The year 2007 marks forty years of indentured servitude on the part of parttime faculty teaching in the California Community College system. Approximately forty thousand dedicated, highly trained, and motivated teachers work alongside twelve thousand tenured full-time faculty. Sadly, for all their efforts, part-time faculty members receive little recognition for their work and sacrifice. In order to understand the plight of part-time faculty in California, it is necessary to provide the historical and legislative context within which part-timers find themselves today. This is particularly important considering that the California Community College system cannot provide students with the finest educational opportunities when more than two-thirds of its instructors are underpaid and overworked. Based on the author's experiences as a part-time faculty member and union organizer, he discusses three key pieces of California legislation that have significant implications for part-time faculty. The author then illustrates how part-time faculty have worked to improve their employment conditions.