USC faculty moves ahead with union election plan, despite warning of increased hostility

[Omaha Steve]

Source: LA Times

By Jason Song

USC faculty filed paperwork Tuesday to hold union elections, a move that administrators have warned could lead to increased hostility on campus.

The non-tenure track professors were organized by Service Employees International Union Local 721, which represents bargaining units in Los Angeles and the county.

There are nearly 6,600 full-time faculty at USC and nearly 5,000 are on a non-tenure track, according to the university's website.

Tenured professors enjoy greater job protections and higher pay.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-usc-faculty-file-union-paperwork-20151124-story.html

[mike_c]

1. very happy to hear this

eom

[friendly_iconoclast]

2. As am I. Hostility from management is to be expected and is par for the course

No pun intended.

[1StrongBlackMan]

3. then-interim Provost Michael W. Quick, here's a thought ...

In a letter to faculty earlier this year, then-interim Provost Michael W. Quick said he thought a faculty union would be detrimental to USC’s “collegial processes.”

“The issue is whether a union is good for faculty at a particular university, our University of Southern California,” Quick wrote. “My opinion is that it is not.”

the lack of (adequate) pay and more job protections IS detrimental to USC’s “collegial processes"; ergo, the union vote.

[Ratty]

4. Good

More Than Half of College Faculty Are Adjuncts: Should You Care?

Universities are jumping on the contract worker band wagon. Lecturers and non-tenured faculty live in poverty while fees and tuition skyrocket.

[DirkGently]

5. KNR n/t.