In accordance with the Federation’s Constitution, the Federation is holding officer elections during the SP25 term. The following positions are open: FT President, PT Vice President, Secretary, and Communications Chair. These are two year terms, with the exception of PT Vice President. The results, candidate statements, and descriptions for each position are below.

Election Results

Voting has not yet concluded.

Candidates

President:

• Shane Ochoa
• John Baranski

PT VP:

• Laila Dellapasqua

Secretary:

• Laura Saldarriaga
• Anna Brochet

Communications Chair:

• Hong Herrera Thomas

Candidate Statements

Shane Ochoa:

I marched in my first picket line when I was around 9 or 10. My father worked as a
telephone repairman for Pacific Bell (I’m aging myself!). In what would eventually last three
weeks (I remember my parents’ fear vividly at that time) that first introduction to the
importance of unionizing and fighting for a better quality of life became an integral part of
who I am. While marching on the days I could, I remember my father and his colleagues
explaining why they had not been working and why it was so important that they stay united
against unfair pay and dangerous workplace conditions. My father and his coworkers/
friends became a tight community, and I experienced it firsthand: how a labor union that
stays together, wins together. It could have also been the time my father taught me one of
his favorite lessons: “always fight for the underdog,” a mantra that has stayed with me for
35+ years.

If I am honest, I stay up late some nights worrying about the future of education in this
country. And not just in education, as marginalized people throughout the country are
facing danger or uncertainty. The underdogs then, in our case, are those with no voice and
little cultural capital. I know in my heart that community colleges and labor unions are the
answer. We must work as a unified front in this fight and fight for students and ALL workers
at El Camino. Fair pay and a better quality of life are non-negotiable, especially as prices for
everything continue to rise! Despite a turbulent run as Comms Chair, I really respect Kelsey
and the entire executive board. I have learned so much during my time as your
Communications Chair and even if my approach might not be your cup of tea, I hope you
know that my heart and fight is for justice for all workers here at our college. We cannot
forget that FACULTY/STAFF/ CLASSIFIED CARE IS STUDENT CARE (sorry for yelling) and our contracts should reflect and respect all we are doing.

I want to help strengthen our Union and hope to guide us in a more egalitarian and inclusive
direction. I believe that we can make this Federation a true community – one that sets the
standard for all other colleges around the state. I can’t pretend that I have Michael Jordan’s
secret sauce, or I will come in and the District will magically become swift negotiators. But I
can promise you that my focus will stay at El Camino College during my tenure as
Federation President. I have no aspirations to become an Administrator, Dean or Trustee.
My work is in the classroom with students, my colleagues and all who work at El Camino! If
you would like to sit with me or ask me specific questions, I am here for it! Please email me
at shaneochoa@gmail.com or swing by and visit me in Comms Chair office hours.
¡Justicia laboral, ya! ¡SI SE PUEDE!

John Baranski:

Hi, I’m John Baranski. I have taught in the history department and been a Federation member since 2015.   
 
I am currently serving my second elected term as the Federation’s Grievance Chair for the Federation Executive Board. As Grievance Chair, I have continuously monitored and enforced the provisions of our contract. I’ve educated members about their rights and protections and created and led union trainings, represented members in grievance meetings, and facilitated spaces for Federation dialog in divisions across campus. 
 
Aside from my core duties as Grievance Chair, I have worked to improve the structure and effectiveness of our union’s administration, strengthen the union’s financial position, and build relations with individuals and organizations off campus. I have also served on the bargaining team for the previous two full contract negotiations, where with member support and direct actions we achieved historic compensation increases (24.1% and even more for faculty above step 14) for all faculty as well as substantial improvements in our contractual rights and protections. I have also proudly marched with many of you to improve our contract.
 
I would be honored if you considered voting for me to be the Federation’s next president. I am committed to working collaboratively with the Executive Board, including respecting the decisions and direction of the Executive Board. I will continue to work in the interests of our members by deploying our union finances strategically, meeting the external legal and financial requirements for public employee unions, and continuing to work with faculty and division representatives to build a culture of solidarity unionism, which to me is grounded in the idea that we are much better off when we are willing to take action together to defend our rights.    
 
In solidarity,
 
John Baranski
Dept. of History

Laila Dellapasqua:

The job is not finished, and the never-ending fight for better working conditions and a fair faculty contract cannot be done alone.  Since May 2022, I have served as your Part-time Faculty Vice President and have participated as part of the Federation’s negotiations team for Contract 2022-2025.  Collectively, we fought for and obtained historical gains; however, those achievements are incremental because we – as faculty – are still far from what we deserve.  For those of you who know me, I dream big, but I cannot dream alone.  If my name is only one on the PT VP slate, this is my direct call to you for action – join a Federation committee, serve as a PT Division Representative, and/or learn about the Executive Board Officer positions.

