Notes from Colleagues

Dear Classified Colleague,
I want to share my perspective on this important moment we find ourselves in at MiraCosta College, especially with those who are still questioning where you stand on unionizing.

I have been part of the MiraCosta family for over 20 years, and I hope to be here for many more. I LOVE this college, the work we do, the students we serve, and the people I work with. I am grateful for the opportunities MiraCosta has given me.

But I have learned that loving where we work and advocating for what is fair should never be two different things.

I started as a part-time temporary employee, working in temporary positions for about five years before becoming permanent. Over time, my responsibilities grew far beyond my classification. For approximately eight years, I performed work that was not reflected in my compensation.

Why did I wait so long to speak up? Because I loved my job, respected my leadership, and didn't want to jeopardize those relationships. I felt fortunate to be here and didn't want to be seen as ungrateful.

Eventually, I had to ask myself, why wasn't I advocating for myself, and why wasn't anyone advocating for me?

I pursued reclassification largely on my own, with support from my department chairs. My position was eventually reclassified from a Range 9 to Range 18, before the compensation study, and after the compensation study to a Range 21.

For seven years, I had performed work that was ultimately recognized at a much higher classification. I didn't even know to ask about retroactive compensation.

I often wonder how different that journey might have been if I had someone experienced walking beside me, helping me understand my rights and advocating with me.

It wasn't about greed. It was about fairness. And advocating for fairness didn't make me disloyal to MiraCosta.

Today, I still have a great relationship with my leadership. That experience taught me we can advocate for ourselves without making our supervisors or directors the enemy.

Why This Moment Matters

I appreciate the efforts of our Classified Senate, but I also question whether we have truly had a collective voice in the decisions affecting us.

I want more than surveys and updates about what has already been decided. I want regular membership meetings where we can express concerns, share ideas, recognize the efforts of our representatives, and help shape the direction of our advocacy.

I appreciate the work of our Classified Senate, and I want to be clear that unionizing doesn't mean replacing it. The Senate will continue to have its role, while a union would give us additional representation and rights. I believe both can work alongside each other, but what matters most to me is that we have a meaningful voice, opportunities to be heard, and a say in the decisions that affect us. Our representatives should reflect our collective voice, not speak in place of it.

I have watched positions go unfilled, workloads increase, and responsibilities from multiple positions fall onto fewer employees. I have heard colleagues express concerns about inequities and feeling unsupported.

And now, we're facing growing workloads, reduced staffing, and the very real concern that without stronger protections, our healthcare costs including premiums and copays could continue to rise. It makes me wonder what the future will look like for us and our families.

Some of us may rarely need medical care. But others in our MiraCosta family are facing medical battles we cannot even imagine. They depend on ongoing treatments, medications, and appointments for themselves or their loved ones.

Just because we don't need that care today doesn't mean we shouldn't care about protecting affordable, quality healthcare for those who do. Tomorrow, it could be any one of us.

If we truly consider ourselves a MiraCosta family, shouldn't we be looking out for one another?

What Are We Willing to Stand For?

I know some are questioning the choice to go with AFT Guild, wondering whether we should form our own union, or whether we need one at all. Those are fair questions.

For me, having experienced representation, resources, and people who know how to advocate for classified employees matters. And knowing that a majority of our classified colleagues who voted supported moving forward with AFT makes that even more meaningful. I don't want any of us to have to figure things out alone, the way I once did.

The union is US, the MiraCosta classified employees. While we may elect an executive council to represent us, every member has a voice and a vote. Our representatives are there to advocate for us, but it's up to all of us to stay involved, speak up, and help shape the direction of our union. This is OUR union, and every voice matters.

And to those who feel things are going well in their department, I ask you to consider something.

What about the colleague who is afraid to speak up? The one doing the work of three positions? The one struggling with medical expenses and having to work a second job to support their family?

I am fortunate to have a great relationship with my leadership today, and I truly appreciate that. But leadership and supervisors change, and what works well for us today isn't guaranteed tomorrow. I can't base my decision only on my own positive experience when I know that may not always be the case, for me or for my colleagues.

As a mother of two young children with ongoing support needs, I LOVE what I do at MiraCosta, but I also want to provide for my family without sacrificing our quality of life. I don't believe we should have to choose between doing work we love and giving our families the life they deserve.

I want that same opportunity for every one of my colleagues.

If we only care about fairness when we are personally affected, then what does it really mean to be a MiraCosta family?

Where Do You Stand?

I don't believe a union will solve every problem, and I don't believe any organization should have our unquestioned support.

But I do believe we should have the opportunity to advocate collectively, with experienced support, rather than leaving each employee to navigate challenges alone.

As you consider whether to sign a union authorization card, I encourage you to ask yourself:

Am I making this decision based only on how things are going for me today, or am I also thinking about the colleagues who need support now and the possibility that I may need that same support someday?

If I found myself facing the same challenges, wouldn't I want someone standing beside me?

And perhaps most importantly:

What kind of MiraCosta do we want to leave for the classified employees who come after us?

I am not supporting unionizing because I don't love MiraCosta.

I support it because I do. Because I believe our classified colleagues matter, our voices matter, and our families matter.

I know we may not all agree, and that's okay! I genuinely want to hear your thoughts, concerns, and experiences. Please reach out by phone or text at (760) 583-8305, or email me at silvia.m.mcc.aft.26@gmail.com. I'm happy to come to your campus during a break or meet for coffee, whatever works best for you.

I look forward to the opportunity to hear your perspective. After all, this is about ALL of us, and every voice matters!

Thank you for listening to me. I look forward to walking this journey with you.

With appreciation and solidarity,

Silvia Martinez
Proud MiraCosta Classified Professional
20+ Years of Service