NATIONAL CENTER
for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions
   

  

E-Note 
 
December 2014
The National Center E-Note is an electronic newsletter providing news, updates and
analysis concerning events and issues of interest to our constituency groups.






Confirmed Panels and Workshops for the National Center's 42nd
Annual Conference on April 19-21, 2015 in New York City
The National Center's 42nd Annual Conference will take place on April 19-21, 2015 at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City.  The theme of the conference will be Thinking about Tomorrow: Collective Bargaining and Labor Relations in Higher Education.  

 

Below is a listing of the confirmed panels and workshops for the annual conference. Some of the panels and workshops will be CLE eligible.  Future announcements about additional confirmed conference panels and speakers will be included in upcoming National Center E-Notes and will be posted on our website. 

 

Academic Freedom and Civility with Risa Lieberwitz, Professor, Labor and Employment Law, Cornell ILR, AAUP General Counsel, Tom C. Hogan, Professor, Pennsylvania State University School of Labor and Employment Relations, and moderator Frederick P. Schaffer, CUNY General Counsel and Sr. Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs.

Reporters Roundtable: Covering Labor-Management Issues in Higher Education with Steven Greenhouse, former labor reporter, New York Times, Claudio Sanchez, National Public Radio, Peter Schmidt, Chronicle of Higher Education, and Colleen Flaherty, Inside Higher Education and moderator Theresa Monta�o, NEA National Council for Higher Education President.

 

Collective Bargaining and Contingent Faculty: A Survey of Results with Gary Rhoades, Professor and Director, Center for the Study of Higher Education, University of Arizona, Susan J. Schurman, Distinguished Professor and Dean, School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, Commentator, and Valerie Martin Conley, Department Chair, Professor, Counseling and Higher Education, Patton College of Education, Ohio University, Commentator.


University of Oregon: Bargaining and Implementing a First Contract with Doug Blandy, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Jane Gordon, Senior Project Director, Academic Affairs, Bill Brady, Senior Director, Employee and Labor Relations, Deborah Olson, United Academics Executive Vice President, and David Cecil, United Academics Executive Director, and moderator Pamela S. Silverblatt, Vice Chancellor, Labor Relations, CUNY.     

 

Georgetown University: Lessons from Bargaining a First Contract for Contingent Faculty with Lisa Krim, Senior Advisor to the President for Faculty Relations, Cynthia Chance, Director of Faculty Affairs and Assistant Provost, Jonathan Fritts, Esq., Morgan Lewis, Kerry Danner-McDonald, Professorial Lecturer, Department of Theology, David Rodich, Executive Director, SEIU Local 500, Anne McLeer, Director of Higher Education and Strategic Planning, SEIU Local 500.

 

Tufts University: Lessons from Bargaining a First Contract for Part-Time Contingent Faculty with Nicholas DiGiovanni, Morgan, Brown & Joy, LLP, James M. Glaser, Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Rebecca Gibson, Part-time Lecturer, English Department, SEIU Negotiating Committee, Christine Cousineau, Part-time Lecturer, Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Department, SEIU Negotiating Committee, Patricia Dissilvio, Part-time Lecturer, Romance Languages, SEIU Negotiating Committee, Larry Alcoff, SEIU, and moderator Jeffrey Cross, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Eastern Illinois University.

 

Graduate Assistants: Special Issues and Challenges in Collective Bargaining with Kerr Ballenger, Florida State University Graduate Student, Graduate Student United President, Margaret E. Winters, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Wayne State University, John D. Vander Weg, Associate Provost for Academic Personnel, Wayne State University, Peter Chester, Director, Labor Relations, University of California, Carl J. Levine, Levy Ratner, P.C., and moderator Adrienne Eaton, AAUP/AFT President, Rutgers University.

 

Public and Private Sector Negotiations: Distinctions and Similarities with Beth Margolis, Gladstein, Reif and Meginnis, LLP, Cindy Oliver, Federation of Post-Secondary Educators President, British Columbia, Canada, Michael Loconto, Associate Director, Labor Relations, Harvard University, and moderator Judi Burgess, Director, Labor Relations, Boston University.


The Impact of Collective Bargaining and Local Appropriations on Faculty Salaries and Benefits at U.S. Community Colleges
with Stephen Katsinas, Director and Professor, University of Alabama Education Policy Center, Clive Belfield, Economics Professor, Queens College, CUNY, Research Affiliate, Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University, Commentator, Fred Floss, Professor of Economics and Finance, SUNY Buffalo State and Senior Fellow at Fiscal Policy Institute, Commentator, and moderator DeWayne Sheaffer, Long Beach City College and Member at Large, NEA National Council of Higher Education.

