Letter to the NYU Faculty Updating the Status of the Negotiations Between the UAW and the University
December 19, 2002
Dear Faculty Member:
As we come to the close of the semester, we are writing to update you on the
negotiations between the UAW and the University. Bargaining began on
September 10, 2002. We have had ten sessions, with the University
represented by members of the University leadership team and the Faculty
Bargaining Committee, and adjunct faculty members represented by UAW
officials and a number of part-time faculty members.
The University is committed to bargaining in good faith and to achieving a
fair contract - one that recognizes the valuable contributions of adjunct
faculty to the University. Adjunct faculty who teach at the University
bring specific and needed experience and skills that serve our students and
the entire community.
To date, the union has set forth what they have titled as their non-economic
proposals regarding part-time faculty’s participation in the university;
they have not yet set forth any other proposals. Among their proposals, the
UAW has proposed the following for part-time faculty’s employment contract:
* A clause providing that all part-time faculty would presumptively be
reappointed to teach each semester, unless proven unqualified to teach;
* A clause providing for part-time faculty’s intellectual property rights
over curriculum and other materials created for online and distance learning
courses;
* A clause providing for part-time faculty’s mandatory participation in
school and university governance structures, including participation on
departmental, school and university committees and councils regarding
curriculum, academic standards, student affairs, tenure and promotions;
* A clause providing for seniority of part-time faculty ensuring that after
two semesters, a part-time faculty member is guaranteed the right to teach
the same course the next time it is offered; and, where part-time faculty
have developed a course offered by the university, they are guaranteed the
right to teach that course;
* A clause providing for paid sabbaticals for up to one year for every seven
years of service to the University; and,
* A clause providing that observation of part-time faculty is limited to the
following four circumstances: during probation, because of unsatisfactory
student evaluations or complaints, upon application for promotion, or based
upon a specific request by the part-time faculty member to be observed.
The Faculty Bargaining Committee representing the University has made a
number of counterproposals. While we are far apart in many of our
respective proposals, we will continue to negotiate with the UAW in good
faith to reach an agreement that benefits the entire university community
and reflects the many contributions that part-time faculty make to it. We
will continue to provide periodic updates as negotiations proceed and again,
please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at
As a reminder, the faculty who are members of the Faculty Bargaining
Committee are:
Marisa Carrasco FAS
Alma Carten Social Work
Ned Elton Stern
Phil Furmanski FAS
Marjorie Kalter SCPS
Carol Martin Tisch
Kathy O’Regan Wagner
James Ramsey FAS
Dick Richardson Steinhardt
Kathleen Ross FAS
Jalal Shatah Courant
Finally, please feel free to contact any of the above faculty members for
further information or if you have any questions.
Thanks so much.
Cheryl Mills
Terry Nolan
Mary Sansalone