ACT-UAW–Part-Time Faculty Successor Contract Negotiations Update: Session 28
The New School and Local 7902 bargaining teams came to the table once again today and continued to make progress towards a renewed contract that is financially sustainable for everyone in our community and also reflects the valued contributions of our part-time faculty.
Although there had been some discussion during yesterday’s bargaining session concerning an innovative appointments process that was designed to provide part-time faculty with greater job security, the union rejected it today. However, the university and the union were able to reach tentative agreements on three important articles: Pay Day (including a $300 pay advance for all part-time faculty members, to be issued before the start of each semester), Health & Safety, and Jury Duty (granting part-time faculty one paid absence per class per semester).
We were pleased that today’s discussions were positive, and the university remains committed to working diligently with the union to get a contract in place. The university provided its position on Emergency Instance and Safe & Sick Leave, offering to give each part-time faculty member the choice to select which of those benefits would be most beneficial to them each semester. In addition, the union provided its response on Notification of Full-Time Positions.
The three Tentative Agreements reached today were helpful steps towards a renewed contract. Bargaining will reconvene on Sunday, November 20, when the union has stated it will provide comprehensive responses on every article still outstanding at this time, including compensation.