Ins and Outs of Faculty Salary Structures and Wage Equity with Michael N. O'Malley, Senior Vice President, Higher Education Compensation Practice Leader, Sibson Consulting, Pierre Joanis, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Bucknell University, and John W. Curtis, Director, Department of Research on the Discipline and Profession, American Sociological Association.   

 

The History of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education with Ellen Schrecker, Professor of History Emeritus, Yeshiva University, Derryn W. Moten, Professor of Humanities, Alabama State University,  Ernst Benjamin, former AAUP General Secretary, and moderator Donna Haverty-Stacke, Associate Professor, Hunter College, CUNY.

Dues and Don'ts after Harris v. Quinn with Catherine Fisk, Chancellor's Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine, David Strom, AFT General Counsel, and Richard K. Zuckerman, Lamb & Barnosky, LLP. 

Catholic Colleges and Universities: Collective Bargaining and NLRB Jurisdiction with Nicholas P. Cafardi, Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law, School of Law, Duquesne University, Michael P. Moreland, Vice Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law, Maryann Parker, Associate General Counsel, SEIU, Clayton Sinyai, Director, Catholic Employer Project, and moderator David L. Gregory, Dorothy Day Professor of Law and Executive Director, Center for Labor and Employment Law, St. John's University School of Law.

Electronic Privacy in Higher Education with Jason Walta, Senior Counsel, National Education Association, Ginger McCall, Associate Director, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Jill L. Rosenberg, Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and moderator Raymond L. Haines, 
Associate Vice Chancellor for Employee Relations, SUNY.

Negotiating Over Academic Freedom in Higher Education with Risa Lieberwitz, Professor, Labor and Employment Law, Cornell ILR, AAUP General Counsel, Shane Lancer, Cornell University, ILR, MILR, 2016, Emily Miller, Cornell ILR, B.S., 2015, Kevin Mollica, Cornell ILR, B.S., 2015, and Mike Mauer, Esq., Senior Labor Advisor, American Association of University Professors.

 

Faculty Diversity and Retention: Best Practices with Anthony Browne, Chair, Africana & Puerto Rican/Latino Studies, Hunter College, CUNY, Arlene Torres, Professor, Africana & Puerto Rican/Latino Studies, Hunter College, CUNY, Carlos Medina, SUNY Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, J. Phillippe Abraham, Vice President for Professionals, United University Professions, and moderator John Rose, Dean for Diversity, Hunter College, CUNY.

 

Phased Retirement in Higher Education with Amy Strage, Assistant Vice President for Faculty Development and Director, Center for Faculty Development, San Jose State University, Steven Filling, California Faculty Association, William Connellan, Director of Academic Support Services, University of Florida, Tim Lane, Managing Director, Institutional Relationships, TIAA-CREF, and moderator Steve Hicks, Associate Professor, Lock Haven University, Co-Editor, Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy.

 

Views from Mediators: Resolving Higher Education Labor Disputes with Bonnie Weinstock, Arbitrator and Mediator, Kevin Flanigan, Director, Office of Conciliation, New York State PERB, and moderator Joel M. Douglas, Professor Emeritus, Baruch College, CUNY, former Executive Director, National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions.

 

Due Process Issues for Non-Tenured Track Faculty: How Much Process is Due? with James Castagnera, Associate Provost and Associate Counsel, Rider University, Mark Farley, Managing Consultant, InvOv8 Inc., and Richard E. Casagrande, NYSUT General Counsel.

 

International and Domestic Perspectives on Non-Tenured Track Faculty Bargaining with

Karen Stubaus, Vice President, Academic Affairs and Administration, Rutgers University, State University of New Jersey, Ana Virginia Moreira Gomes, Professor of Law, Universidade de Fortaleza, Brazil, Antonio Alfeu da Silva, Ph.D Candidate, Faculty of Law, Universidade de Fortaleza, Brazil, and moderator Michael Zweig, Professor and Director, Center for Study of Working Class Life, Stony Brook University, SUNY, UUP.

