Former professor sues SFCC

Complaint alleges efforts to unionize led to termination

A former longtime faculty member is suing Santa Fe Community College and Vice President Margaret Peters, alleging he was fired in retaliation for his work in helping to unionize employees.

The complaint, filed Wednesday in the state First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, says William Clark Baughan, who worked as an associate professor and visual-arts gallery manager at the college for 18 years, had received only positive reviews until the spring of 2016, when he and other employees began discussing plans to form a union. Faculty members voted to unionize in March 2017.

In May 2017, the suit says, the college declared a financial emergency, a move that paved the way for layoffs. A few days later, Clark Baughan received a letter from college leaders saying his position would be terminated in May 2018, following the spring semester.

However, Clark Baughan says in his suit, the college failed to follow its own policy, which requires it to offer vacant positions to workers before terminating their employment. For instance, the complaint says, throughout 2017, three open associate dean positions became available, all of which he was qualified for. He applied for those jobs, but the college didn’t make any offers.

Efforts to address the issue through the college’s labor board would be “futile,” the suit says, alleging biases on the board. The college appointed the father-in-law and business partner of the college’s chief labor counsel to the threemember labor board, as well as an attorney whose firm routinely represents firms in disputes with labor unions.

The complaint seeks compensation for Clark Baughan’s losses, including back pay, front pay and benefits, as well as punitive damages.

Cecilia Cervantes, interim president of Santa Fe Community College, said by email Friday that the college had not yet received a copy of the complaint. “The college takes all claims seriously but cannot comment on items under litigation,” she said.

Marci Eannarino, president of the college’s union, which represents between 50 and 60 employees, said she had not seen the complaint and could not comment on it.

But, she said, “There is currently a conflict of interest in the way the labor board is constituted, but it’s not too late to address it. And we have hope that steps will be taken” to do that.

The labor board is scheduled to meet July 6 and may address the issue then, she said.