An Update on SMFA’s Part-Time Lecturers Union Negotiations

Dear SMFA community,

We hope you are looking forward to the start of the academic year!

As we get close to the start of classes, we want to give you an update on the ongoing negotiations with SEIU Local 509, who represent the SMFA part-time lecturers (PTLs) with regard to their compensation and terms and conditions of employment. As you may know, all PTLs at Tufts School of Arts and Sciences (including SMFA PTLs) are unionized and governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which was negotiated and ratified last year. That agreement runs through 2027.

This spring, by agreement with the Union, the CBA was reopened solely on the terms and conditions of compensation for SMFA faculty. These negotiations are active and ongoing, and we are now working with a federal mediator to reach an amicable agreement and resolution on all disputed issues.

Tufts understands that people are at the core of its mission and values its relationship with all staff and respects when groups elect to unionize and collectively bargain. We have open lines of communication with all the unions represented on our campuses and work diligently to cultivate strong and productive relationships with each of them. When contracts are in negotiation, we are committed to constructive engagement at the bargaining table, working together with union representatives to find solutions that are fair and equitable for all employees, while also being responsible and respectful stewards of university resources.

The SMFA is negotiating with the Union in good faith and, while we are in mediation, we need to maintain confidentiality on the specifics of the negotiation in order for both parties to focus their attention on reaching an agreement. However, we feel it is important to update the SMFA community on the status of the negotiations as much as we are allowed.

SMFA PTLs have always had a unique system of workload and compensation, distinguishable from their PTL colleagues throughout the School of Arts and Sciences, even though they are all in the same bargaining unit. Our main challenge at the bargaining table this summer has been to integrate our part-time lecturers at SMFA into the course and compensation structure that is used throughout the rest of the School of Arts and Sciences, and one that has been adopted by a majority of our art school peers. This is, to us, a matter of equity in how compensation is structured across the school. Like many change efforts, this one has been understandably quite difficult and has been a main point of discussion at the bargaining table.

In addition to realigning the compensation structure, we have sought to create more flexibility and autonomy for the PTLs in meeting review board obligations as well as to bring them in line with the School of Arts and Sciences PTL policies regarding cancellation of courses.

We hope to come to an agreement with the Union as soon as possible, but please understand these negotiations take time and there can be misinformation circulating while they are ongoing. For accurate and timely updates on our progress, please visit go.tufts.edu/laborrelations.

While negotiations continue, we know the entire SMFA faculty – consisting of full-time and part-time professors of the practice and lecturers – are deeply committed to our students and to creating the best possible learning environment for them.

We wish you all the best for the start of the academic year,

Scheri Fultineer
Dean of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts
Professor of the Practice

James M. Glaser
Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences
Professor of Political Sciences