Letter to the NYU Faculty Updating the Status of the Negotiations Between the UAW and the University
May 5, 2003
Dear Faculty Members:
We are writing to update you on the University’s counterproposal to the UAW’s March 5, 2003 economic proposal, which provides: the highest unionized minimum salaries for part-time faculty in the New York City area;
2% pay increases for six successive years, insuring increases for those
part-time faculty already earning in excess of the minimum rate; health
insurance coverage for part-time faculty who teach regularly at the
University, and an annual professional development fund of $100,000.
As you may know from our April 5, 2003 communication, the UAW has proposed economic package for its part-time faculty members. Fully implemented, the union’s economic proposal would cost the University in excess of $200 million and necessitate at a minimum a 27% increase in tuition, assuming no cuts in current programs, salaries and services. (See our April 5, 2003 communication below for a summary of the UAW’s economic proposal).
While the economic proposal is unusually expansive (e.g., minimum pay rates are 400% higher than prevailing unionized minimum rates in our region), we are committed to developing and maintaining a strong relationship with our part-time faculty.
Being in New York City, we have the opportunity to draw from an exceptionally talented pool of people to teach our students. Our goal is to continue to attract and retain the most talented part-time faculty in the area.
In response to the UAW’s proposal, we have proposed a six year contract,
from September 1, 2003 to September 1, 2008, with the following provisions:
*Compensation*
In our compensation proposal, every part-time faculty member would receive a pay increase. In framing our proposal, we adopted the UAW’s minimum salary proposal structure. As is always the case with minimum pay rates, the minimum rate is the rate below which a school cannot pay; however, it does not alter pay rates that already exceed these rates.
We have proposed a minimum hourly rate for traditional lecture classes of
$68 per contact hour - 36% more than prevailing area unionized minimum rates of approximately $50 per contact hour. This translates to $2,856 for a
three-hour lecture class offered for credit (as opposed to prevailing area
unionized rates of $2,100). Any part-time faculty member earning less would
be raised to this rate; this is principally relevant to the School of Social
Work and the Steinhardt School of Education, where typical pay rates
currently mirror minimum unionized rates paid by other New York City area
universities.
For all other part-time faculty members earning more than the minimum rate -
typical pay rates for traditional 3-hour lecture courses range from $3,500
at Tisch School of the Arts to $9,300 at Stern School of Business - we
proposed guaranteed annual pay increases of 2% from their current
compensation.
With respect to other instruction, we made the following proposals:
For individual, group or ensemble music or voice lessons and performing and studio arts instruction, we proposed minimum hourly pay rates of $50 per contact hour (which is comparable or better than other union and non-union rates in the New York City area).
For independent study supervision, we proposed minimum rates of $100 per credit hour for each student supervised;
For individual student advisement, fieldwork and internship supervision, we proposed minimum rates of $100 for each student per semester;
For non-credit courses, we proposed minimum hourly pay rates of $40 per contact hour (54% higher than union rates in the New York City area).
For other non-instructional duties, for example portfolio review, admissions, and auditions, we proposed a minimum hourly rate of $21.00.
*Health Care*
We proposed health care benefits for part-time faculty who teach regularly at our University. Our proposal provides for individual coverage through any of the HMOs available to University employees for part-time faculty members who teach the equivalent of two traditional lecture courses each Fall and Spring semester for three or more consecutive semesters. NYU would pay two-thirds of the cost of a part-time faculty member’s premiums.
As you may know, part-time faculty who teach six credits during the academic year (September 1 - August 31) may purchase low cost health care coverage through the HIP Health Plan, one of the HMOS available to University employees.
*Annuity Plan*
We proposed obligating NYU, through the union agreement, to provide for part-time faculty to be eligible to participate in the NYU Supplemental Tax Deferred Annuity Plan.
*Professional Development Fund*
We agreed to the UAW’s proposal for an annual professional development fund of $100,000. We believe it is important to provide our part-time faculty with the opportunity to participate in academic conferences, meetings or other activities that enrich their professional development and teaching.
