Oxnard College Teachers in Sickout

A months-long contract dispute between teachers and administrators of Ventura County’s college district resulted in a sickout Thursday.

More than half of the instructors at Oxnard College called in sick, prompting an early morning protest by students who were angry over the cancellation of as many as 85 classes, district officials said.

The sickout comes on the heels of similar one-day job actions by teachers at Moorpark and Ventura colleges, said Cathy Garnica, a spokeswoman for Oxnard College.

The teachers, who have been working without a contract since June 30, are protesting an impasse in contract negotiations with officials at the Ventura Community College District. They are seeking a salary formula that would provide an increase only if the district receives additional state money. They are also seeking improvements in health benefits.

In all, 44 full- and part-time teachers at the Oxnard campus called in sick, Garnica said. The college employs 81 faculty members.

“That’s a fairly significant amount of our faculty for a Thursday,” Garnica said.

On a typical day fewer than six full-time, and one or two part-time staff members call in sick, she said.

In response to the teachers’ action, students held a midmorning protest on the campus.

Day classes were not the only ones affected by the sickout.

David Maher, 35, said his evening English class was canceled as a result of the stalemate between teachers and the district.

“It makes me feel cheated,” Maher said. “Like I’m a pawn in this whole thing, and the teachers don’t care.

“I’m not taking sides, but I don’t like being caught in the middle,” Maher said.