On Thursday, October 22, City College of San Francisco (CCSF) students, faculty, classified professionals, and community supporters held the Rally for the City College Our Students Deserve. Union members from SEIU 1021 and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT 2121) joined students and community members and called on GrowSF’s billionaire-backed CCSF Board of Trustees to bargain in good faith and end chronic understaffing, ongoing safety concerns, and underfunding of essential programs by providing sustainable staffing and resources.

In her speech to rally attendees SEIU 1021 Chapter President Maria Salazar-Colon shared her love for City College: “I have a passion for this college. I’m homegrown here and I’m here today because of the support I received as a student from the staff and faculty. I’m always going to fight for students. But these administrators are trying to take us into dark times. You want more students? Hire more faculty. You want more recycling picked up? Hire more utility workers. You want less lines? Hire more clerical. We know what needs to happen for the future of this college and students, faculty and staff are unbeatable together.”

San Francisco’s political landscape has shifted as billionaire-backed organizations like GrowSF gain influence in local elections, including on community college boards, vying to ensure the city’s fortunes tilt in their favor. CCSF is the latest institution caught in this power grab, as GrowSF backed a majority of its board of trustees and backs four board candidates in November’s election.

As the city’s largest provider of workforce training and higher education, CCSF plays a vital role in preparing workers for careers in construction, healthcare, and other essential industries. Yet the faculty and staff who keep the college running are critically understaffed, and many cannot afford to live in the city they serve, threatening to undermine the quality of CCSF’s most in-demand programs.

Meanwhile, the college has been running large budget surpluses for the past six years. With a budget surplus and over $70 million in reserves, cutting resources and allowing staffing shortages to persist is not inevitable; it is a policy choice. The CCSF community should loudly question the trustees and hold them accountable.

“Classified professionals and faculty deserve to be heard. We make a difference here. This is why fair contracts matter,” said Chapter Vice President, Justin Genevro. ”Our contract should reflect the value of our work provide fair compensation,  protect employee rights and support reasonable working conditions. We deserve an agreement that recognizes our contributions to this college.”

The continuing success of CCSF and the vital role it plays for San Francisco are at stake if the board continues to move in this direction.

This moment is a chance for the Board to show students and workers it is listening to the people most affected by its decisions, not the billionaires behind most of its trustees’ campaigns.