Upcoming Union Information Sessions
Tuesday, July 21 — Oceanside Campus
Times: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Location: OC 3512
Bring your lunch, stop in, and ask a union representative your questions. This is a voluntary, drop-in session.
Thursday, August 13
Location and time: To be announced
The second session will be held at CLC, San Elijo, or TLC.
Please attend only during your scheduled lunch or break period. Additional materials will be shared after each session.
Classified Professionals Have Spoken
The message is clear: Classified Professionals want a real conversation about stronger representation. Many employees already support forming a union. Others want accurate information before deciding. We heard you. That is what this site is here to provide.
Support union representation
Strongly or somewhat support forming a Classified union.
Neutral or unsure
Many employees said they want more information before deciding.
Source: MiraCosta Classified Senate Representation & Advocacy Survey, conducted April 27–May 11, 2026. The survey was anonymous. The union-openness question had 197 valid responses from Classified Professionals.
What Employees Want From a Union
Employees were not asking for a union simply to have a union. They identified practical improvements that collective bargaining could provide.
76% want stronger negotiating power
A union-backed team focused on compensation, COLA, longevity, classification, benefits, and working conditions.
“Stronger negotiations: We are at a disadvantage compared to the district, as we do not have the same level of legal expertise or depth of knowledge regarding labor laws and regulations. As a result, negotiation outcomes often favor the district when we engage directly.”
— Survey respondent
55% want better working conditions
Including workload, out-of-class work, scheduling, flexibility, and workplace fairness.
“Teleworking for eligible employees to support work-life balance. COLA. Longevity.”
— Survey respondent
54% want stronger advocacy
Representation that recognizes the varied work and roles of Classified Professionals.
“Advocating for staff needs, fostering professional development and keeping all staff in the loop about what is happening”
— Survey respondent
52% want fairer and more consistent policies
Clearer, more transparent, and more equitable application of workplace rules and processes.
“Ensuring the Class and Comp study is done fairly and effectively. Ensuring that Classified are appropriately represented in the various spaces and conversations.”
— Survey respondent
Nearly twice as many employees said the current system does not adequately represent their interests as said it does.
44% disagreed that the current system adequately represents them, compared with only 25% who agreed.
Why a Union—and Why Now?
MiraCosta Classified Professionals are the only California Community College classified staff without a union.
We depend on the existing governance and meet-and-confer system for decisions involving pay and working conditions. A union would give eligible Classified Professionals a legally recognized bargaining representative and a direct voice in negotiations.
- A union gives us a guaranteed voice in salary, COLA, benefits, and working-condition negotiations.
- A union provides professional negotiators, labor research, and legal support.
- A union can negotiate enforceable agreements instead of relying on informal understandings or “me too” treatment.
- A union provides defined representation when workplace disputes or problems arise.
The post-2018 pay system is not sustainable
Employees hired after 2018 are placed on a five-step salary schedule. After reaching the final step, regular salary progression stops and employees depend largely on COLAs and limited longevity payments. This creates a serious retention problem and treats employees doing comparable work very differently based on hire date.
Another classification and compensation study is here
The last major study created the current two-tier compensation system. During the current study, Classified Professionals need independent expertise, research, and representation. A union would put professional advocates on our side of the table instead of leaving employees to navigate the process alone.
View the salary comparison
This graph illustrates how the post-2018 Classified salary structure falls behind the progression available to other employee groups.
Questions People Are Asking
How much would union dues cost?
Based on current information from the California School Employees Association (CSEA), state and local dues would be capped at approximately $50 per month during paid months, or about $500 per year. Employees below the cap would pay less.
Dues would not begin merely because someone signs a card. They would apply only after employees vote to unionize and a chapter is formed.
Who is CSEA?
The California School Employees Association is a member-run union representing non-teaching public-school and community-college employees throughout California. CSEA provides negotiators, research, training, organizing support, and legal assistance.
Who would represent us?
MiraCosta Classified Professionals would form their own local chapter and elect their own officers and stewards. CSEA would provide professional support, but the local chapter would be run by MiraCosta employees.
What would happen to the Classified Senate?
A union and the Classified Senate serve different purposes. The Senate participates in shared governance and campus decision-making. A union bargains over wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions and enforces the resulting contract. Both can continue to serve Classified Professionals.
I was hired before 2018. Why should I support a union?
A union protects existing compensation and benefits while giving all employees a stronger voice in future negotiations. The goal is not to take longevity away from pre-2018 employees. It is to protect what employees have earned and improve the system for those who were left behind.
I was hired after 2018. Why should I support a union?
The five-step salary schedule sharply limits long-term salary growth. A union could bargain for additional steps, stronger longevity payments, better benefits, or other improvements that recognize continued service.
What happens next?
Organizers are collecting signed union cards. If enough eligible employees sign cards, the process can move toward formal recognition or an official vote. If employees choose union representation, MiraCosta Classified Professionals will form a chapter, elect local leadership, identify bargaining priorities, and negotiate a first contract.
Do I have the right to ask questions or participate?
Yes. Eligible non-supervisory Classified Professionals have the right to form, join, participate in, or decline to participate in employee organizations. Employers may not interfere with or retaliate against employees for exercising those rights.
Asking questions does not commit you to a position. Supporting a union, opposing it, remaining undecided, and seeking information are all protected choices.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Learn more, ask questions, and help build a stronger voice for MiraCosta Classified Professionals.
Completed cards must be physically signed and returned to an organizer. Email info@mccclassifiedunion.org to arrange pickup or drop-off.