Wayne State University Doesn’t Get It

More than 900 part-time faculty at Wayne State University voted to form a union last year and have been bargaining for a first contract since November 2007. The Union of Part-Time Faculty (UPTF) is negotiating for a minimum standard of treatment: job security, a living wage, benefits, timely assignment of courses, regular salary increases and recognition and respect for their contributions to the university. No surprises there.

But what is surprising is that a university in the heart of Michigan labor land can’t get its mind around that minimum concept of job security. WSU’s response is to offer “first consideration.”

At an institution where faculty have been teaching for decades—some as long as 35 years—ill-defined promises of “first consideration” show a lack consideration for the dedicated professionalism of a large portion of the university’s teaching force. The UPTF wants the university to recognize longevity as a contractual basis for future employment.

If long-term employees can’t rely upon continued employment, can’t plan for ongoing instructional assignments, can’t invest in mentoring relationships with their students, can’t plan their teaching schedules until short weeks before a semester begins, what does that say about the learning environment at Wayne State? Providing job security for the large teaching force means a more stable learning experience for students, too.

UPTF has reached a critical juncture in its negotiations this week and asks for support from colleagues around the nation. Write to WSU president Irvin D. Reid and tell him that you support the fundamental right of job security for UPTF members. You can e-mail him at President@wayne.edu (and please cc: the union at uptf@aftmichigan.org).

Or mail your letter to:

Office of the President
Wayne State University
4200 Faculty/Administration Building
Detroit, MI 48202

For more on the Wayne State part-timers, go to www.uptf.org.