We encourage institutions, unions, law firms, and individuals to donate to help support the National Center’s research and programming.

December 2023 Newsletter

In this month's newsletter, we encourage our readers to take advantage of the early bird registration rates for our 51st annual conference, which will take place on March 17-19, 2024 in New York City at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center.

The newsletter contains a list of currently confirmed 51^st Annual Conference sessions and speakers. Additional conference sessions and participants will be announced soon. We also announce the first conference sponsors, sponsorship opportunities for others, and the launch of a new campaign to fund an interactive collective bargaining website.

The newsletter reports on the recent representation petitions filed concerning faculty at California College of the Arts, Wellesey College, University of Southern California, and the Columbus College of Art and Design. It also reports on a representation effort at the California Institute of Technology involving graduate student employees and post-doctoral scholars, and a recent filing concerning interns and residents at Northwestern University. We also report on votes by undergraduate student workers in favor of unionization at Smith College and Swarthmore College and scheduled student worker elections at California State University and Emerson College.

Lastly, the newsletter includes a report on our regional conference last September at the University of Illinois-Chicago, links to video recordings from our 50^th anniversary conference in March, links to articles in the current volume of our Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy, announcements about three recently published books, and job postings from Hunter College, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and the California Faculty Association.

The National Center's 51st annual national conference will take place on March 17-19, 2024 in New York City. The conference will be held at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College and at the CUNY Graduate Center.

The theme of the conference will be New Crossroads in Collective Bargaining and Labor Relations in Higher Education and the Professions.

Click here to register.

Below is a list of confirmed panels and panelists. Additional panels will be announced in future newsletters and on our website.

Panel: Supreme Court Affirmative Action Decisions: Impact on DEI in Higher Education Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining with Kapil Longani, SUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, Channing Cooper, AFT Legal Department Deputy Director, and Angela Thompson, Moderator. (Panel in formation.)

Panel: Navigating Generative AI in Higher Education: Implications for Collective Bargaining, Pedagogy, and Research with Rob Weill, AFT Director of Policy, Research and Field Services, Kyle Arnone, AFT Collective Bargaining Center, and Anthony G. Picciano, Professor, Hunter College and CUNY Graduate Center, School of Education. (Panel in formation.)

Panel: The First Amendment and the Erosion of Managerial Authority with Martin Malin, Professor Emeritus at Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, Monica C. Barrett, Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC and Rachel Paster, New York State United Teachers, Commentators, and Michael Loconto, Labor Arbitrator, Moderator.

Panel: Collaborating Across the Table: The Value of Labor-Management Cooperation in Reversing Contingency to Improve Outcomes for Women Faculty and Students with Carla Katz, JD - NTT Faculty, Bargaining Team Member (Labor), Rutgers University, Kim O’Halloran, PhD - VP of Academic Planning & Administration, Bargaining Team Member (Management), Rutgers University, Heather Pierce, PhD - Adjunct Faculty, Bargaining Team Member (Labor), Rutgers University, and Melissa Sortman, Director of Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs, Michigan State University, Moderator.

Panel: Addressing Institutional Betrayal at the Table: Tackling Harassment and Title IX Issues Through Collective Bargaining with Risa Lieberwitz, Professor of Labor and Employment Law in the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and AAUP General Counsel, Karen R. Stubaus, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rutgers University, Alexandra Matish, Associate Vice Provost for Academic and

Faculty Affairs and Senior Director, Academic Human Resources, University of Michigan, Sarah M. Arveson, UAW Local 5810 Vice President – UC Berkeley, and Paula E. Burke, Senior Associate, Huron Consulting, Moderator.

Facilitated Session: Bargaining Over Job Security for Contingent Faculty with Benjamin Superfine, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Relations, University of Illinois-Chicago and Julie Schmid, AFT Senior Director of Higher Education, Facilitators.

Book Discussion: Contingent Faculty and the Remaking of Higher Education: A Labor History with Gwendolyn Alker, Associate Arts Professor, Department of Drama, New York University, Joe T. Berry, Ph.D., City College of San Francisco and University of Illinois (retired), COCAL, HELU, Anne McLeer, Director of Higher Education and Strategic Planning, SEIU Local 500, Joseph van der Naald, PhD Candidate in Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY, and Eric Fure-Slocum, Associate Professor of History (Emeritus), co-editor of Contingent Faculty and the Remaking of Higher Education, Moderator.

Panel: Best Practices in Arbitration with Homer LaRue, Labor Arbitrator, Mediator, and Professor, Howard University Law School, Mark Gaston Pearce, Labor Arbitrator, Visiting Professor and Executive Director, Workers’ Rights Institute, Georgetown University Law School, and Katie Rosen, Labor Arbitrator. Co-sponsored by the National Academy of Arbitrators. (Panel in formation.)

Panel: Annual Legal Update (CLE) with Henry Morris, Jr., ArentFox Schiff, LLP, Amy L. Rosenberger, Willig, Williams & Davidson, Aaron Nisenson, Senior Legal Counsel, AAUP, Brian Selchick, Cullen and Dykman LLP, and Jessica Alvarez, Acting General Counsel, Hunter College, CUNY, Moderator.

Panel: Enrollment and Degree Attainment in the United States: Patterns in States with and without Collective Bargaining with Nathaniel J. Bray, Professor, Program Coordinator, Higher Education Administration, Associate Director, Education Policy Center, University of Alabama, Senior Fellow, College Promise, Noel Keeney, Research Associate, Education Policy Center, University of Alabama, F. King Alexander, Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University, Senior Faculty Fellow, Education Policy Center, University of Alabama, Faculty Affiliate, Cornell University, and Higher Education Research Institute Senior Fellow, College Promise, and Stephen G. Katsinas, Professor, Higher Education Administration & Political Science, Director, Education Policy Center, University of Alabama, Senior Fellow, College Promise, Moderator.

