Job Security for Part-Time Faculty

crossposted from howtheuniversityworks.com In recent years, faculty serving contingently have rung up a series of important successes through unionization, often raising salaries substantially. They’ve also begun to bargain for job security. At some public institutions, notably Cal State, faculty have a contractual pathway to renewable appointments. At private schools, the UAW contract with the New School guarantees not only elements of job security, but contributions toward health care, family leave, and retirement.

Now a recently formed AFT affiliate, the 900-member Union of Part-Time Faculty at Wayne State, has made job security the centerpiece of its bargaining. Like workers in every other industry, they believe that working part-time does not deprive faculty of the protections of seniority and continuing appointment.

Organizers feel that the bargaining has reached an impasse and would welcome your emails of support.

In recent weeks, the Union of Part-Time Faculty at Wayne State University has reached a critical juncture in our negotiations for our first contract that began in November 2007. The WSU administration has said “no” to job-security for our members, even those with many years of service to the university. Rather than recognizing longevity as a contractual basis for future employment, the administration has proposed a vague concept: “first consideration.” As a replacement for the simple and democratic principle of seniority, first consideration is both inadequate and ill-defined. The UPTF has informed the administration that it will not accept a contract without serious job security provisions. The union is also dismayed by Wayne State’s attempt to maintain 15 separate wage scales for instructors doing the same work. To support the union’s proposals, contact WSU President Irvin Reid[president@wayne.edu] and tell him that you support the fundamental right of job security and equal pay scales for UPTF members… Please cc it to: uptf@aftmichigan.org.

For more information see the webpage of the UPTF Union Council