This issue's focus is on communication - we have links that make it easy for you to tell us what's going on, bring you an Executive Committee report on what's happening around our Local, and answer questions received from our readers.

Have a story you'd like to share with your fellow teachers, or a question you'd like answered in a future issue? Email it to us at news@actuaw.org - Barry Greenhut, Editor

In this issue
Keep Us Informed Report on Union Activities Answers to Members' Questions

If your home address, email address or phone number has changed, click here.

If you think your employer might have treated you unfairly or violated our contract, click here.

If you have questions that aren't covered in this website, click here.

If you have a story to share with us and your fellow members, click here.

Over the past few months, the Executive Committee and a number of volunteers have worked hard to improve outreach to our members:
* We took part in the New School orientation at the end of August, meeting new members and explaining the important benefits we gained in the first year of our new contract.
* We held our first Convocation (on September 15).
* We moved forward with our plans to issue union cards to all members.
* We started arranging local store discounts for members as well.

We have started working with the Election Committee to create a timetable for the next election, a crucial moment when all votes will count and your membership will be most greatly felt. There are open positions on the Executive Committee, as well as Joint Council and Steward seats.

We have already felt the benefits of the newly-elected Joint Council's arrival - they have been eager to share responsibility for all Local business and operations. Our Local's smaller committees have also been actively extending our voice: the Education Committee provides this Update and a semi-annual Newsletter; the Membership Committee plans events like September's Convocation; and the CAP committee performs political outreach.

With each passing day, we've found more faculty who are aware of - and welcome - the power of the union, which stems from all of us working together. We welcome YOUR voice - your participation in this vital part of your academic life. To join a committee or find another way to contribute, contact us at mail@actuaw.org.

-- In solidarity, The ACT-UAW Executive Committee

Q: Is there a credit union?
A: There is a credit union at NYU. We are not aware of one at the New School; contact the Human Resources office for more information. The AFL-CIO's UnionPlus program offers a variety of financial services: http://www.unionplus.org.

Q: Can grievances or mediations be put in place by faculty regarding injustices amongst or between faculty and administration?
A: If you need to file a grievance, contact the Local's office at (212) 432-2120. You will be given the name of a Steward, who will guide you through the process. Before you call, learn more about grievances by reading this page.

Q: Do members get a pension?
A: The New School offers pensions through TIAA-CREF. NYU can help you set up a self-funded retirement account (i.e., all contributions are deducted from your paycheck). NYU is expected to begin making its own contributions to members' retirement accounts by December 2008. Ed. - the email version of this Update mistakenly reported the date as December 8, 2006.

Q: Do members have access to disability insurance or life insurance?
A: Life insurance is offered by the AFL-CIO's UnionPlus: http://www.unionplus.org. We are not aware of disability insurance being offered; contact your employer for more information.

Q: Shouldn't seniority be considered when filling new job openings?
A: Both The New School and NYU are private institutions, and therefore have the right to employ whoever they wish. Our contract with The New School provides seniority protection for its members, and our contract with NYU provides some guarantees of continued employment. Beyond that, we cannot regulate who the university chooses to hire. At the same time, members who are interested in full time positions should always make that known to their schools, and we encourage you to make every effort to update and broaden your skills (see the question below about professional development grants).

Q: Does the Local offer professional grants?
A: Thanks to our contracts, the universities offer them to you. Contact your department chair for more information.

Q: My department changed directors, and I was told at the time that I would be "taken care of" in the new arrangement, but I haven't been given classes since. Is there is anything the union can do for me?
A: In this reader's case, our Local had taken formal action against the university when the change occurred, but the reader was not aware of it. If you think you might have been overlooked in an action our Local took, or are wondering whether an action that could affect you has been or might be taken, call the Local office at (212) 432-2120.

Q: My department tells me that PhD students can't teach anymore because of the union. Is that true?
A: No. There is nothing in our contracts that restricts the universities from hiring you. If they've chosen not to hire because of your pursuit of a PhD, make sure that is part of their standard hiring policies.

Q: Where can I find the form to have dues automatically deducted from my salary?
A: You can download the cards by clicking Join (at the top left corner of this page).

Q: What I would like is a clear statement of what my salary should be from year to year.
A: Our contracts spell this out; to read them, click Contracts (also at the top left corner of this page).

For answers to many more questions, visit our updated FAQ page (click FAQs in the upper left corner of this page).

Have a story you'd like to share with your fellow teachers, or a question you'd like answered in a future issue? Email it to us at news@actuaw.org.

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