Transforming Higher Education

Movement Milestones and Victories

We’re working to improve learning and teaching conditions and access to higher education, while standing up to end the trend toward a low-road, corporate-business model for education. More than 50,000 faculty and graduate workers are already united through SEIU Faculty Forward. Every day more educators, students and community members across the country are joining our fight to transform higher education. Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished together so far.

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Florida Adjuncts demand answers and commitments from candidates at gubernatorial debate

Last night, adjuncts from Broward and Miami Dade College joined fast food workers, airport workers, and others from Fight for 15 to ask questions at the Florida Freedom Forum, the first South Florida debate for the gubernatorial Democratic primary. Hundreds of people filled the Miramar Cultural Center to capacity and pushed into an overflow room to view the live stream. Laura Pierre, of Fight for 15, asked about raising the minimum wage. Nancy Fernandes, an adjunct at Broward College, asked the candidates about reinvesting in education, fully funding free universal college and ensuring fair pay for educators.

“As an adjunct professor at Broward College, every day I see the impact of a broken higher education system. Budget cuts in Tallahassee mean more families are drowning in the student loan debts and my colleagues, many with PhDs, make poverty wages,” asked Nancy. “ Will you commit to reinvest in education and educators by fully funding free universal college for all Floridians?”

The Florida Freedom Forum was co-hosted by SEIU Florida State Council, Dream Defenders Action Fund, Florida Immigration Coalition (FLIC) Votes, New Florida Majority, Organize Florida, Planned Parenthood Florida PAC, and Color of Change PAC.

To view the candidates’ responses and general coverage, visit the live stream video, twitter, WLRN, and the Sun Sentinel