AdCons celebrate: CMU & AFT reach agreement

For Immediate Release, June 30, 2010 [pictures & video]

Central Michigan University and Union Reach Agreement on Bargaining Group Makeup

Adjunct Faculty and Supporters Will Hold Rally Today To Celebrate Agreement

MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH.—Following four months of negotiations, Central Michigan University and the American Federation of Teachers have agreed on which nontenure-track faculty members will be recognized as members of a potential new bargaining unit. The adjunct faculty and their supporters, who had planned a protest rally for today, will still hold a rally at 11 o’clock this morning near the library on the Mount Pleasant campus to celebrate the agreement.

Under the agreement, nontenure-track faculty who teach quarter time or more, with some exceptions, are eligible for representation.

“The process that resulted in this agreement took time, as the administration and the union gathered all of the information necessary to craft an agreement that both parties found acceptable,” said AFT Michigan President David Hecker. “What counts is that we were able to reach this agreement. We look forward to a successful election and to joining with the administration to further enhance this great university.”

CMU was notified in early March by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission that nontenure-track faculty had filed for union certification.

“We are ecstatic about the opportunity to vote for union representation, and we look forward to a collaborative relationship with President Ross and the CMU administration,” said Mary Ann Freling, an adjunct professor who has worked for two decades in the English department.

Ray Christie, vice provost for academic administration, said: “Central Michigan University has a long-standing and well-established positive relationship with collective bargaining units, and values the dedication, contributions and commitment of our faculty and staff toward the success of our students.”

A unionization vote will be scheduled as the next step in the process. CMU will withdraw its request with MERC for a hearing on the matter. 


Across Michigan, thousands of nontenure-track faculty have formed unions or are in the process of doing so, including faculty at the University of Michigan, Ferris State University, Henry Ford Community College, Wayne State University, Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University and Western Michigan University.

via Jon Curtiss, jcurtiss@aftmichigan.org. Organizer, AFT Michigan, AFL-CIO, (734) 358-7004

CMU adjuncts threatened with arrest!

We've been following the ups and downs of Michigan adcon organizing and writing CMU President Ross so often we ought to be on a first name basis with George. As far as we, he hasn't budged on not-rehiring long time lecturer and union organizer Kristin Herald. Now he's threatening to arrest adjuncts.

Raye Robertson over at The Adjunct Voice sent us a heads up ~

 "You might have seen the news from AFT already, but if not, here's an alarming post regarding adjuncts there being threatened with arrest for their unionizing efforts. Spreading the word, sending postcards, letters, emails to their administration would, I'm sure, be appreciated. UPTF (Wayne State) will be highlighting CMU's situation at the Adjuncts United march to the U.S. Social Forum on June 22, too. More info will be forthcoming soon about that! Here's AFTFACE on CMU"

A call to write seems in order. Who in admin should we be writing? President, others in CMU admin, state board of regents, anyone and everyone we can think of? Write the Union of Teaching Faculty to show your supportWho else can you think of? Is local press covering this? College press? Letters to editors?

• CMU President's page
• Board of Trustees
• Trustee email addresses
• CMU Directories
• Union of Reaching Faculty

Write:

Dr. George E. Ross, President

Central Michigan University 

Warriner Hall 106
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859 

Email: ross1ge@cmich.edu

CMU adjuncts need your help

Raye Robertson at The Adjunct Voice reports that contract bargaining at Central Michigan is not going well, and the administration doesn't even want to give all adjuncts employed by the school a vote in their own contract elections! Please call, email and send post cards (see below) to:


Dr. George E. Ross
President, Central Michigan University
Warriner Hall 106
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859


Phone: 989-774-3131.
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/Ross_letter (email Ross from here)


Here's the message: Graduate assistants deserve good health care and raises, and the union security all other CMU unions have. Also, democracy requires that ALL adjuncts be allowed to vote in the union election. 

Already sent Ross a letter? Send him another one. He didn't pay enough attention to the first one.