On August 8, 2006, our members won their third arbitration. In this case, teachers in NYU's Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) were being paid using a pay-code designated for researchers. NYU administrators claimed, therefore, that these teachers were not teachers at all, and ineligible for our contract's benefits and protections.

We pointed out to the arbitrator that the members in question teach NYU students, in courses that have standard NYU course numbers. The arbitrator agreed, and declared that these members deserve our contract's protection.

As with other arbitration cases, a good deal of thanks goes to the faculty who came forward to testify. Their patience and perseverance has not been limited to this arbitration; back in 2002, they were forced to fight for the right to vote in union elections!

Written by Cate Fallon, ACT-UAW Recording Secretary.