What to Expect

As more and more faculty join the movement for higher pay, better benefits, and increased job security through unionization, many university administrators are quick to speak directly to faculty about their decision to unionize through one on one meetings, emails, and websites dedicated to the topic of faculty unionization.

Perhaps not surprisingly, many university communications seem to follow the same pattern.

First, university officials make clear that they know faculty have been speaking with organizers:

University of Southern California:
USC1
Seattle University:
SeattleU1_2

Lesley University:
LesleyU1_2

Northeastern University:
NortheasternU1_2
 

Administrators encourage faculty to seek out more information on the topic of unionization, and urge faculty to become informed and engaged:

Northeastern University:
NortheasternU2_2

Seattle University:
SeattleU2

Many institutions are quick to point out that unions require faculty to pay membership dues:

Lesley University:
LesleyU3_2

California Institute of the Arts:
CalArts3

Otis College of Art and Design:
Otis3

With no guarantee of increased wages:

California Institute of the Arts:
CalArts4

Otis College of Art and Design:
Otis4

And with enough research, faculty will begin to understand that forming a union isn’t the way to improve their working conditions:

Lesley University:
LesleyU5_2

Seattle University:
SeattleU5

BUT, administrators say, that doesn’t mean they’re anti-union, they just don’t think a faculty union is a good idea on their campus:

University of Southern California:
USC7

Seattle University:
SeattleU7_2

California Institute of the Arts:
CalArts7

Finally, many universities will highlight their recent efforts to improve contingent faculty involvement on campus, and showcase the benefits faculty already receive:

University of Southern California:
USC8

Lesley University:
LesleyU8_2

Seattle University:
SeattleU8_2

California Institute of the Arts:
CalArts8_2