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


Back to Index

LETTER TO PART-TIME FACULTY ABOUT HOME ADDRESSES (printer-friendly version)(printer-friendly version (PDF))

September 21, 2004

TO: Part-time Faculty Colleagues
FROM: Donald R. Lehman, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
RE: Home Addresses

Dear Colleague:

As many of you know, Local 500 of the Service Employees International Union is seeking to become the exclusive representative of part-time faculty members at the University. Between October 4 and 19, there will be an election, conducted by mail ballot, to determine whether the Service Employees will be successful.

Part-time faculty members are eligible to vote if they have taught during two of the last four semesters, including this one. As a result of your teaching responsibilities this semester, you are eligible to vote in the election. The National Labor Relations Board oversees such elections and maintains the confidentiality of your ballot. We urge you to exercise your right to vote.

The NLRB requires the employer to submit to it the names and addresses of all eligible voters. The NLRB then provides this list to the union. In compliance with the NLRB requirement, the University this week submitted a list which included your name and home address. Since submitting a preliminary voter eligibility list in May, we have heard from some part-time faculty members who voiced concern that the union has visited them at home, unannounced. The University respects your privacy. We want you to know that we were required to provide your name and address and to know that the union is permitted to talk with you, but you are under no obligation to invite union representatives into your home or to speak with them at any time.

If you would like additional information about this issue and about the upcoming election generally, please visit the University’s Web site at www.unionization.gwu.edu.

Best regards,

Donald R. Lehman
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs