Thursday, May 01, 2008
Unemployment Looming
If you are like me, unemployment is looming in the next couple of weeks. Fortunately, the state of California ruled in the late 1980s that adjuncts deserve unemployment between terms. I am not so sure about other states. Unfortunately, many adjuncts do not realize that they may qualify for unemployment.
If you are not sure, consider ordering Joe Berry, Beverly Stewart, and Helena Worthen’s text: Access to Unemployment Insurance Benefits for Contingent Faculty: A Manual for Applicants and a Strategy to Gain Full Rights to Benefits. You can order it here for $5 plus $2 for shipping. Or you can go to the same Web site and download an informational pamphlet.
Whether or not you order the book, it is vital that you know what your rights are in terms of unemployment and benefits. Check with a union steward or colleague—the sooner you know whether or not you can receive a check, the easier it is to plan for the dry summer months.