*Conclusion*
We have made a counterproposal that seeks to provide compensation and quality benefits that encourage and support a relationship in which teaching excellence and compensation are partners in creating the education experiences that our students and faculty not only want, but expect at NYU.
That’s why we proposed the highest minimum salaries paid in the New York City region to unionized part-time faculty and health care for those who regularly teach at our University.
Our part-time faculty members are important members of the University community. As the negotiations progress, we have every expectation that we will reach an agreement that benefits the entire university community and reflects the many contributions that part-time faculty make.
We will continue to provide periodic updates as negotiations proceed and again, please feel free to contact us at negotiation.team@nyu.edu.
As a reminder, faculty members who are on the Faculty Bargaining Committee are:
Marisa Carrasco FAS
Alma Carten Social Work
Ned Elton Stern
Larry Ferrara Steinhardt
Phil Furmanski FAS
Marjorie Kalter SCPS
Carl Lebowitz SCPS
Robert Nickson Tisch
Kathy O’Regan Wagner
James Ramsey FAS
Kathleen Ross FAS
Jalal Shatah Courant
Sue Turk SCPS
We hope this update is helpful.
Cheryl Mills
Terry Nolan
Mary Sansalone
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April 5, 2003
Dear Faculty:
On March 5, 2003, the UAW proposed an economic package for part-time faculty who are part of its bargaining group (those who teach at least 40 classroom instruction hours or 75 individualized instruction hours in an academic year). In support of their proposal, on March 26th the UAW also provided an in depth briefing on their proposed defined benefit pension plan.
We have studied the UAW’s proposal carefully. At its fullest extent (using eligible part-time faculty information from the 2001-02 academic year), the UAW’s proposal would cost the university in excess of $200 million and necessitate at minimum a 27% increase in tuition, assuming no cuts or diminution in current programs, salaries and services.
While it is not uncommon in negotiations for parties to put forward inflated (or deflated) proposals from which to negotiate, the UAW’s current proposal significantly exceeds every union agreement in New York City region, which has some of the highest salary minimums in the country. With respect to minimum salary rates, for example, the UAW’s proposed rates are 400% higher than prevailing rates in the area.
The key provisions of the UAW’s economic proposal on behalf of its part-time faculty members - which as proposed are retroactive to 2002 - are:
— Salaries and Other Compensation Related to Instruction —
Classroom Instruction:
* A minimum salary of $150 per classroom instruction hour, with an additional hour of compensation for preparation for every three classroom hours taught, for an effective classroom instruction rate of $200 per classroom hour;
* In terms of course costs, starting part-time faculty members would receive a minimum of $8,400 for teaching a three-hour course; the prevailing New York City region minimum unionized three-hour classroom instruction rate is approximately $2,100.
Individualized Instruction:
* A minimum salary of $100 per hour for individualized instruction (e.g., music lesson, voice lesson), with an additional hour of compensation for every five hours of instruction, for an effective rate of $120 per hour of instruction;
* In terms of individualized instruction costs, starting part-time faculty members would receive a minimum of $1,680 for a one-hour lesson per week for the semester.
Annual Increases:
* An annual salary increase for all part-time faculty, applied to the new minimum salary or current salary for those whose salaries exceed the minimum, of:
o 3.5% in 2003;
o 4% in 2004.
Longevity Salary Bonus:
* A longevity pay increase of 10% - applied after annual increases - for every five years of service that a part-time faculty member has taught at the university since their first date of employment (teaching one course in any prior semester in any given year counts as a year of service);
* The minimum three-hour classroom instruction rate for part-time faculty members who have taught at least one course in any prior five or ten years since their first date of employment:
o Five year minimum course rate: $ 9,240 (10% increase);
o Ten year minimum course rate: $10,164 (20% increase).
Over-Enrollment Pay:
* An increase of 15% of the total course cost for every student enrolled over a negotiated course maximum;
* For every seven students over a negotiated maximum, the course compensation paid to the part-time faculty member would double.
Sick Leave Pay:
* Accrual of sick leave at a rate that permits a part-time faculty member to miss one of every five classes with pay;
* Payment to a substitute instructor for those classes missed by the part-time faculty member.
