'[We're] Teaching For Less Than Minimum Wage': Bergen County Adjuncts

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Adjunct professors at Bergen County Community College say they've been without a contract for three semesters and without a raise in three years, and they plan to protest at the school's Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday.

“They already pay us a pittance,” said college union officer Hank Bordowitz this week. “I went into the school’s payroll app, and it offered to work out what my salary came to on an hourly basis. It turns out I am making just about minimum wage. Since I have some seniority, when the minimum wage went to $15, we have people teaching college classes for less than minimum wage here!"

The plight of adjunct professors became a hot topic last year when UCLA in California advertised to hire an adjunct with a doctorate in chemistry — for zero pay.

And in 2013, academics complained after a respected adjunct at Duquesne University became "essentially homeless" and died soon after she was let go from her job.

An adjunct professor, or lecturer, is a part-time or contracted college professor. They sometimes teach a subject in their chosen career, but may not have an advanced degree.

"The adjuncts have been working without a contract for the past three semesters. Negotiations broke off in an impasse last June," said a release on Monday from the adjuncts' union, "sending the contentious parleys into mediation. That broke off last October, and the dispute will enter arbitration sometime in the future."

Jeff Hering, the chairperson of the Bergen chapter of AFT Local 2222 — the adjunct faculty union — said, “The college is willing to waste over $100,000 in legal fees to save $50,000. We need to let the College Board of Trustees know they are wasting Bergen County taxpayers’ money.”

'Mendacious Mouths'

Bordowitz said, "The administration tells us that we are as valuable to them as any university professor. We teach well over half of the courses at Bergen. This school operates on our backs, and it is now time for them to put their money where their mendacious mouths are.” (Yes, he's a writer.)

The adjuncts will be demonstrating in front of the Paramus campus building, 400 Paramus Road, starting around 4 p.m.

A release from the union noted that in November 2019, Gov. Phil Murphy gave around 5,000 New Jersey adjuncts what was reported as “the biggest wage increases they ever received.” The amount is up to $1,755 per credit, depending on education level.

"This is close to $1,000 more than some Bergen adjuncts receive," the union noted.

“It is time for some equity,” Bordowitz said.