For the first time, one of the 20 language teaching specialists or adjuncts at El Marino Language School whose job is being targeted by a union, has spoken out.
What Martha Galvan, a Spanish language aide with three classes a day, had to say this afternoon to the newspaper is not the stuff of noisy headlines.
Rather, she revealed the unflappable mindset of a modest, heads-down career teacher fully dedicated to her students and not the politics du jour.
A 23-year veteran, she did say that she would not join the Assn. of Classified Employees, ACE, because she feels they have “butted in” where they don’t belong.
Question: How are you faring after weeks of controversy over whether ACE should be allowed to unionize the adjuncts of El Marino?
“We only know what they have told us. We are just kind of hanging in there.”
Do you have strong feelings in either direction?
“I don’t understand why the District wants to take over…because that is the way I understand it. No, I don’t really have strong feelings. I have been at this so long that I am just comfortable. When I started in 1989, I was just going to do this for a week.”
Among your colleagues, do you talk about what is going on with the present dispute?
“We do. We try to get information from each other. But I only know three or four ladies. We say ‘hi’ and ‘bye.’ I only get to talk to a couple in the morning.”
How would you describe the way you feel now? Are you worried? Or are you letting it walk around you without affecting the way you think?
“No, I am not worried. My husband is retired. I don’t depend on my job. It is just extra income. I feel for the ladies who must work.”
If the union came in, would that be a negative development?
“I have given it some thought and I don’t know if I would stay. I really don’t. And I would not join the union, only for the mere fact they are butting in.”
Do you have an idea how your colleagues feel?
“They are basically feeling the same thing. They are waiting to see what is going to happen. I really can’t say the other adjuncts are concerned. Some might be because they need the income. And then we have heard talk the District wants to take over, and they have conditions we must meet, college and things like that.”
