Syracuse University and Adjuncts United, a labor union affiliated with the New York State United Teachers Union (AU/NYSUT), have reached tentative agreement on a labor contract for more than 500 part-time faculty at the University.
Adjuncts United is planning communications sessions for bargaining unit members on May 28 and June 3 in Room 500 of the Hall of Languages. The union will be in contact with members to provide further details. A mail ballot process will be used for the ratification vote, with ballots to go out on June 4 for return by no later than June 18, after which the votes will be tallied.
"It has been a long and arduous process, but well worth the effort," says Jeanette Jeneault, Adjuncts United president. "As a first contract both sides should be commended on the many best practices that will be memorialized here."
As recognized by both sides, private-sector part-time faculty contracts are rare. "We hope to be a model for future contracts at other institutions," Jeneault says.
This would be the first agreement for SU part-time faculty members. The union was recognized as the bargaining representative of SU part-time faculty in December 2005. Contract negotiations began in June 2006 and entailed 81 meetings, the last of which occurred on May 20.
More information on the tentative agreement can be found online at http://humanresources.syr.edu/staff/bu_staff/adjuncts
or by contacting Pete Ludden (pludden@nysutmail.org) or Jeanette Jeneault (jjeneaul@syr.edu).
