It’s unfair and disappointing that many non-tenure-track colleagues who contribute so much to the academic mission of the university are being excluded. Rather than trying to divide us, the administration could have chosen to listen to faculty’s desire to unionize together.
But there is more than one way to be a united faculty with a strong voice in our workplace. We’re just getting started.
Let’s recognize that this is a historic achievement. After three years of organizing together to build a union, we have cleared a great hurdle. There will soon be a vote on forming a faculty collective bargaining unit at Miami.
Winning this first unit will give FAM momentum and power to organize additional units (including librarians). Having TCPLs in the unit together with tenure-line faculty is a win. It’s also excellent news that SERB ruled visiting faculty to be public employees, not “casual” or “seasonal” employees as the administration claimed.
It’s time to move forward on two fronts:
- Work to win the upcoming union election with a strong majority. That will set us up to bargain effectively for a stronger voice in protecting our educational mission, better shared governance, fair promotion processes, better shared governance, academic freedom protection, more job security, financial transparency and more. It will also give us the influence we need to support our currently excluded colleagues.
- Continue to organize all faculty (including librarians) until you all have the collective bargaining rights you deserve. Miami faculty (including librarians) are all still FAM. Our power is in solidarity, and we are ONE faculty.
Your personal involvement—whether it’s talking to colleagues, helping with union research or communications, or wearing a button—is key to building a strong and democratic union. Department liaisons will be in touch with more information about the upcoming election. In the meantime, stay involved: sign pledge and membership cards, share a testimonial on why you are voting yes, and keep displaying FAM swag.
Solidarity!
Faculty Alliance of Miami
famiami.org
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