Panel: Graduate Student Representation Election Outcomes, 2020-2023: Navigating a New Era of Graduate Student Unionization with Jacob Apkarian, Associate Professor, Sociology, York College, CUNY, Gary Rhoades, Professor and Director, Center for the Study of Higher Education, University of Arizona, Commentator, Nicholas DiGiovanni, Partner, Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP, Commentator, and Kathy Collins, Director, Huron Consulting, Moderator.

Facilitated Session: A New Wave of Undergraduate Student Unionization in Higher Education with Cory McCartan, founder, Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers; former bargaining committee member, HGSU-UAW L. 5118 and Joseph Jelincic, Assistant Vice Chancellor in Collective Bargaining at the California State University, Facilitators.

Book Discussion: The Costs of Completion: Student Success in Community College with Robin G. Isserles, Author, The Costs of Completion, Professor of Sociology, Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY, and Grievance Counselor for Full-time Faculty, PSC BMCC Chapter, Christine Mangino, President, Queensborough Community College, CUNY, James McKeever, Sociology, Los Angeles Pierce College, CA, AFT 1521 Faculty Guild President, Brian Kapitulik, Sociology, Greenfield Community College, MA, Department Chair, Social Sciences; Former Acting Dean of Faculty, Colena Sesanker, Associate Professor, Philosophy, Gateway Community College, CT, Member of Board of Regents of CSCU, and Jennifer Shanoski, Chemistry, Merritt College, Oakland California, Moderator.

Panel: Academic Staff Association Responses to Vaccine Mandates in Higher Education Institutions in Canada and the United States with Alison Braley-Rattai, Associate Professor, Department of Labour Studies, Brock University, Larry Savage, Professor, Department of Labour Studies, Brock University, Jean Grassman, Associate Professor, Environmental, Occupational, and Geospatial Health Sciences, CUNY School of Public Health, Kara Laskowski, Professor and Chair, Communication Studies, Shippensburg University and State APSCUF Meet and Discuss Chair, and Jamie McCallum, Associate Professor, Sociology, Middlebury College and author: Essential: How the Pandemic Transformed the Long Fight for Worker Justice, Moderator.

Panel: Trustees’ Perspectives on Collective Bargaining with Susan Solomon, City College of San Francisco Trustee, Mark Gaffney, Wayne State University Board of Governors, Paul Brown, University of Michigan Board of Regents, and Michael W. Klein, JD, PhD, Instructor, Student Affairs in Higher Education Program, Colorado State University, Moderator.

Panel: Bargaining Issues For Classified, Clerical, and Other Campus Staff with Jeffrey Grider, President, Portland Community College Federation of Classified Employees AFT Local 3922, Christine O'Connell, President, Union of Rutgers Administrators AFT Local 1766, Tony Johnston, President, Cook County College Teachers Union AFT Local 1600, and Andre’ Poplar, Vice Chancellor – Human Resources and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice, Oakland Community College – District, Moderator.

Panel: Librarians in Higher Education: Labor Relations in Unionized Institutions with Meredith Kahn, LEO AFT-MI 6244, Campus Chair, Galleries, Librarians, Archivists and Museums (GLAM) and Librarian for Gender & Sexuality Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Kelly McElroy, United Academics of Oregon State, AAUP/AFT Local 9609, Adriene Lim, Dean of Libraries; Professor of the Practice, College of Information Studies, Dean's Office, University of Maryland - College Park, Elizabeth Cowell, University Librarian, University of California Santa Cruz, and Consuella Askew, Vice President for University Libraries and University Librarian, Rutgers University Libraries, Moderator.

Panel: Labor Justice and Labor Studies in Higher Education with Joy Blanchard, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Lutrill and Pearl Payne School of Education, Louisiana State University, Jordan Harper, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs, Morgan State University, Ananya Malik, MEd, doctoral student, Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, University of Georgia, Letitia F. Silas, Labor and Employment Attorney and Consultant, Commentator, and Adrienne Eaton, Dean, Office of the Dean and Distinguished Professor, Labor Studies and Employment Relations (LSER), Rutgers University, Moderator.

Book Discussion: The Right to Learn: Resisting the Right-Wing Attack on Academic Freedom with Jennifer Ruth, Professor of Film, College of the Arts, Portland State University co-editor, The Right to Learn, Ellen Schrecker, Professor of History, retired, Yeshiva University, co-editor, The Right to Learn, Helena Worthen, labor educator, retired, University of Illinois, School of Labor and Employment Relations, contributor, The Right to Learn, and Charles Toombs, Professor of Africana Studies, San Diego State University; President, California Faculty Association, Moderator.

Book Discussion: Unionizing the Ivory Tower: Cornell Workers' Fifteen-Year Fight for Justice and a Living Wage with Al Davidoff, Organizational and Leadership Development Director, Solidarity Center; Author, Unionizing the Ivory Tower: Cornell Workers' Fifteen-Year Fight for Justice and a Living Wage, Carlos Aramayo, President, UNITE HERE Local 26, Commentator, and Scott Phillipson, Chair of Higher Ed Council, SEIU, Moderator. (Panel in formation.)

2024 Conference Sponsorships

To help support the National Center and its 51st annual national conference, we encourage higher education institutions, unions, law firms, organizations, and companies to become a sponsor of our 2024 annual conference. 

Through a conference sponsorship you will demonstrate support for the National Center’s mission, programing, and research agenda.

