Unionization In The Classroom: GW's Response To Organizing Part-Time Faculty


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July 14, 2005

Part-Time Unionization Update
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On June 29, 2005, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald R. Lehman explained in a memorandum to part-time faculty that the University has decided to not commence negotiations with Local 500 of the Service Employees International Union because of the University's strongly held view that all part-time faculty members were not provided a full and fair opportunity to cast ballots during the election. On June 30, 2005, the union filed an "unfair labor practice" charge against the University, based on the University's decision not to bargain.  The University will be filing a position statement with the Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board stating that the NLRB's certification of the election improperly resulted in disenfranchising a significant number of eligible voters.  There are a number of procedural steps that could follow. For example, it is not unusual in these kinds of cases for the Regional Director to file a "Complaint" after reviewing the position statement. If that occurs, the Complaint would be a procedural mechanism for consideration of the University's position, initially by an NLRB Administrative Law Judge.  The University welcomes the opportunity to receive a full review of the issues through the established administrative and judicial review process.