CCCI’s Fall 2025 Conference Was (as always) Informative and Fun

by dara, FA Vice President

On Oct. 23-25, Mary, Billy, Luke, and I attended the California Community College Independent Unions’ (CCCI) fall conference in Downtown San Diego. As usual, it was three days full of information, collaboration, collegiality, data-gathering, humor, and support.

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As a co-planner of the conferences, I worked with CCCI President Karen Frindell-Teuscher to create a robust agenda with small and whole-group discussions, breakout sessions, and social events.

Throughout the three days, each district briefly presented their District Report based on a template provided before the conference. During these reports, we learn much about wins, struggles, surprises, and–sometimes most surprisingly–about other colleges’ relationships with their admin.

We had several whole-group conversations about AI Labor Issues and Negotiable Impacts, Membership Strategies, and Advocacy. During these discussions, the idea for a CCCI Outreach Committee was proposed, and I will be co-chairing it with Anne Donegan from Santa Rosa Junior College. We heard a report from CCCI’s Legislation Committee about the work they have already accomplished and their recent retreat. 

Ahead of these conferences, unions are able to submit questions for data-collection and for legal updates. MCCFA Exec members always submit fantastic questions, and they compelled several discussions. We contributed questions for the CCCI and MCCFA’s legal counsel, David Conway. Along with other topics, he spoke about “Transfer and Removal of Work,” “AI,” “Right of Assignment and Online Work,” and “Negotiations.” He also participated in what I designed as “Speed Trick-or-Treating with David Conway,” during which he visited tables to interact with participants to answer pressing legal questions each group developed.  David is a super good sport, and he enjoyed participating in the more-active, somewhat ridiculous, but educational group scheme. On the final day, we brought back breakout sessions as a way for people to self-select topics they want to explore. This time, we had Part-Time Health Care, Grievance Consultation, Negotiations Strategies, Union Membership, and CCAP (College and Career Access Pathways).

Markus Berrien (Counseling) and Jose Sanchez (Adult High School Math) both new FA Council members attended the conference on Friday, the most action-packed day. As any first-time attendee might witness, there’s a whole lot of information and acronyms, but I am confident Jose and Markus felt welcomed and a bit more educated about the goings-on with our FA and independent unions in general. It was fantastic to get to know both Markus and Jose better!

Now that these conferences are more interactive, they take much more effort to make them successful, but the improvements are notable and appreciated!