Teachers involved in labor disputes have become a familiar figure of late. But a new situation involving higher ed faculty is brewing.

At Columbia College Chicago and Northeastern Illinois University, adjuncts have been trying to re-negotiate their contracts for some time. Part timers at Columbia are concerned about reductions in class assignments. Some claim senior adjuncts are being passed over in favor of new instructors, who are paid less.

Eight Forty-Eight spoke with Diana Vallera, president of the part-time faculty association, or P-fac. That’s the union that represents adjunct faculty at Columbia College.