Frequently Asked Questions on Full-Time Lecturers Union and the Walk-out Expected for January 27-28, 2025
General Questions
A walk-out is a labor action where a group of employees collectively leave the workplace or withhold labor as an act of protest. Typically, these actions are for a short amount of time (one to two days) and are announced in advance.
The SEIU, Local 509, represents several different bargaining units at A&S: the full-time lecturers across A&S (including SMFA), the part-time lecturers (who have a ratified collective bargaining agreement (CBA)), the SMFA Professors of the Practice (who are currently negotiating their first CBA), and the A&S and School of Engineering PhD student workers (who have a ratified CBA).
Those units that have effective (or active) CBAs which prohibit work stoppage, including sympathy strikes, should not be involved in any activity engaged in by the full-time lecturers, consistent with their contracts.
Yes. Students and employees may express their views on this issue and any other, in accordance with the university policy on Freedom of Expression.
Please note: employees who have a supervisory or managerial role for members of the bargaining unit should refrain from any actions that may be perceived as interfering with the full-time lecturers’ right to participate in labor action, including any actions that could constitute retaliation for the full-time lecturers’ decision to participate in labor action or to decline to do so. Full-time lecturers opting to walk-out are afforded these rights under labor law.
Questions Specific to Students
From the beginning of its relationship with the SEIU Local 509, the niversity and the union have agreed on the shared values of academic excellence and student centered instruction. As a result, we expect that full time lecturers that walk-out will continue to adhere to these values as they have for years. To that end, the university will endeavor to work as collaboratively as possible with the responsible lecturer to ensure the academic integrity of the classes are not impacted. Students with concerns about these issues may contact the A&S Dean’s Office. Faculty regularly need to miss classes either due to illness, emergencies, travel to professional conferences, etc. When that happens, classes are not usually rescheduled and the integrity of courses and learning during the semester has been maintained. That is our hope and one that we believe our lecturers share in this situation as well.
Yes, students and employees should enter university buildings as they normally would. You have the right to attend classes, continue to participate in educational and other campus activities, and perform work duties.
Similarly, those who choose to participate in the walk-out and any protest-related activity may be entitled to do so under university policy or labor law but may not engage in intimidation, threats, coercion, or other activities that would prevent students from participating in any regular campus activities.
Questions Specific to All Staff and Non-Union Faculty (Tenure and Tenure-track Faculty and Arts and Sciences Professors of the Practice)
Yes. All employees scheduled to work on January 27 and 28 will be expected to do so unless authorized consistent with applicable university policies.
Questions Specific to Union Employees (Part-Time Faculty, PhD Student Workers, and SMFA Professors of the Practice)
Yes. All employees scheduled to work on January 27 and 28 will be expected to do so unless authorized time off has been granted ahead of time consistent with applicable university policies.
Please note that A&S (including SMFA) part-time lecturers and A&S and SoE PhD student workers are also represented by the SEIU; their current ratified CBAs limit certain labor activity. Both groups should refer to their CBAs and contact their union representatives with any questions.
If you are a manager (this includes department chairs, program directors, and all tenured faculty members), the answer is no.
Full-time lecturers opting to walk-out are afforded these rights under the labor law and should not be asked about their intentions or obligations in this regard. University managers should refrain from any actions that may be perceived as interfering with the full-time lecturers’ right to strike.