Major Supporting Partner: $15,000

Benefits:

• Complimentary registration for 3 attendees and a 50% reduction for a fourth;
• Your organization’s logo and link to your site on the National Center website;
• Opportunity to make introductory remarks at the plenary or mid-day greetings;
• Your organization’s name referenced in our monthly newsletter;
• Inclusion of a one-page display ad in the conference program;
• Listing as a major supporting sponsor of the annual conference, webinars and conference receptions.

Supporting Partner: $10,000

Benefits:

• Complimentary registration for 2 attendees and a 50% reduction for a third;
• Your organization’s logo and link to your site on the National Center website;
• Your organization name referenced in our monthly newsletter;
• Inclusion of a one-page display ad in the conference program;
• Listing as a supporting sponsor of the annual conference, webinars and conference receptions.

Participating Sponsor: $5,000

Benefits:

• Complimentary registration for one conference attendee;
• Your organization’s logo and link to your site on the National Center website;
• Your organization name referenced in our monthly newsletter;
• Inclusion of a half-page display ad in the conference program;
• Listing as a participating sponsor of the annual conference, webinars and conference breaks.

Basic Sponsor: $2,500

Benefits:

• Complimentary registration for one conference attendee;
• Listing as a sponsor on the National Center website;
• Your organization’s name referenced in our monthly newsletter;
• Inclusion of a one-quarter display ad in the conference program;
• Listing as a basic sponsor of the annual conference, webinars and conference breaks.

Introductory Sponsor: $1,500

Benefits:

• Complimentary registration for one conference attendee;
• Listing as a sponsor on the National Center website;
• Your organization’s name referenced in our monthly newsletter;
• Inclusion of a one-quarter display ad in the conference program;
• Listing as an introductory sponsor of the annual conference, webinars and conference breaks.

Friend of the National Center: $500

Benefits:

• Complimentary registration for one conference attendee;
• Listing of your name as a friend of the National Center on our website, newsletter and in the conference program.

2024 Conference Program Advertisements

Another important way to celebrate the National Center’s 51st anniversary and demonstrate support for our mission and research is for your institution, union, law firm, organization or company to place an advertisement in our 2024 conference program.

Full-page advertisement:      $ 1,500

Half-page advertisement:      $   750

Quarter-page advertisement: $  275

Please email us with any questions about sponsorships and ad purchases at: nat_ctr@hunter.cuny.edu

Join the Campaign for an Interactive Collective Bargaining Website

Join the National Center's campaign to fund a permanent interactive website that will provide access to the National Center's database of information and contracts concerning all academic collective bargaining relationships listed in our upcoming 2024 Directory of Bargaining Agents and Contracts in Institutions of Higher Education.

The funds from the campaign would help build the website and allow us to employ graduate students to maintain the website and regularly update our database with information such as successor agreements and new collective bargaining relationships.

The features of the interactive website would include the ability of negotiators, representatives, and scholars to:

• search our repository of close to 900 current contracts individually or in a group utilizing a word search function.

• search and display variables in our database by institution, bargaining agent, unit composition, and state and would allow the download of data in different formats so that users would be able to analyze the data using their favorite program.

Lastly, the website would include a data entry portal for users to update the data by adding or correcting any data points.

An interactive website will be of immense value to all institutions of higher education, unions representing faculty, post-doctoral scholars, and graduate assistants, law firms representing institutions and unions, as well as scholars of higher education and labor.

Making the interactive website a reality requires financial support. The creation of an operational website may cost as much as $50,000 with additional annual costs to employ graduate students to maintain and update the website.

We, therefore, encourage higher education institutions, unions, law firms, and others to contribute toward the creation and maintenance of the interactive website, which we hope to put online by the end of 2024.

The following are suggested donation amounts to fund the interactive website:

$10,000

$ 5,000

$ 2,500

$ 1,000

$ 500

Other amounts: $250, $100, $50, or $25.Donate Now

Karen Stubaus: A New Expanded Research Role at the National Center

We are thrilled to announce that Karen R. Stubaus will be taking on a new expanded research and programmatic role at the National Center starting in the next calendar year. 

In her new National Center role, Karen will be sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience in faculty and academic labor relations during her four decades at Rutgers University including her decade-long tenure as Rutgers' Vice President for Academic Affairs and Administration.

Karen's primary subject matter focus at the National Center will be Title IX, discrimination, collective bargaining, and related issues.

Throughout her career at Rutgers, Karen was a leader in increasing the diversity of the faculty and in promoting women's leadership at all levels of the institution. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Douglass College, Karen received her Ph.D. in seventeenth-century American history from Rutgers.

California College of the Arts: AFT Files to Represent Faculty Unit

California College of the Arts, NLRB Case No. 20-RC-331631

On December 11, 2023, California College of the Arts Ranked Faculty United, California Federation of Teachers, filed a representation petition seeking to represent a unit of 163 ranked full-time and part-time faculty at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco.

The following is the description of the proposed unit in the representation petition:

Included: All ranked full-time and ranked part-time faculty, including all tenured, tenure track, and ranked renewable Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors, including all ranked faculty serving as chairs, assistant chairs, associate chairs, and directors.

Excluded: All other employees, managerial employees, guards, and supervisors as defined in the Act.

Wellesley College: UAW Files Petition to Represent Faculty Unit

Wellesley College, NLRB Case No. 01-RC-330948

On November 29, 2023, the UAW filed a petition seeking to represent a bargaining unit of 151 full-time and part-time faculty and post-doctoral scholars at Wellesley College.