And in the spirit of collaboration, if another PT colleague is elected this election, my direct call to them is to contact me so there is a gentle, impactful transfer of knowledge, tasks and references.  The wave of momentum that we, PT faculty, are on must not stop.  The job is not finished.

While money talks in a cash economy, in the ecos of faculty contracts, solidarity, engagement and active participation are the currency that talk.  Let’s dream big and achieve more gains together.  Thank you.

Laura Saldarriaga:

Hi, My name is Laura Saldarriaga and I am running for re-election to the secretary position for AFT1388. As your secretary I will continue to maintain accurate records, organize meetings diligently and ensure that the information is accessible to our members. I also want to continue fighting for a better contract for all of us and to make sure that we are treated with the dignity and respect that we deserve. I would be honored to continue serving as your Secretary. Thank you for your support.

In Unity,

Laura Saldarriaga
Department of Chemistry

Anna Brochet:

I would like to serve the ECC faculty as Secretary of the Federation. In this role, I hope to promote a culture of inclusivity, trust, and unity, ensuring our Federation genuinely represents and uplifts all faculty members. My goal is to foster a positive environment where we can collectively support each other professionally and personally. I believe a strong union is built on transparency, respect, and community, and I am excited to contribute fresh ideas to strengthen these foundations.

One of my key strengths is my commitment to respect and collegiality. I deeply value open dialogue, particularly during challenging times. My curiosity and ability to recognize the humanity in every situation enable me to find common ground. I firmly believe that a union thrives when it embraces the diverse thoughts, talents, and opinions of its members. Even during difficult times, regardless of differing viewpoints, we must maintain space for discourse, especially when advocating for something as personal and meaningful as our working conditions.

My leadership experience in bridging gaps and fostering collaboration will allow me to bring fresh energy, integrity, and a commitment to building a stronger community for our faculty. I hold a deep respect and admiration for all the hard-working faculty at ECC and the important work we do as educators. It would be a privilege to serve and advocate on your behalf. I know together, we can create a more inclusive, transparent, and united faculty community at ECC!

Hong Herrera Thomas:

Hi, my name is Hong Herrera Thomas and I am running for the position of Communication Chair. I have been both part-time and full-time faculty in the History department at El Camino since 2013 and an active member of the Federation. I have also served as one of the BSS Division Representatives for the Federation.


If elected to this position, I will work with the Executive Board to provide consistent and accurate information to members, while giving space to members to communicate their concerns and questions back to the Executive Board. I hope to continue to do my part to move faculty working conditions forward through active participation in our union. I would be honored to have your support.

Officer Duties

The duties of President shall include:

• Presiding at meetings of the Federation, including the Executive Board.
• Serving as an ex-officio member of all Federation committees.
• Signing necessary papers and documents.
• Representing the Federation when and where necessary.
• Working in a collegial manner with other groups representing faculty interests.
• Reporting to the membership at least once a year summarizing the accomplishments of the Federation and outlining plans for the future.
• Acting as co-signer on all financial accounts.
• Pre-approve budgeted expenditures before being paid by the Treasurer.
• Serving an additional six months as an ex-officio (non-voting) executive officer (“Past President”) after the conclusion of the elected term.
• The president position can be held by co-presidents if elected by the membership.
• The President will have final oversight of the COPE.

The duties of Part-Time Faculty Vice President shall include:

• Performing all presidential duties in the absence of the President and Executive Vice President.
• Serving in a liaison capacity as one of the primary communication links representing part-time faculty interests and concerns within the Federation leadership.
• Carrying out such additional executive and administrative responsibilities on behalf of the Federation as may be determined by the Executive Board.
• Attend conferences that address part-time related issues.
• Chair Part-Time Faculty Committee.

The duties of the Secretary shall include:

• Recording the minutes of all general membership and Executive Board meetings.
• Issuing all notices and answering all correspondence at the direction of the President and the Executive Board.
• Acting as the custodian of the seal and the charter of the Federation.

The duties of the Communications Chair shall include:

• Coordinating the work of consistent communications with members through the Federation’s website, digital and paper publications, and social media platforms.
• Coordinating consistent communications with the campus community and the communities we serve.
• Chairing, as needed, a committee to do the communications work of the union.
• Attending meetings and delivering reports as directed by the Executive Board (e.g. BOT, Senate, College Council, COPE, etc.)