Professors from all disciplines at Bakersfield College met in the Science and Engineering building Oct. 26 to discuss the terms of their new tentative contract.

The contract for July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014 includes changes to the teaching staff’s health care coverage, which was a major point.

“We didn’t want to have to pay out-of-pocket for benefits,” said Andrea Garrison, who is a professor of biology at BC as well as the chief negotiator for the Community College Association.

Informal meetings to discuss the new contract were also held at other BC satellite campuses.

Garrison led the meeting and explained to staff the language of the agreement and how it would affect pay, the way they are evaluated, and impact class assignment.

A few of the changes made have the possibility of affecting BC students. Over the course of a few semesters, pay for tutors in the Student Center will be cut in half.

“If we can’t get people to tutor in the labs for $30 an hour, then it affects students,” said Garrison.

Due to cuts in pay and health benefits, these changes could also hamper BC’s ability to compete in an aggressive marketplace.

“If Bakersfield can’t attract people (to teach classes), then it will hurt students,” said Garrison.

The new contract is tentative because it still needs to be ratified by the professors. It will then be brought to the trustees for approval.

“We would like to have the vote soon,” said Garrison. “I think it’ll be ratified.”

Negotiations for the new contract began last year, but because of lack of available dates for instructors to meet, the contract went into mediation over the summer.

“Students are top of the list on both sides,” said Garrison about the mediation process.

Complicating matters was the fact that the Kern Community College District hired a single outside lawyer to represent them.

“He clearly didn’t understand how it would work out,” said Garrison.

As with any other contract negotiation, there is the possibility of a strike.

“Better not to go there if we don’t have to,” said Garrison. “A strike will hurt students.”