The following is the description of the proposed bargaining unit in the representation petition:

Included: All full-time and regular part-time (1) Faculty on Term Appointments, (2) Instructors in Science Laboratory, and (3) PERA* Faculty (collectively identified by the Employer as “FIP”*); and (4) Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows employed by Wellesley College, at any of the Employer's facilities, regardless of funding source, including but not limited to Adjunct Assistant Professors, Distinguished Senior Lecturers, Distinguished Visiting Associate Professors, Instructors in Science Laboratory, Lecturers, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows, PERA Assistant Professors of the Practice, PERA Associate Professors of the Practice, PERA Professors of the Practice, Senior Instructors in Science Laboratory, Senior Lecturers, and Visiting Lecturers. *Note 1: “PERA” is an acronym used by Wellesley College for “Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics.” *Note 2: “FIP” is an acronym used by Wellesley College for “Faculty on Term Appointments, Instructors in Science Laboratory, and Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics Faculty.”

Excluded: All guards and supervisors as defined in the Act.

Columbus Coll. of Art & Design: AFT Files to Combine Bargaining Units

Columbus College of Art and Design, NLRB Case No. 09-UC-330995

Columbus College of Art and Design, NLRB Case No. 09-RC-325680

Columbus College of Art and Design, NLRB Case No. 09-RC-327199

On November 30, 2023, CCAD Faculty Alliance, Ohio Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO (CCAD Faculty Alliance) filed a unit clarification petition with the NLRB seeking to combine two recently certified faculty units at Columbus College of Art and Design. One of the new units includes full-time faculty and the other adjunct faculty.

The following is the description of the proposed new unit sought in the CCAD Faculty Alliance unit clarification petition:

Included: All Adjunct Faculty; All full-time Faculty, including Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, and AICAD Fellow Employees

Excluded: All other employees and administrators, including President, Provost, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Associate Vice President, Dean, Director, Department Chair, Department Head; Administrative Support Staff, Custodial Staff, Program Manager, Senior Admissions Counselor, Admissions Counselor, Coordinator for Community Education, Senior Academic Advisor, Facilities Manager, Website Coordinator, Lab Tech, Assistant Registrar, Student Services Associate, Corporate Engagement and Annual Giving Coordinator, Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Financial Aid Assistant, Financial Aid Counselor, Fabrications Manager, Donor Relations Manager, Faculty Director of Galleries, Faculty Director of Academic Operations, Clinical Therapist, Safety and Security Operations Coordinator, Payroll/Benefits Manager, Editor, SMAC instructor; and office clerical employees, and all professional employees, confidential employees and guards and supervisors as defined in the Act.

University of Southern California: UAW Files to Represent Faculty Unit

University of Southern California, NLRB Case No. 31-RC-330947

On November 29, 2023, Adjunct Faculty Alliance – UAW filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to be certified as the exclusive representative of 250 part-time non-tenure track faculty at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.

The following is the description of the proposed bargaining unit in the Adjunct Faculty Alliance-UAW representation petition:

Included: All part-time non-tenure track faculty who are employed by the University of Southern California and who teach at least one credit-earning class, section, lesson, or lab within the academic unit known as the USC School of Cinematic Arts either remotely or in-person at the Employer’s instructional facilities at the University Park Campus.

Excluded: All tenure or tenure-track faculty; all visiting faculty; all full-time faculty; all faculty teaching at an academic unit other than the USC School of Cinematic Arts; all emeritus faculty; all non-faculty employees; and all managers, supervisors, and guards as defined in the Act.

Cal Tech: UAW Files to Represent a GSE & Post-Doctoral Unit

California Institute of Technology, NLRB Case No. 21-RC-331055

On December 1, 2023, the UAW filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to represent a unit of 2,050 graduate student employees and post-doctoral scholars employed by the California Institute of Technology.

The following is the description of the proposed bargaining unit in the representation petition filed by the UAW:

Included: All graduate students and postdoctoral scholars employed by the California Institute of Technology (“Caltech”) in teaching-related jobs, including Graduate Teaching Assistants and Postdoctoral Teaching Fellows, and all graduate students and postdoctoral scholars employed by Caltech in research-related jobs, including Graduate Research Assistants, Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associates, and Postdoctoral Scholar Fellowship Trainees (regardless of funding sources and those compensated through fellowships and/or training grants) .

Excluded: All other employees, guards, and supervisors as defined in the Act.

Northwestern University: SEIU Files to Represent Interns and Residents

McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, NLRB Case No 13-RC-331063

On December 1, 2023, the Committee of Interns and Residents-SEIU filed a petition with the NLRB seeking to represent a unit of 1,275 full-time and regular part-time interns and residents employed at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University.

The following is the description of the proposed bargaining unit set forth in the representation petition filed by the Committee of Interns and Residents-SEIU:

Included: All full-time and regular part-time House Staff employed by McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University in the following classifications: Interns, Residents, Chief Residents, and Fellows.

Excluded: All other employees, directors, managerial employees, guards, and supervisors as defined in the Act.

Cal. State Univ.: Largest Undergraduate Employee Election Scheduled

Trustees of the California State University, CPERB Case No. LA-PC-18-H

On December 7, 2023, California State University (CSU) and California State University Employees Union, SEIU Local 2579 (CSUEU) entered into a consent election agreement at the California Public Employment Relations Board (CPERB) concerning a CSUEU petition seeking to represent a unit of close to 20,000 student employees working for CSU. A vote in favor of representation will result in the largest undergraduate student employee bargaining unit in history.

The CSU student employees eligible to vote will be student assistants, excluding student trainees and volunteers, with December 4, 2023 as the cut off date for voter eligibility.

Under the consent election agreement, CSU will provide CSUEU on or before December 26, 2023 with an excel spreadsheet that includes the name, title code, mailing address, email address, telephone or cell phone number, employee ID number, campus work location, department or work area, and hours worked (per month for the prior six months).

Under the agreement, the representation election will be conducted electronically by the American Arbitration Association under a contract with CPERB. The voting period will last from January 25, 2024 through February 22, 2024, with the ballot count taking place on February 23, 2024.

