Beaking News for Workplace: A Journal of Academic Labor     From:  sommeruaw@aol.com     To:      Workplace     Date:   Wednesday - March 20, 2002 10:37 AM     Subject: NYU Adjuncts Join UAW Region 9A          New York University Adjuncts and Non-Tenure Faculty    File Union Petition with National Labor Relations Board    New Union Will be Largest Non-Tenure Track Only Faculty Union in Country    (NEW YORK, March 20, 2002)      Adjunct and other non-tenured faculty at New     York University (NYU), one of the nation's largest private universities,     filed a petition today with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)     requesting union representation.  The faculty members, members of Adjuncts     Come Together-UAW (ACT-UAW), are a part of the International Union, UAW     (UAW). The historic move by NYU's adjuncts is another step forward in the     growing trend of unionization in higher education by non-tenured teachers and     researchers.  Upon certification by the NLRB, ACT-UAW will be the largest     non-tenure track only union at any institution of higher education in the     country.         The UAW previously made history at NYU when it successfully overturned     decades of anti-worker labor law by gaining the right for graduate teaching     and research assistants at private universities to form and join unions.  The     UAW and NYU settled the first contract between a private university and a     graduate employee union in January addressing many of the inequities faced by     the teaching and research assistants.  Just yesterday the UAW concluded a     union election for 2000 graduate teaching and research assistants at Columbia     University in New York.         Adjuncts and part-time instructors teach throughout NYU and comprise     more than 70% of the approximately 5600 member faculty.  Many adjuncts hold     advanced degrees and are noted in their respective fields.  Adjuncts often     teach heavier course loads than their full-time tenured colleagues and do not     receive basic benefits such as health insurance and pension.  In addition,     the average pay for adjuncts ranges from $2000 - $3000 per 15 week course.         "This day is long overdue," said Martha Bordman, an adjunct professor     at NYU's American Language Institute, "I have been an adjunct for 18 years     and I want to be treated with respect by having the same kind of benefits     that other professionals have.  We decided to be a part of the UAW because     the UAW has proven that the union can make the University accountable to its     employees."         Increasingly referred to as the migrant workers of academia, adjuncts     often run from university to university teaching 2 or 3 classes at each in     order to cobble together a livelihood.         "Academic excellence requires not only a good solid curriculum but a     faculty with all the tools they need to teach effectively," said Phil     Wheeler, director or UAW Region 9A, which includes New York City and New     England.  "Adjunct faculty deserve adequate compensation and support from     NYU.  These faculty members have joined the UAW for the same reasons over     100,000 technical, office and professional workers have joined the UAW     nationwide - dignity, respect and the desire to provide a decent life for     their families."         "Teaching and stimulating academic thought is one of the joys of being     at NYU," said Kathleen Hull, Ph. D an adjunct at NYU for 5 years in the     General Studies Program.  "However, high academic standards require that     those teaching should be treated properly and fairly.  Our students go into     debt and pay tens of thousands of dollars in tuition in order to come to NYU.     We need the full support of NYU and of all its diverse resources in order to     provide the best education possible for those tuition dollars.  Presently, we     simply do not get that kind of support from the University."         The UAW represents over 15,000 teaching staff at the University of     California, the University of Washington, the University of Massachusetts,     and New York University and thousands of administrative, clerical and support     staff at Columbia, Barnard, Teachers' College and other universities.     For More Information Contact:         Julie Kushner (212) 529-2580    Martha Bordman (212) 529-2580    Kathleen Hull (212) 529-2580    or    .    http://www.cgeu.org/