St. Rose Adjuncts Unionize

GMCS Editorial:  Evidence supporting organizing efforts at the University level.

By Cary Burke on September 23, 2014 Posted in Negotiations, NLRA, NLRB, Quick Hits, Representation Elections, Unions

Yesterday, adjunct faculty members employed by the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York elected to unionize under the banner of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).  According to a press release, almost three quarters of the more than 200 faculty members voted “Yes,” with the remainder either voting “No” or abstaining entirely. 

For its part, the school is taking the vote in stride.  Shortly after the results were announced, University President Carolyn Stefanco released an open letter to the faculty and the SEIU:

“With the other College leaders, I will work collaboratively with the SEIU to address the issues that have been raised by the adjunct faculty, all while keeping in mind our mutual obligation to serve the best interests of the students and the College as a whole.”  

Major bargaining table priorities for the newly-formed union include pay raises, better benefits, and greater job security.  We will keep you posted as the union and university officials begin hammering out a collective bargaining agreement

Source: McKenna, Long & Aldridge, LLP