Electronic voting in representation elections remains relatively rare in the United States.

For background on the history and issues concerning electronic representation elections, see Sara Slinn and William A. Herbert. 2011. Some Think of the Future: Internet, Electronic, and Telephonic Labor Representation Elections, Saint Louis University Law Journal 56.1, 171-208.

Higher Education Labor History: The current union organizing by student workers at California State University and on many other campuses is a continuation of undergraduate labor representation efforts that date back to 1914. In that year, undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin at Madison formed the Student Workers Union.

The Student Worker Union was created in January, 1914 for the stated purpose of campus dining workers having a voice in the number of hours they work, overtime compensation, and other benefits. Later, the university eliminated many dining staff positions and terminated union members, resulting in charges of a lockout which led to protests and requests for intervention by the Board of Regents and the Governor.

Smith College: Resident Advisors Vote for Representation by UFCW

The Trustees of the Smith College, NLRB Case No. 01-RC-330196

On December 14, 2023, NLRB Region 1 tallied the ballots in an election concerning a representation petition filed by United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 1459 (UCFW) seeking to represent a unit of 77 undergraduate residential advisors at Smith College. The tally demonstrated that the undergraduate student employees voted 32-2 in favor of UCFW representation

The following is the description of the new undergraduate student bargaining unit at Smith College:

Included: All undergraduate students enrolled at Smith College who are employed in the Office of Residence Life as House Community Advisors, House Coordinators, and Apartment Managers;

Excluded: All other employees, including non-student employees, managerial employees, and guards, professional employees and supervisors as defined in the Act.

Swarthmore College: Resident Assistants Vote for OPEIU Representation

Swarthmore College, NLRB Case No.04-RC-329416

On December 13, 2023, NLRB Region 4 tallied the ballots in an election concerning a representation petition filed by Office & Professional Employees International Union, Local 153 (OPEIU) seeking to represent a unit of 56 undergraduate resident assistants at Swarthmore College. The tally demonstrated that the undergraduate student employees voted 46-5 in favor of OPEIU representation.

The following is the description of the new undergraduate student bargaining unit at Swarthmore College:

Included: All resident assistants employed by the Employer at its 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania campus.

Excluded: All other employees including managers, guards and supervisors as defined in the Act.

Emerson College: Student Resident Advisor Election Scheduled

Emerson College, NLRB Case No. 01-RC-329813

On December 5, 2023, NLRB Region 1 issued a Notice of Election scheduling an election for January 24, 2024, concerning a petition filed by Office & Professional Employees International Union, Local 153 (OPEIU) seeking to represent a unit of 87 graduate and undergraduate students employed as resident advisors by Emerson College at its Boston campus.

The following is the at-issue resident advisor bargaining unit at Emerson College:

Included: All undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in a degree program at Emerson College who are currently appointed to and serving in academic year or semester appointments as Resident Assistants at the Emerson College campus in Boston, Massachusetts

Excluded: All students serving as Resident Assistants at the Emerson College campuses

in Los Angeles, California and Well, Limburg, Netherlands, confidential employees, and guards, professional employees, and supervisors as defined by the Act.

Univ. of California: UAW Files for Santa Barbara Dining Workers

University of California, CPERB Case No. SF-RR-1049-H

On December 7, 2023, the UAW filed a petition with the California Public Employment Relations Board (CPERB) seeking to represent a unit of 450 student dining workers on the Santa Barbara campus of the University of California.

The following is the proposed unit set forth in the UAW representation petition:

Included: All students employed in title code STUDENT ASSISTANT I (004922) who perform work at UC Santa Barbara at one or more of the following dining Commons: Orega Dining Commons; De La Guerra Dining Commons; Carrillo Dining Commons; and Portola Dining Commons; and those who provide support related to food preparation, serving and clean-up in the Dining Commons

September 2013 Regional Higher Education Collective Bargaining Workshop at the University of Illinois-Chicago

On September 14 and 15, 2013, the National Center held a regional higher education collective bargaining workshop at the University of Illinois-Chicago. The regional conference was co-sponsored by the University of Illinois System, and the University of Illinois School of Labor & Employment Relations’ Labor Education Program.

The sold-out workshop included over 100 attendees and speakers from Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, and California.

This was the third regional workshop organized by the National Center since 2013, with the last two being held in California. It is part our effort to revive the tradition of holding regional programming similar to the events the National Center sponsored in earlier decades.

Best Practices in Collective Bargaining Panel with (l-r) Diana Valera, President CFAC/IFT, Columbia College, Mark Bennettt, Laner Muchin, Marcia Mackey, Michigan Education Association (moderator), Melissa Sortman, Assistant Provost and Director, Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs, Michigan State University, and Elizabeth Towell, SEIU Local 73

Best Practices in Collective Bargaining Panel with (l-r) Stephen Yokich, Dowd, Bloch, Bennett, Cervone, Auerbach & Yokich, LLP, Robb Craddock, Labor and Employee Relations Executive Director, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Mike Newman, Deputy Director, AFSCME Council 31, Richard W. Fanning, Jr., Clark Hill, PLC, and Terry Curry, former Associate Provost and Associate Vice President, Michigan State University (moderator)

Collective Bargaining, Discrimination, Affirmative Action, & Title IX Panel with (l-r) Ricky Baldwin, Assistant Director, State Division, SEIU Local 73, Risa Lieberwitz, Professor of Labor and Employment Law, Cornell ILR and AAUP General Counsel, Augustus Wood, Assistant Professor, School of Labor & Employment Relations, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Julie Miceli, Husch Blackwell, and Karen Stubaus, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rutgers University and National Center Affiliated Researcher (moderator)