 

Annual Panel: Year in Higher Education with Theodore H. Curry II, Associate Provost and Associate Vice President Professor, School of Human Resources and Labor Relations Michigan State University, Stuart Andrews, Executive Director, Australian Higher Education Industrial Association, Helen Fairfoul, Chief Executive, Universities and Colleges Employers Association United Kingdom, and moderator Daniel Julius, Senior Vice President and Provost, New Jersey City University.


Politics of Higher Education Funding with Hon. Sandra B. Cunningham, Chair, New Jersey State Senate Higher Education Committee, Ed Maloney, MSJ Associates, former Chair of Illinois Senate Higher Education Committee, Kenneth Mash, Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties President, and moderator Hank Sheinkopf, Political Consultant, Sheinkopf Communications.

 

Work/Life Balance: Framing and Negotiating the Issues with Susan Pearson, Associate Chancellor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Joya Misra, Professor of Sociology and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Jennifer Lundquist, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

 

Music and Bargaining: Negotiating in Tune at Music Schools and Departments with Michael Scott, Berklee Faculty Union, Matt Marvuglio, Dean, Performance Division, Berklee College of Music, Jimmy Owens, Part-time Classroom Faculty, New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music/Local 802, AFM, and Martin Mueller, Executive Director, New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.

 

Past Practices and Labor Relations: The Importance of Institutional Memory with John Hamlin, University Education Association President, Professor of Sociology, University of Minnesota - Duluth, Scott Laderman, University Education Association Contract Administrator, Associate Professor of History, University of Minnesota - Duluth, James Burkel, Senior Academic Labor Relations Representative, University of Michigan, and panelist and moderator Angela Latham, Professor, Theatre and Performance Studies, member, UPI Local 4100, Governors State University.

 

Sexual and Racial Assaults on Campus: What Is To Be Done? with Coleen Chin, Senior Attorney, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Michelle Kiss, Director of Special Projects, Academic Affairs, California State University System, and Ray Murillo, Director, Student Programs, California State University System.

 

Legal Issues in Higher Education: Annual Review of Court and Administrative Developments with Richard F. Griffin, NLRB General Counsel, Aaron Nisenson, AAUP Senior Legal Counsel, and Kerry B. Melear, Interim Chair, Leadership & Counselor Education and Associate Professor, University of Mississippi.

 

Confirmed Interactive Workshops and Presenters  

 

Collective Bargaining and Labor Relations for New Administrators and Labor Representatives with Conrad Bowling, FMCS Commissioner, Jeffrey Cross, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Eastern Illinois University, Deborah Williams, NEA Faculty Association President and Lead Negotiator, Johnson County Community College and moderator Alyssa Picard, Acting Director, AFT Higher Education.

Use of Financial Data Analysis for Collective Bargaining with Howard Bunsis, Chair, AAUP Collective Bargaining Congress, Professor of Accounting, Eastern Michigan University, and John Swarbrick, Associate Vice Chancellor for Labor Relations, California State University System and moderator Jeffery Frumkin, Associate Vice Provost and Senior Director, Academic Human Resources, University of Michigan.

Effective Contract Administration for Administrators and Labor Representatives with Debra Gold, Labor Relations Specialist, NYSUT, and Michael J. Leibowitz, Proskauer Rose LLP.

Best Practices and Policies on Bullying and Harassment with Fran A Sepler, Sepler & Associates, and Lesley Burke-O'Flynn, Staff Representative, Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC.
 
Mindfulness and Stress Management for Negotiations and Labor Relations with Victor Goode, Associate Professor, CUNY School of Law, and Jeanne Anselmo, co-founder, Contemplative Urban Law Program, CUNY Law School.
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Locations, Events and Hotels for 42nd Annual Conference

Conference Locations and Events:

 

Sunday, April 19, 2015, CUNY Graduate Center: 365 5th Avenue, NY, NY, 10016 (reception, research panels and workshops)

 

Sunday, April 19, 2015, Heartland Brewery-Empire State Building: 350 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10118 (buffet dinner, open bar)

 

Monday-Tuesday, April 20-21, 2015, CUNY Graduate Center: 365 5th Avenue, NY, NY, 10016 (continental breakfast, panels, lunch and workshops)

 

Please note the new locations for the Sunday, April 19th events are the CUNY Graduate Center and the Heartland Brewery.

 

Conference Hotels:

 

Affinia Dumont: 150 East 34th Street, NY, NY, 10016

Affinia Shelburne: 303 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY, 10016

 

Room Rate: $289/night.    

 

Click here for hotel reservation information.