Substitute Pay:
* Payment, at the hourly rate paid to the instructor of record, to part-time faculty members who teach as a substitute in another course in the university.
Course Development Pay:
* Payment of $2,500 for any classroom course developed by a part-time faculty member to which he or she retains the right to teach that course each time it is offered;
* Payment of $5,000 for any classroom course developed by the part-time faculty member to which he or she waives the right to teach that course.
Course Cancellation Pay:
* Payment of a cancellation fee of 25% of the cost of the course for any course cancelled without notice 60 days prior to the first day;
* A prohibition on canceling classes that exceed negotiated departmental minimum class enrollments.
— Other Duties Pay (Non-Instructional) —
* Payment of 65% of the minimum instructional rate ($97.50 per hour) to part-time faculty members who participate in departmental meetings, orientation/open houses, portfolio review, senior colloquium, and other non-instructional duties;
* Payment of $200 per student, per semester for academic advising (except at the School of Social Work);
* Payment of $2,000 per semester for advising a student club.
— Benefits —
Tuition Remission:
* For every credit and non-credit course taught by a part-time faculty, he or she accrues 4 credits of free tuition for use by the part-time faculty member, his or her spouse or domestic partner, and children.
Sabbatical Leave:
* Payment for sabbatical leave at the rate of 75% of prior three year’s salaries for every 7 years of teaching. Any teaching in an academic year counts as a full year for sabbatical purposes.
Professional Development Fund:
* Annual payment of $100,000 into a fund for part-time faculty members to cover professional development costs of eligible members.
Day Care Fund:
* Annual payment of $150,000 into a fund for part-time faculty members to cover day care expenses of eligible members.
Union Education Fund:
* Annual payment of $75,000 into a fund for part-time faculty members to cover attendance at union conferences and meetings by eligible members.
Health Care/Dental Care:
* Payment by NYU, at the same percentage and for the same health care options as available to full-time faculty, of the costs for health care coverage for all part-time faculty teaching one course per year, with 50% payment by NYU of their dependant health care costs;
* Payment by NYU, at the same percentage and for the same health care options as available to full-time faculty, of the costs for health care coverage for all part-time faculty teaching two courses per year, with 100% payment by NYU of their dependant health care costs;
* Payment of $50 per month to part-time faculty members who provide proof of health insurance under another policy during semesters in which they are teaching.
Union Release and Leave:
* Annual payment by NYU in excess of $250,000 to provide paid leave, with full benefits, to four UAW part-time faculty members at the rate of $4,800 per week for their work in support of the UAW’s implementation of the contract (32 hours of work per week by four part-time faculty members at $150 per hour).
Defined Benefit Pension Plan:
* Participation in a prescribed defined benefit pension plan, fully funded by NYU, with vesting based upon teaching one course in an academic year for five years (which need not be continuous years of service).
Life Insurance:
* Payment for life and accident insurance on the same basis as for full-time faculty members with no cost to the part-time faculty member.
Long-Term Disability Insurance:
* Payment for disability insurance on the same basis and at the same cost as for full-time faculty members.
— Policy —
Teaching Load:
* Schools and departments may not place a limit on the number of courses taught by part-time faculty members.
While the UAW’s initial proposal far exceeds what the university could responsibly bear, we remain committed to reaching an agreement in good faith. Our part-time faculty members are important members of the University community. As the negotiations progress, we have every expectation that we will reach an agreement that benefits the entire university community and reflects the many contributions that part-time faculty make.
We will continue to provide periodic updates as negotiations proceed and again, please feel free to contact us at negotiation.team@nyu.edu.
As a reminder, faculty members who are on the Faculty Bargaining Committee are:
Marisa Carrasco FAS
Alma Carten Social Work
Ned Elton Stern
Larry Ferrara Steinhardt
Phil Furmanski FAS
Marjorie Kalter SCPS
Carl Lebowitz SCPS*
Robert Nickson Tisch
Kathy O’Regan Wagner
James Ramsey FAS
Kathleen Ross FAS
Jalal Shatah Courant
Sue Turk SCPS
* Denotes new member
We hope this update is helpful.
Cheryl Mills
Terry Nolan
Mary Sansalone