Legal Obligations under Public Sector Statutes and NLRA Panel with (l-r) Richard W. Fanning, Jr., Clark Hill, PLC, Ellen Strizak, General Counsel, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, Angie Cowan Hamada, National Labor Relations Board Region 13 Director, and Alice Johnson, General Counsel Cook College Teachers Union (moderator)

Community Colleges: Distinct Bargaining Issues and Challenges Panel with (l-r) Robert Boonin, Dykema, PLLC, Tony Johnston, Cook County Teachers Union Local 1600 President,

Andre' L. Poplar, Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Oakland Community College,

Shannon Altson, Director of Business, Legal & Human Resources, Michigan Education Association, and Joshua Welker, Dean of Business and Institutional Effectiveness, John Wood Community College (moderator)

10 Best Practice Tips from Experienced Labor Arbitrators with (l-r)

Meeta Bass, Arbitrator

Cary Morgen, Arbitrator, and Betty Widgeon, Arbitrator, (moderator and panelist)

50th Anniversary Conference Video Recordings

The National Center's 50th anniversary conference on March 26-28, 2023 was a major success.

Click here for the full conference program. And click here for the webpage dedicated to the 50th Anniversary conference, which was developed with the assistance of Iris Finkel, Hunter College Web and Digital Initiatives Librarian.

Below are links to video recordings of certain presentations at the National Center's 50th Anniversary Conference.

We thank Roosevelt House Production Coordinator Daniel T. Culkin and Peter Jackson, Hunter College's Chief Digital Media CLT & Production Coordinator and the students of the Hunter College Film & Media Department for recording and producing the videos.

Welcoming Remarks by National Center Executive Director William A. Herbert, Anne Ollen, Managing Director, TIAA Institute, Gary Rhoades, University of Arizona and Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy, and Karen Stubaus, Rutgers University and Associate Editor, Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy.

Keynote Presentation by Michael Sandel, Political Philosopher and Harvard University Professor with Introductory remarks by Hunter College President, Jennifer J. Raab.

Panel: Title IX: Its Past, Its Present, and Its Future with Frazier Benya, Senior Program Officer, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Lance Houston, Title IX Coordinator and Director of Equity and Compliance, Adelphi University, Risa Lieberwitz, Professor of Labor and Employment Law in the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and General Counsel of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), Tamiko Strickman, Special Advisor to the President and Executive Director of the Office of Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX, University of Michigan, and Moderators: Karen R. Stubaus, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rutgers University and Alexandra Matish, J.D., Associate Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs and Senior Director, Academic Human Resources, University of Michigan. This panel was co-organized by the National Academies' Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education.

Panel: Treasuring the Past and the Spirit of Change: Perspectives from Experienced Arbitrators with Rosemary A. Townley, Arbitrator and Mediator, Howard C. Edelman, Arbitrator and Mediator, Jacquelin F. Drucker, Arbitrator and Mediator, and Homer LaRue, Arbitrator, Mediator, and Professor, Howard University Law School, Moderator. This panel was co-sponsored by the National Academy of Arbitrators.

Panel: Higher Education Unionization: Perspectives from Labor Relations Agencies with John Wirenius, Chairperson, New York State Public Employment Relations Board, Marjorie Wittner, Chairperson, Massachusetts Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, Mary Beth Hennessy-Shotter, Director of Conciliation and Arbitration, NJ Public Employment Relations Commission, and Michael P. Sellars, Executive Director, Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission, Moderator. This panel was co-sponsored by the Association of Labor Relations Agencies.

Panel: Annual Legal Update with Amy L. Rosenberger, Willig, Williams & Davidson, Monica C. Barrett, Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, Henry Morris, Jr., Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP, Aaron Nisenson, Senior Legal Counsel, AAUP, and Brian Selchick

Cullen and Dykman LLP, Moderator.

Panel: Yesterday and Today: Experienced Faculty Leaders in Higher Education with Jamie Dangler, former Vice President for Academics, United University Professions, Art Hochner, Associate Professor Emeritus, Management, Temple University & former President, Temple Assn. of University Professionals, AFT 4531, Charles Toombs, President, California Faculty Association, Kenneth Mash, President, APSCUF, and Penny Lewis, Secretary, Professional Staff Congress/CUNY, AFT Local #2334, Moderator.

Panel: Exploring the Retirement Income Equity Gap with Brent Davis, Economist, TIAA Institute, John Dorsa, Chief Pension Officer, Office of the New York City Comptroller, Valerie Martin Conley, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Idaho State University, and Anne Ollen, Managing Director, TIAA Institute, Panelist and Moderator.

Panel: College Athletes, NCAA and the NLRA: An Update with Gabriel Feldman, Sher Garner Professor of Sports Law, Tulane Law School, Joshua Nadreau, Fisher Phillips LLP, Mark Gaston Pearce, Executive Director, Workers’ Rights Institute, Georgetown University Law School, and former National Labor Relations Board Chairman, and Jeffrey Hirsch, Geneva Yeargan Rand Distinguished Professor of Law, University of North Carolina School of Law, Panelist and Moderator.

Panel: Labor Issues Facing Independent Musicians with Marc Ribot, Guitarist and Composer, Phillip Golub, Pianist and Composer, Amir Elsaffar, Trumpeter and Composer, Sulynn Hago, Guitarist and Composer, and Larry Blumenfeld, Moderator. This panel was co-sponsored by the Music Workers Alliance.

The National Center's Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy has published Volume 14. The volume title is "Learning from the Past to Enhance our Future."

The Journal's Editors-in-Chief are Gary Rhoades, University of Arizona, Karen Stubaus, Rutgers University, and Jeffrey Cross, Eastern Illinois University (Emeritus).

