Lecturers and Instructors Seek Union Representation
Source: BU Today
By Art Jahnke
One year after part-time faculty at the University voted to join the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 509, a portion of full-time nontenured lecturers and instructors at BU have petitioned the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for permission to vote to do the same. The new group, which consists of more than 250 lecturers and instructors on the Charles River Campus, will be sent mail-in ballots by the NLRB on March 22. In order to remain free of union representation, a majority of those voting will need to vote “no” in the upcoming election.
The organizational effort is the latest chapter in a larger movement at colleges and universities in the Boston area, a campaign that has unionized part-time faculty at Tufts, Bentley, Brandeis, Lesley, and Northeastern Universities.
Last year the drive extended from part-time to full-time teaching staff at Tufts and Lesley, where bargaining units are now in contract talks with Local 509. The Boston Globe reports that the Tufts group has about 100 members and at Lesley there are nearly 200.
Judi Burgess, BU’s labor relations director, says the University’s negotiations with the initial unit, which represents about 750 part-time faculty, are moving along on several issues. BU Today reported last year that among those issues were expected to be compensation, working conditions, and part-time faculty’s role in decision-making.
FULL story at link.
Last year the union drive extended from part-time to full-time teaching staff at Tufts and Lesley Universities, where bargaining units are now in contract talks with Local 509. Photo courtesy of CentralMassAficio.org
Read more: Lecturers and Instructors Seek Union Representation
= new reply since forum marked as read
