We presented proposals to AU that center on the concerns of adjunct faculty gathered from your feedback through focus groups, one-one conversations, emails and a bargaining survey. We will bargain our non-economic issues first, and get agreement on them before proceeding to economic issues. In our first meeting we presented AU with an initial set of proposals regarding job security, appointments, professional development, evaluations, access to services, the rights and structure of your union, grievance and arbitration and other non-economic issues. In their initial response, American University signaled their willingness to enter into dialogue with the adjunct faculty on these issues. In the coming months, we will be working hard to come to agreements with American University that will create positive changes for adjunct faculty at AU.

Although we are a small number of adjunct faculty members at the bargaining table, the key role in negotiations is played by the adjuncts that are not in the room with us. We are currently signing up adjunct faculty on SEIU Local 500 membership cards.  Signing a union membership card is the single most important thing you can do to build the strength of your union and to reflect that strength at the bargaining table. High levels of union membership send a clear message to the American University that the adjunct faculty wants to see improvements in their working conditions through a great union contract.

You can download a membership card here.

We are also building our union from the ground up, and are excited to invite you to our first Member Strength Team meeting on Saturday May 19^th from 10am to 12noon at SEIU headquarters at 1800 Mass Ave, Washington DC 20036 (Dupont circle metro). At the meeting we will be discussing the future structure of our union, membership strength and how to best support the bargaining team. Join us (click here to RSVP).

Sincerely,

Your Bargaining Team

Tania Burton, PhD, Adjunct Professorial Lecturer of German, Department of Language and Foreign Studies

Barbara Wien, Adjunct Instructor, School of International Service

Benjamin Albright, Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, Department of Performing Arts/Music

Robert Berman, Adjunct Instructor, Department of Economics

Robert Kramer, PhD, Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, Key Executive Leadership Program

Erich Vogt, PhD. Professorial Lecturer, Global Environmental Politics Department

The following individuals were chosen by their fellow union members to be part of that team:

Victoria Baldassano – president

Loraine Hutchins – vice-president

Michael D’Andrea – Germantown campus council chair

William Primosch – Rockville campus council chair

Joel Levine – Silver Spring/Takoma Park campus council chair

A. The bargaining team is made up of adjunct professors from American University and union staff who have experience in negotiating contracts for part-time faculty. Currently serving adjunct faculty members of the bargaining team are:

Dr. Tanya Burton, Language and Foreign Studies

Robert Berman, Economics

Barbara Wien, School of International Service

Robert Kramer, Leadership Executive Program

Dr. Erich Vogt, Global Environmental Politics

Benjamin Albright, Music

Q. How long will it take to negotiate the contract?

A. The Bargaining Team will meet a few times a month with AU until a tentative agreement is reached between the parties. This could take up to 9 months or longer. A first contract sets the foundation for the success of your union and your bargaining team will take the time necessary to make sure that they have rigorously reviewed each article and its implications.

Q. Who decides what is in the contract?

A. The proposals presented to American University were drafted with the bargaining team and based on feedback from hundreds of adjunct professors at American University – solicited through focus groups, a bargaining survey, email feedback and individual conversations. During negotiations your bargaining team will be making decisions regarding the contract that are based on their knowledge of the working conditions of adjuncts at AU, and on-going feedback from the adjunct faculty, guided by the strategic advice of the SEIU Local 500 staff leaders. When a tentative agreement is reached with American University, the adjunct faculty will vote to ratify the contract.

Q. What is the Contract Action Team and when does it meet?

A. The CAT is a group of adjunct professors who are working to ensure that AU adjuncts get the best possible contract. They meet with the bargaining team monthly to strategize and give input. More importantly, members of the Contract Action Team are building shoring up support for the union among the adjunct faculty, signing up members and deciding on the future structure of their union. Visible and active support for your union is key to producing  a great contract – to get involved in the Contract Action Team contact Seth Dietz at Dietzs@seiu500.org today!

Once the priorities have determined, a bargaining team made of union members takes those priorities with them into the process of negotiating with the school’s administration. Though the bargaining is constantly helped by union staff, it is the bargaining team, i.e., your fellow part time faculty union members, who are responsible for negotiating an agreement with the administration.

The process of negotiating a first contract – as is happening at American University – can be a lengthy one. Fortunately, the process will often get easier in later contract negotiations.

After the bargaining team has reached an agreement with the administration, this tentative agreement is provided to every member of Local 500 teaching at the institution, along with a ballot. The decision to accept the contract does not lie with union staff or the bargaining team, but with those members who complete their ballot and vote on whether or not to agree to the proposed contract.

If you would like to get more involved in the bargaining process, contact Seth Dietz at dietzs@seiu500.org for more information.

SEIU Local 500 signed onto to a joint letter with more than fifty other organizations, asking Governor O’Malley, Senate President Miller and House Speaker Busch to come together to restore those programs.

You can read the letter here.