Op-Ed:

A New Foundation, Revisited by Richard J. Boris

Articles:

Protecting Academic Freedom Through Collective Bargaining: An AAUP Perspective by Michael Mauer

In the Beginning, Long Time Ago: A Brief History of the National Center’s Origin and Evolution by William A. Herbert

Power Despite Precarity: A Conversation with the Authors, Joe Berry and Helena Worthen by Gary Rhoades

Centering Anti-Racism and Social Justice, Toward A More Perfect Union: A Conversation with the Authors, Cecil E. Canton and Charles Toombs

by Gary Rhoades

Practitioner Perspective:

Factors that Led to Crossing the Picket-Line: An Autoethnography of a Faculty Striker by Giovanna Follo

Proceedings Materials:

50th Anniversary: Proceedings of the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions by Daniel J. Julius

The Academic Mission and Collective Bargaining by Sidney Hook

Management Rights Issues in Collective Bargaining in Higher Education by

Margaret K. Chandler and Connie Chiang

The Yeshiva Case: One Year Later by Joel M. Douglas

State Support of Higher Education: A 20-Year Contextual Analysis Using Two-Year Percentage Gains In State Tax Appropriations by Edward R. Hines

Sexual Harassment on Campus and a Union's Dilemma by Rachel Hendrickson

Collective Bargaining and Technology by Christine Maitland

Faculty and Management Rights In Higher Education Collective Bargaining: A Faculty Perspective by Ernst Benjamin

The Current Status of Graduate Student Unions: An Employer's Perspective

by Daniel J. Julius

New Models of Contingent Faculty Inclusion by Frank Cosco

The Professionalization of Non-Tenure Track Faculty in the United States: Three Case Studies From Public Research Institutions: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, and University of Oregon by Karen Stubaus

This Much I Know is True: The Five Intangible Influences on Collective Bargaining by Nicholas DiGiovanni Jr.

The History Of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education: The Case of HBCUs

by Derryn Moten

Collective Bargaining and Labor Representation for Higher Education in a “Right to Work” Environment by Thomas Auxter

The Journal is an open access, peer-reviewed, online periodical, the purpose of which is to advance research and scholarly thought related to academic collective bargaining and to make relevant and pragmatic peer-reviewed research readily accessible to practitioners and to scholars in the field.

We encourage scholars and practitioners in the fields of collective bargaining, labor relations, and labor history to submit articles for potential publication in future volumes.

The Journal is supported, in part, by a generous contribution from TIAA and is hosted by the institutional repository of Eastern Illinois University.

New Book: The Costs of Completion: Student Success in

Community College by Robin G. Isserles

New Book: Contingent Faculty and the Remaking of Higher Education:

A Labor History, edited by Eric Fure-Slocum and Claire Goldstene

New Book: The Right to Learn: Resisting the Right-Wing Attack on Academic Freedom, Edited by Valerie C. Johnson, Jennifer Ruth, and Ellen Schrecker

Job Posting:

Hunter College Legal Counsel and Labor Relations

Hunter College invites applications for the position of Legal Counsel and Labor Relations Director. Hunter College, a flagship campus of the City University of New York (CUNY), is a vibrant institution with a diverse and accomplished student body and eminent faculty. With more than 23,000 students, it is CUNY’s most populous senior college campus with a strong commitment to educating those whose access to higher education has historically been limited.

The Legal Counsel and Labor Relations Director reports to the General Counsel and provides legal advice to the College on a broad range of issues including employment and labor law, contracts, compliance, governance, ethics, intellectual property and immigration. The position provides legal support to Vice Presidents, Deans, Chairs, faculty, and administrators, and serves as a liaison to the University Office of Legal Affairs with respect to litigation and arbitration.

Title Overview, the responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Negotiate and draft of contracts, licenses, releases, and other legal documents.
• Work with attorneys in CUNY Office of the General Counsel and Office of Labor Relations in connection with litigation and arbitration including matters relating to students, employees, and third parties.
• Represent the college at hearings and arbitrations as the hearing officer and oversee the prompt completion of confidential staff investigations.
• Provide legal counsel with respect to compliance with legal requirements, college and university policies and procedures, and contractual obligations.
• Research sensitive college-wide HR issues and provide recommendations to the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources.
• Review and respond to subpoenas, Freedom of Information Law requests, and other requests for college, employee, and student records.
• Educate senior leadership on various labor relations policies and procedures.
• Develop a thorough understanding of labor agreements, rules, and policies of the City University of New York (i.e. PSC/ CUNY Collective Bargaining Agreement, CUNY's Rules and Regulations, New York State Civil Service Laws, etc), and apply CUNY regulations appropriately by providing Deans, Vice Presidents, and Department Heads with guidance and mentorship.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree and eight years’ related experience required.

Membership in New York State Bar required.

Preferred Qualifications

-Ability to work well as part of a team, take on a supervisory role when needed, work effectively and independently on multiple tasks.

-Substantial non-profit law and contract negotiation and preparation experience.

-Experience in large law firm setting with increasing managerial responsibility.

-Experience in higher education setting.

-Exceptional analytical and communication skills and judgment.

-Experience interpreting laws and drafting and interpreting organizational regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines.

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

Directs College Labor Relations functions requiring the highest degree of confidentiality, skill, sound judgment and attention to detail.

• Represents the College at grievances and disciplinary proceedings
• Writes labor/legal related briefs and decisions
• Responds to policy and procedural inquiries from a wide variety of College officials, including Vice Presidents, Deans and Department Chairs
• Responds to a variety of requests, such as employment discrimination complaints from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the New York State Division of Human Rights; subpoenas, and document requests
• Provides time-sensitive reports and information to internal and external sources, such as the New York Commission on Public Integrity
• Serves as liaison to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Labor Relations, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Management, and Office of the General Counsel
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Job Title Name: Legal Counsel and Labor Relations Director

CUNY TITLE

Higher Education Officer

FLSA

Exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary commensurate with education and experience($129,310-$141,858).

