Tag Archives: contract
Adjunct Faculty at UMass Lowell will protest for equal pay as other UMass counterparts
UMass Lowell adjuncts to picket retirement party over pay equity
UML and Adjunct Faculty Union Set to Negotiate Contract
The UMass Lowell administration and the UML Union of Adjunct Faculty, (UAF-UAW, Local 1596) are set to begin negotiations on a new contract.
Adjunct faculty at UML unionized in 2011 and were among the first of a growing number of Boston-area adjunct faculty to unionize. The Boston-area universities are part of a nationwide movement to address the concerns of adjunct faculty in higher education. Since 2011, adjunct faculty at Lesley, Tufts, Northeastern, and Boston University have all voted to unionize. A vote to unionize at Bentley fell two votes short of certification. Unionization is seen by many adjunct groups as a means to address the insecurity and low wages of contract employment, and to improve student learning conditions.
Dr. Gregory DeLaurier, an adjunct professor in the Political Science department and a member of both this year’s negotiating team and the past team, is hopeful that this round of negotiations will tackle a number of issues important to the union. “I’m hoping that we will be able to reach a fair agreement in a reasonable period of time. I believe we can do that. We intend to listen to the administration’s offers very seriously.”
The New Faculty Majority, an advocacy group for adjunct and contingent faculty, estimates that 73% of all college instructors are adjunct, up from 22% in 1970. Adjunct faculty often work on a semester-by-semester contract, without benefits.
Tess George, an adjunct professor in the Manning School of Business and Communication Director for the adjunct union, says that a good adjunct contract can make the university stronger and improve the student experience. “When the employer supports and values employees, engagement and commitment increase. We are all committed to teaching our students in the most effective way possible, and hope to work with the university to ensure that adjunct faculty receive full support to reach that goal and fair compensation for our contributions. We hope to work together to make our university a better place to teach and learn.”
Collective Bargaining Agreement
This Collective Bargaining Agreement between the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the Union of Adjunct Faculty, Local 1596 of the United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, AFL–CIO has been in effect since June 29, 2012, and will be so until June 30, 2015.
Participation in Faculty Meetings
Did You Know?
Participation in Faculty Meetings
Article 11.1 of our contract stipulates that in each Department, Adjunct Faculty may send one or two Adjunct Faculty members to Department meetings. We bargained for this right because, often, adjunct faculty members don’t know what’s going on in their own departments, and don’t know about changes or policies that may affect them. Our representatives at the meeting can keep other adjunct faculty informed.
If you would like to be the representative for your department, and attend meetings, please let us know. Some departments are already covered, but many are not.
In some departments, adjunct faculty are welcomed at meetings, and in some, this has become an issue of contention. If you’re interested in representing your department, please contact anyone in the union leadership team, and we’ll explain the process to you.
Information is power!
Tufts adjuncts tout pay and job security gains in first union contract @insidehighered
Service Employees International Union launched its Adjunct Action campaign less than two years ago, with an ambitious goal: take SEIU's metro-wide adjunct organizing effort in Washington, D.C. — which took years to establish — national, and fast. Drives were soon happening from Boston to San Francisco, leading to a dozen new unions.
Now Adjunct Action is touting its first successful contract negotiation, and adjuncts at Tufts University outside Boston are saying it could serve a model for the many contract negotiations happening elsewhere.
Highlights include significant pay increases, longer-term contracts and — perhaps most meaningfully — the right to be interviewed for full-time positions in one’s department.
Tufts adjuncts tout pay and job security gains in first union contract @insidehighered.
Senior Adjunct Status
Union of Adjunct Faculty – UAW
Did You Know?
Senior Adjunct Faculty
Because of our first union contract, there is an opportunity for contract professors (adjunct faculty) to advance to the level of Senior Adjunct Faculty.
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Qualifications:
- You must teach ten semesters (summer doesn’t count) and ten classes within a rolling seven year period.
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Benefits:
- Pay increase of 10%
- Job security: Senior Adjunct Faculty will be reappointed to subsequent semesters. Teaching appointments are made in order of Seniority.
- If your course is not offered, the University Administration must offer you other appropriate courses that you are qualified to teach.
- If you have taught at least one course every semester for three years, and have maintained good evaluations, you must be offered one year appointments that maintain the pattern and number of courses you have taught in the preceding three years.
Details can be found in our contract under section 13. If you have any further questions, please e-mail us at info@uafuml.org
Applying for Full-Time Positions
Did You Know?
Applying for Full-Time Positions
Article 12 of our contract states that the University will notify the Union whenever a posting for a full-time tenure track or non-tenure track position is posted. Currently, we are receiving notification of ALL open positions, which can be a bit overwhelming to sift through. However, all open positions are listed on the University’s website. The link is below:
https://jobs.uml.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1415631688500
If you’re interested in a full-time position or in a different adjunct position, please check this site regularly!
No Limit On Courses!
Did You Know?
An every-so-often bit of information about our union contract
Due to union agreements in our first contract, there is no longer a two-course maximum for adjunct (contract) faculty.
Article 13.1.1.1.6 states:
There is no guaranteed course load – minimum or maximum- for Adjunct Faculty.
There is no contractual reason that you may not teach more than two classes. If you are told that you may not, please contact your Union Area Representative.