2022 - 2025) Agreement: Negotiations continue

Negotiation Summary

The parties commenced negotiations on May 5, 2022. From May 2022 to January 2023, the negotiation teams participated in 16 bargaining sessions.

On February 7, 2023, the parties agreed to participate in pre-impasse mediation on the articles without agreement.

On July 7, 2023, the District and AFT 1493 concluded pre-impasse mediation without agreement.

The following proposals were provided by the District to AFT 1493 after the conclusion of mediation in a continued effort to reach an agreement on the terms of a successor contract:

Previously proposals were exchanged by the parties on the following articles:

  • Article 1: Recognition
  • Article 2: Organizational Rights
  • Article 3: Payroll Deductions
  • Article 6: Workload
  • Article 7: Hours of Employment
  • Article 8: Pay and Allowances
  • Article 9: Health and Welfare Benefits
  • Article 10: Retirement
  • Article 11: Leaves of Absence
  • Article 12: Transfers and Reassignment
  • Article 13: Professional Development Program
  • Article 14: Layoffs
  • Article 17: Grievance Procedure
  • Article 18: Summer Session Employment
  • Article 19: Part-Time Employment
  • Article 20: Faculty Service Areas
  • Article 21: Miscellaneous Provisions
  • Article NEW: Class Assignment
  • Article XX: Academic Freedom
  • Article XX: Reasonable Accommodation
Tentative Agreements Reached on the Following Articles
Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) were agreed to on the following subjects:

Future Negotiation Dates: To be determined

California School Employees Association and its Chapter 33

Negotiation Summary

On April 25, 2023, the District, CSEA, and its Chapter 33 concluded negotiations on a successor contract. The Board of Trustees ratified the successor contract on May 24, 2023.

Contract: To be posted

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 829

Negotiation Summary

On June 10, 2022, the District and AFSCME Local 829 concluded negotiations on a successor contract. The Board of Trustees ratified the successor contract on August 24, 2022.

Contract: Current Collective Bargaining Agreement  

Key Collective Bargaining Terms

  • Collective Bargaining: The process by which management and union representatives negotiate the employment conditions for a bargaining unit for a designated period of time. The parties have a mutual obligation to bargain in good faith in an effort to reach agreement with respect to wages, hours, and working conditions. This obligation does not compel either party to agree to a proposal or to make a concession. Commonly referred to as "negotiations" or "contract bargaining." 

  • Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA): The contract embodies the results of the negotiations between the employer and the union and sets forth their agreements.

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU/Side Letter): A formally signed document that serves as an addendum to the collective bargaining agreement. An MOU usually addresses a significant issue that emerged during the term of the agreement, and it represents the mutual understanding between the parties on that issue. An MOU can also be referred to as a memorandum of agreement (MOA), a letter of understanding (LOU), or a letter of agreement (LOA).

  • Supplemental Agreement (SA): An agreement that establishes minor changes to an existing agreement.

  • Sunshine Proposal: A document transmitted at the beginning of a negotiating process defining the intentions of the negotiation. These documents allow the public to provide input on the negotiating process. 

  • Tentative Agreement (TA): The agreement reached through bargaining prior to its ratification or final approval by the negotiators' constituencies.