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must be submitted online by accessing the CUNY Portal on City University of New York job website www.cuny.edu/employment. To search for this vacancy, click on SEARCH ALL POSTINGS and in SEARCH JOBS field, enter the Job Opening ID number

Click on the "APPLY NOW" button and follow the application instructions. Current users of the site should access their established accounts;. New users should follow the instructions to set up an account.

Please have your documents available to attach into the application before you begin. Note, the required material must be uploaded as ONE document under CV/ Resume (do not upload individual files for a cover letter, references, etc.). The document must be in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf, or text format- and name of file should not exceed ten (10) characters – also DO NOT USE SYMBOLS (such as accents (é, è, (â, î or ô), ñ, ü, ï , –, _ or ç)).

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please include:

• Cover Letter and/ or Statement of scholarly interests
• Curriculum Vitae/ Resume
• Names and contact information of 3 references

Upload all documents as ONE single file-- PDF format preferred

CLOSING DATE

The search will remain open until the position is filled. The committee will begin reviewing complete applications on December 8, 2023. Applications submitted after the deadline will only be considered if the position/s remain open after initial round.

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job Posting:

Open Education Research and Policy Specialist with the

 Massachusetts Teachers Association

The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) Center for Education Policy and Practice is hiring an Education Research and Policy (ERP) Specialist who will work with educators, students, community groups and other experts to identify obstacles to success for students and educators that are rooted in structural racism, economic inequality, and other forms of oppression and develops solutions that dismantle those barriers. The ERP specialist also works with our government relations, field, grassroots, and communications teams on campaigns to achieve those policy goals.

The full job description and information on applying can be found here: Recruitment (adp.com)

In addition to working for a union, you will belong to a staff union with all the advantages and feeling of solidarity that unions provide. The salary scale for this position is $103,000 to $137,000, depending on experience. Wherever you start, each year you move up one step each year that you are in the position until you reach the top step.

Job Postings:

Open Staff Positions with the California Faculty Association

Working for CFA

A union of 29,000 tenure-track faculty, coaches, librarians, and counselors, CFA is seeking candidates with a strong knowledge and background in racial and social justice work. Candidates who have relevant experience (formally or informally) and can translate that into the range of job responsibilities listed below are strongly encouraged to apply.

CFA is proud to be a member-run union and believes in employing hard-working and creative staff whose talents complement those of our elected leadership. 

CFA is an Affirmative Action Employer. Women, People of Color/Native People, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

CFA complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact searchcommittee@calfac.org.

Click here to view job listings.

Job Postings

Campus Service Representatives – NorCal & SoCal

The CSR responsibilities are communicated by the CFA campus Field Representative and will work in coordination with the CFA Chapter Executive Board’s, which organizes and represents approximately 29,000 faculty, librarians, counselors, and coaches.

General Summary

The CSR is a non-exempt part-time position.

The position ensures that the California Faculty Association’s (CFA) new member recruitment and organizing goals are executed through the work of the CSR and chapter that they are assigned to support. Overall, the position will support and help add capacity to well-functioning ongoing priorities for new member recruitment and organizing support.

Rate of Pay: $25.00 hour

Hours Per Week: 19 hours per week.

Working Days/Hours: Monday-Thursday 10am – 2pm, Fridays 2pm-5pm

**Any alterations to the scheduled days/hours must receive prior approval by the Field Rep

Job Functions and Essential Duties

Recruitment of new members:

• Daily hall walking campus buildings to engage in recruitment discussions with non-members – nonmember target lists and tracking form provided during bi-weekly check ins
• Provides welcoming experience and exceptional service to non-members

Required meeting attendance:

• Attends monthly membership organizing committee meetings
• Attends monthly luncheons, workshops, and other activities – coordinates with OM to identify rsvp’s of non-members to engage with during the event
• Attends 2^nd Executive Board meeting of each month to provide report progress made in chapter goal of recruitment
• Events/activities in which membership organizing committee has scheduled for the upcoming month
• What has been successful for recruitment and what has not

Optional meeting attendance:

• 1^st Executive Board meeting of the month
• Events, workshops and activities where no nonmembers have rsvp’d

Reporting:

• Friday bi-weekly – turn in tracking form from prior weeks and workplan for upcoming week to field rep and chapter president
• Friday 3pm bi-weekly check in with field rep (and occasionally chapter president) – meeting will be to discuss and review progress on recruitment goals using tracking form, workplans and hall walking scheduling for the upcoming weeks, overcoming any obstacles to recruitment
• Weekly check-in with regional organizing director and team meetings

Office Organization and Administrative/ Clerical Duties (when needed):

• Keeps track of all conversations with nonmembers with dates, times, issues/concerns and follow up, if any, that is needed
• Communication with Executive Board members who have volunteered to assist in activities as to time, date, location i.e. tabling event, appreciation event, etc.
• Communicates to Field Representative if supplies are needed i.e. membership cards, pens/pencils, paper, binders, etc.
• Updates and maintains the CFA bulletin boards in each campus building with membership recruitment materials

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and under general supervision, and to handle multiple projects simultaneously. Effective organization and time management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively, creatively and strategically in a team environment, including CFA officers, members, interns and staff.
• Ability to learn and communicate CFA organizational structure and policies
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally with nonmembers, members, staff, students and leadership.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to work independently and under general supervision to meet required tasks/duties.
• Possess high integrity and demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential information
• Effective and appropriate communication with members, staff, administrators, and supervisors.
• Ability to lift 25 lbs. (subject to reasonable accommodation).

To apply send cover letter and resume to: searchcommittee@calfac.org.