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National Center Newsletters (1973-2000) Now Available On-Line

From 1973 to 2000, the National Center published a bimonthly newsletter containing articles by National Center directors and staff Maurice Benewitz, Ted Lang, Aaron Levenstein, Joel M. Douglas, Frank R. Annunziato, and Beth Johnson.  The newsletter also published scholarship by Clark Kerr, Fred Lane, Clara Lovett, Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, Myron Lieberman, Matt Finkin, Rick Hurd and others.      

 

Over its 27 year publication history, the newsletter included analysis and data on subjects that continue to be topical in higher education and the professions including bargaining concerning full-time tenure-track faculty, the organizing and representation of contingent faculty and graduate students, the impact of the Supreme Court's Yeshiva University decision, academic freedom and tenure, shared governance, discrimination and faculty strikes.    

 

As the first step in the National Center's archival project, we have republished the newsletters on-line for the purpose of making them more accessible to contemporary scholars and practitioners.  The Newsletter Archive is available on the website of the National Center's Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy.  The website is hosted by the Booth Library, Eastern Illinois University.  Click here for National Center Newsletter Index.

 

The next step in the National Center's archival project will be the posting of all annual conference proceedings dating back to 1973.  It is anticipated that the project will be completed prior to the National Center's 42nd Annual Conference on April 19-21, 2015 at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City.

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2014 Annual Conference Proceedings, Webcasts and Podcasts Available
The 41st Annual Conference proceedings, which took place earlier this year, are now available on-line.  Click here for 2014 Conference Proceedings. We thank Eastern Illinois University Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeffrey Cross, Dean Allen Lanham and Institutional Repository Librarian Todd Bruns for their efforts in making the proceedings available on-line.  

We have also posted three webcasts and seven podcasts from conference panel discussions.  Click here for Podcasts and Webcasts.  The webcasts were produced by Hunter College's Institutional Computing and Information Technology Department with the assistance of Becca Pulliam from Please Repeat the Question Productions.  The podcasts were produced by Becca Pulliam from Please Repeat the Question Productions with the assistance of Charlie Spatz.

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Update on Washington University Adjunct Representation Effort
In the National Center's November 2014 E-Note we reported on the initial filing of a representation petition by SEIU to be certified to represent a unit of adjuncts employed by Washington University in St. Louis.  

After the petition was filed, SEIU and Washington University entered into a cooperation agreement relating to the adjunct organizing effort.  This type of agreement is frequently referred to as a neutrality agreement.  Such agreements are aimed at insuring a more non-adversarial environment during the period that  employees are making their choice on the question of unionization.  Click here for SEIU-Washington University Cooperation Agreement.

Under the SEIU-Washington University agreement, SEIU withdrew the representation petition without prejudice with the right to refile and the parties entered into a series of commitments connected with the organizing effort. The parties also stipulated that SEIU would seek to organize a specific agreed upon unit described in their agreement.

The agreement includes a series of provisions designed to create a harmonious environment for the conduct of the election and to avoid disruptions on campus.  Among the more interesting commitments set forth in the agreement are the following:

10. SEIU, Local 1 agrees not to seek or encourage student, political or other activism on campus or in the media regarding this campaign.  SEIU, Local 1 and Washington University agree to work cooperatively to limit any disruptions on campus (including, but not limited to, pickets, sit-ins, walk-outs) related to the campaign and to work together regarding SEIU, Local 1 access to the Danforth campus for organizing purposes in accordance with University politics and practices.

11. SEIU, Local 1 and Washington University agree to refrain from any negative communications about the other party.

12. SEIU, Local 1 agrees to speak positively about Washington University's participation in the campaign process.

13.  Washington University will communicate facts to eligible faculty about subjects such as collective bargaining and the election process but will be objective and informative in any such communications.  With respect to dues, Washington University will only communicate that unions seek to collect dues from their members and those it represents but will not state what those amounts are, how often they might be collected or how much they might increase over time, or what they would be used for.

14. Washington agrees not to take a position on how eligible faculty should vote.  
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UAW Demands Voluntary Recognition to Represent Graduate Assistant Barganing Units at Columbia University and the New School
On December 5, 2014, the UAW delivered a letter to Columbia University President 
Lee C. Bollinger seeking voluntary recognition by the university of the UAW as the representative of a bargaining unit consisting over 2,500 research and teaching assistants.  The letter states that a majority of the at-issue graduate assistants support UAW's representation in collective bargaining.  The letter requests that the university commit to neutrality concerning the question of unionization, and that a fair and efficient process be agreed upon to confirm majority support for unionization among graduate assistants.  Click here for UAW Letter to President Bollinger.  An article concerning the organizing efforts at Columbia University appeared in a recent issue of the New Yorker. Click here for New Yorker Article.

