Happy new year! We have some great news: ACT-UAW's members have won two more arbitrations, and our sister local, GSOC-UAW, has won a victory of its own. This and more below...

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   ACT-UAW Members Win Two More Arbitrations Answers to Members' Questions New School Benefits Hotline Has Your Workload Changed? GSOC Sweeps House of Delegates Elections

Coming Events Tue January 16 NYU Spring semester begins Thu January 18 New School new faculty orientation, 9:30am-1pm, 65 West 11th St, Room 550 Read more >> Mon January 22 New School Spring semester begins Thu February 1 New School members' responses to availability solicitation due Read more >>

ACT-UAW members have won an arbitration that will help protect faculty from having courses "reclassified" into lower pay grades.

The arbitration resolved a grievance regarding the course "Aural Comprehension" in the Music Department of NYU's Steinhardt School. The course, which has many sections taught by our members, had been classified as a lecture course during our contract negotiations. When the contract came into effect, NYU administrators changed the classification to studio, cutting the contact hour rate from $90 to $65, while disregarding the substantial preparation and grading required for each class meeting.

The arbitrator concluded that the course properly belonged in the lecture rate category. He also found that it was inappropriate for NYU administrators to use one classification during contract negotiation and another once the contract was in effect.

We persuaded the university to implement the arbitration award for other members who have taught the course. Members who have taught Aural Comprehension while being covered by our contract will receive back pay owed (approximately $1,000 per section), and the correct pay going forward.

Like our previous arbitration victories, this case was won only after years of persistent effort. The member who filed the grievance no longer teaches at NYU, but supported her fellow members by steadfastly helping us pursue the case - she even traveled from California for the arbitration hearing!

Our other recent arbitration victory determined that NYU cannot reneg on its agreement to provide ACT-UAW with office space. NYU administrators attempted to back out of the agreement a year after entering into it, claiming that the agreement was somehow illegal. The UAW provided special help arguing this case, because of its potential to undermine other locals' contracts and agreements. In the end, the arbitrator determined that the agreement was both legal and binding, setting a clear precedent for the enforceability of future agreements.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of so many members, all arbitrations with NYU to date have been decided in favor of the faculty and ACT-UAW.

Q: I was disciplined or fired unfairly (or without cause). What can I do?
A: Our contracts clearly prevent these actions - see New School Articles VII, XV and XXV; and NYU Articles XVI, XVII and XXII (click "Contracts" at left). We urge you to contact us (click "Contact Us" at left).

Q: Shouldn't seniority be considered when assigning work to teachers?
A: In many cases, it is. Our contract with The New School provides seniority protection, and our contract with NYU provides some guarantees of continued employment. We urge you to read the contract(s) that apply to you (click "Contracts" at left), and to make sure your employers have abided by them. If they have not, contact us at (click "Contact Us" at left). Beyond the protections provided by our contracts, we cannot regulate who the universities choose to employ, since both are private institutions, and therefore have the right to employ whoever they wish. At the same time, members who are interested in new, different or full time positions should always make that known to their schools, and we encourage all members to continually update and broaden their skills (professional development grants are available, thanks to our contracts; contact your department chair for more information).

The New School Benefits Hotline serves all faculty and staff with benefits questions. Call (212) 229-5671 ext. 4942, or send an email to benefitshelp@newschool.edu

We urge you to keep a log of the courses and other work assigned to you each semester, including the number of students taught in each course or served in each assigment. If there has been a notable increase in your workload without a corresponding increase in pay, send your log to us (click "Contact Us" at left).

Here is a letter from our sisters and brothers in GSOC-UAW, NYU's graduate assistant union:

"We want to thank you for your continued support of the GSOC-UAW organizing campaign at NYU.

"As you may remember, the NYU administration set up a 'company union' in an effort to undermine our organizing efforts. Elections for the leadership of that body were held this term. We are pleased to report that GSOC candidates swept the elections! Union supporters will control the company union and are committed to winning real rights for NYU teaching assistants and research assistants.

"This win, though not a final victory, is yet another example of the fact that a majority of NYU's TAs and RAs want the NYU administration to recognize their union - GSOC-UAW. We remain confident that, with your help, we will prevail winning justice for workers at NYU and proving yet again that workers cannot be denied their right to form and to join unions."

Learn more >>

If your home address, email address or phone number has changed >>

If you think your employer might have treated you unfairly or violated our contract >>

If you have questions that aren't covered in this website >>

If you have a story to share with us and your fellow members >>

December 2006: Important Dates in December - New ACT-UAW Officers Elected - Adjunct Voice Returns - NYU Professional Development Funds

October 2006: Keep Us Informed - Report on Union Activities - Answers to Members' Questions

September 2006: ACT-UAW Members Win Arbitrations - Phil Wheeler Retires, Julie Kushner New Assistant Director - Part-Time Faculty Convocation September 15

August 2006: ACT-UAW special event coming in September - Message from our President - First look at our new Unit Chairs

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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