Dive Summary:
- Northeastern University has retained what the AFL-CIO characterizes as a union-busting law firm, according to a union trying to organize some part-time adjuncts at the school; the school and the law firm declined to comment.
- An organizing effort known as Adjunct Action has helped part-time faculty at Bentley University and Tufts Colleges file for union elections; at Northeastern, adjuncts have formed an organizing committee, according to union organizers.
- The school sent out a memo emphasizing that the decision to join a union rested with the faculty members, but organizers worry more aggressive tactics may be in the offing.
From the article:
... While many adjuncts are currently represented by one of three national academic unions, non-academic unions like SEIU and USW are focusing their efforts on private colleges and universities, where part-time faculty are for the most part unorganized at present. Given that there are also substantial legal barriers to collective bargaining by full-time faculty and graduate student workers at private schools, successful campaigns to unionize adjuncts would break new ground. ...