One  week later, the UAW submitted a similar demand to the New School for voluntary recognition as the exclusive representative of a new bargaining unit of teaching and research assistants.  Click here for article on UAW demand at the New School.
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SEIU Certified to Represent Part-Time Faculty at Champlain College
Champlain CollegeCase 01-RC-138052

Following a November 24, 2014 tally of ballots, SEIU has been certified by the NLRB to represent a unit of adjuncts at Champlain College in Vermont.  Of the 222 faculty members determined to be in the unit, 118 voted in favor of unionization, and 30 voted against.  The following is the description of the unit certified by the NLRB: 

All part-time graduate and undergraduate faculty  (adjuncts, lecturers or instructors) employed by Champlain College at its Main Campus, 251 South Willard Street, Burlington, VT, currently teaching at least one credit-bearing course (including hybrid and blended courses) in a degree-granting program and who are compensated on a per-course basis.  An employee working  for the College in another capacity who also teaches at least one credit-bearing course identified above and is compensated on a per-course basis shall not cause that employee to lose status as a bargaining unit member unless expressly excluded.  Excluding all tenured or tenure-track faculty, full-time faculty, visiting or contract faculty, deans, provosts, administrators, department chairs, graduate assistants, graduate students, athletic coaches, and faculty who teach only online courses, courses at campuses other than the Main Campus, non-degree granting courses and/or courses as a teaching supervisor, all other employees who are not compensated additionally for teaching, managers, confidential employees, guards and supervisors as defined by the Act.

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NLRB Certifies SEIU to Represent Burlington College Part-Time Faculty
Burlington College, Case No. 1-RC-138050

Following a November 24, 2014 tally of ballots, SEIU has been certified by the NLRB to represent a unit of part-time at Burlington College in Vermont.  Of the 46 faculty members determined to be in the unit, 23 voted in favor of unionization, and 4 voted against.  The following is the description of the unit certified by the NLRB: 

 

All part-time graduate and undergraduate faculty (adjuncts, lecturers or instructors) employed by Burlington College at its Main or Woodworking campuses who teach at least one credit-bearing course (including hybrid and blended courses) in a degree-granting program and who are compensated on a per course basis.  An employee working for the College in another capacity, and who also teaches at least one credit-bearing course identified above and is compensated per course, shall not lose status as a bargaining unit member unless expressly excluded.  Expressly excluded are: all tenured or tenure-track faculty; full-time faculty; visiting or contract faculty; deans; provosts; administrators; program coordinators; department chairs; graduate assistants; graduate students; athletic coaches; faculty who teach only online courses, courses at campuses other than the Main or Woodworking Campuses, non-degree granting courses, and/or courses as a teaching supervisor; all other employees who are not compensated additionally for teaching; and managers, confidential employees, guards and supervisors as defined by the Act.

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NH PELRB Certifies SEIU to Represent Community College Faculty Unit
Community College System of New Hampshire, Case No. E-0165-1

 

Following a mail ballot election, the New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relations Board has certified SEIU as the exclusive representative of the following fragmented unit composed of community college faculty:

 

Unit: Community College Instructor, Community College Assistant Professor, Community College Associate Professor, and Community College Professor.

 

Excluded:  All positions listed in the Certification of Representative and Order to Negotiate, PELRB Decision No. 2011-074; all positions listed in the Certification of Representative and Order to Negotiate, PELRB Decision No. 2010-210; and supervisory and other positions excluded as a matter of law. 

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Unionization Election Scheduled for Boston University Part-Time Faculty

Boston University, Case No. 01-RC-139754

 

A mail ballot election has been scheduled concerning the unionization effort by part-time faculty at Boston University.  The tally of the ballots will take place on February 4, 2015. The following is the agreed upon unit and eligible voters:

 

All part-time graduate and undergraduate faculty (adjuncts, part-time lecturers, lecturers, part-time instructors, or instructors) employed by Boston University at its Massachusetts campuses to teach at least one credit bearing course (including hybrid and blended courses) in a degree-granting program, and who are compensated on a per course or per hour basis but excluding all tenure or tenure-track faculty; full-time faculty; visiting or contract faculty; School of Medicine faculty (except Division of Graduate Medical Sciences); School of Dental Medicine faculty; deans, provosts, administrators, program coordinators, program directors, department chairs, graduate assistants, graduate students who teach only courses pursuant to a stipend, athletic coaches and faculty who teach only on line, courses at non-Massachusetts campuses, non-degree granting courses (including the Center for Professional Education and Center for English Language and Orientation Programs), and/or courses as a teaching supervisor; all other employees employed by the University including those who teach a class or course and are separately compensated for such teaching; and managers, confidential employees, guards and supervisors as defined by the Act.

