Non-tenure track faculty, CMU reach union agreement

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A rally scheduled  for today could have meant protesting but instead became a day of excitement for non-tenure track faculty at Central Michigan University.

CMU and the American Federation of Teachers agreed on Tuesday to recognize non-tenure track faculty as a bargaining unit.

Ian Fulcher, a project organizer for the AFT Michigan, said the agreement will allow non-tenure track faculty teaching at quarter time or greater to be in the union. Fulcher said it means those teaching three credit hours a semester will be included.

“If they didn’t they could just … undercut the union people and the students,” he said.

Fulcher said the next step for the group is to go over lists with the university to see who is covered as well as negotiating a contract.

Susan Titus, president of the Union of Part Time Faculty at Wayne State University, was prepared to rally for for the AFT.

“I came here all the way from Wayne State University to what I thought was going to be a protest, and is now a celebration,” Titus said.

Titus said CMU has a much better organization system compared to WSU.

Mary Ann Freling, an adjunct English professor for 20 years, said the group is thrilled to work side by side with CMU administration.

“We are pleased to finally work together and we can only hope that it will be for the best of the university,” she said.

Freling said their union hopes to start officer elections this month and be in effect for the fall school year.

Tim Connors, who begins as president of the Faculty Association tomorrow, said now that the group is approved ballots will sent out to approve the union.

“It’s something that all of the labor units on campus deserve,” Connors said.

Jim Eikrem, committee organizer for the UTF and a temporary assistant professor of Theatre said the group is very excited.

“You know, it feels really good because we have worked very, very hard,” Eikrem said.

Eikrem said many members of the group were spoken to in their office or on phone and in some cases, visits to their homes were made.

“It was quite a long process, and now we can vote to adopt a union,” Eikrem said.

There are over 400 people that are temporary faculty and around 60 percent are in support of the union, he said. He said some who haven’t signed in support of the union have been hard to get in contact with.

Eikrem said one year ago they were just beginning their protest and now they have won.

In a speech to supporters during the demonstration both Eikrem and Freling spoke.

“This is your victory as well as ours and we will celebrate rather than protest today,” Freling said.

Keith Johnson, President of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, said members should realize gaining membership to the union is only the first step.

“We have one mission: to create the best working environment for employees,” he said. “We are the reason for progress.”