 

Those eligible to vote in the election are employees in the above unit who were employed during the payroll period ending October 31, 2014 and/or performed instruction as described above during the Fall 2014 Semester, including employees who did not work during that payroll period because they were ill, on vacation, or were temporarily laid off.

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New Representation Petitions Pending for Adjuncts at Bentley University and at Herkimer County Community College

Bentley University, 01-RC-141995

 

A new petition has been filed by SEIU with the NLRB on behalf of adjunct faculty seeking to unionize at Bentley University.  Last year, a similar unionization effort was narrowly defeated 100-98.  Click here for related article

 

In the new petition, SEIU seeks to be certified to represent the following unit:

 

Including all part-time adjunct faculty (including adjunct associate professors, adjunct lecturers, adjunct senior lecturers and adjunct instructors) employed by Bentley at its Main Campus, 175 Forest Street, Waltham MA, currently teaching at least one credit-bearing graduate or undergraduate course (including hybrid and blended courses) and who are compensated on a per-course basis.


Excluding all faculty who teach only online courses, courses at campuses other than the Main Campus,intensive-scheduled courses, or non-degree granting courses; and all other employees regardless of whether they are compensated additionally for teaching (except for Adjunct Faculty Senator); all other tenured or tenure-track faculty; full-time faculty; visiting faculty; deans; provosts; administrators; department chairs; directors; program coordinators; graduate assistants; graduate students who teach courses only pursuant to a stipend, athletic coaches; managers; confidential employees; guards and
supervisors as defined by the Act. 

 

Herkimer County Community College, PERB Case No. C-6296

 

SEIU has another representation petition pending with the New York State Public Employment Relations Board seeking to represent a bargaining unit of approximately 100 public sector adjunct faculty at Herkimer County Community College, which is located in the Mohawk Valley.  

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NLRB Rules that Employee Use of Employer Email System for Protected Speech During Non-Work Time is Generally Required

On December 11, 2014, the NLRB issued a decision in Purple Communications finding that Section 7 prohibits, in general, an employer from maintaining a policy that bans employees from utilizing the employer's email system to engage in statutorily protected electronic communications during non-work time.  The decision applies only to employees who already use the employer's email system as part of their work and it does not preclude employers from monitoring their computers and email systems for legitimate purposes.  Click here to download decision.

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NLRB Adopts New Rules for Representation Cases

The NLRB has issued a final rule modifying its procedures for the handling of representation cases.  The stated purpose for the rule changes is to expedite the processing of all representation petitions.    

 

Under the new procedures, parties will be able to electronically file petitions and communicate electronically with NLRB offices.  As part of the processing of a representation petition, an employer will now be required to provide available personal email addresses and phone numbers of eligible employees on the voter list in order to permit non-employer parties to communicate via email with prospective voters about the upcoming election.  The new rules also seek to avoid delays in the conduct of representation elections by mandating that only issues necessary to determine whether an election should be conducted will be litigated in a pre-election hearing.  Click here for NLRB Factsheet Regarding New Rules

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Donate to Support the National Center's Work and Mission

On-line contributions to the National Center can now be made on our website. Donations enable the National Center to enhance its programming, publications and initiatives.  On-line contributions can be made at the Hunter College Foundation's website.  At the website, select the National Center for Collective Bargaining Fund in the "Give To" drop down menu.  Click here to donate to the National Center. 

 

Submit Articles to the Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy 
Journal of CBA Logo
We encourage scholars, practitioners and students in the fields of collective bargaining, labor representation and labor  relations to submit articles to the National Center's Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy.  The journal is an open access, peer-review on-line publication.  It is edited by Jeffrey Cross, Eastern Illinois University, and Steve Hicks, Pennsylvania State Colleges and University Faculties. The journal is hosted by the Booth Library, Eastern Illinois University.  Click here for Journal website.
                     Happy Holidays from the National Center
National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions 
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