12/6: Mediation Update, Strike Pay, and Health Insurance
Mediation Update
We are still on strike.
Do not resume classes or grading.
This strike could have been over weeks ago if the University offered us a fair deal.
Instead, the University’s team needlessly prolonged the strike by cutting off negotiations and trying to unilaterally implement its offer on faculty.
After 1,821 faculty voted the offer down, the university has returned to the bargaining table.
It is critical that we keep the pressure on the University by continuing the strike until we reach a deal.
The bargaining committee is working around the clock to reach a fair deal that works for part-time faculty, our students, and the university.
The bargaining committee worked from 12pm yesterday to 4am this morning, caucused again at 8 am, and resumed mediation at 10am today.
Mediation will resume at 5pm tomorrow (12/6).
To try to break the strike and force us to accept an offer that does more harm than good, the university has threatened to cut our pay and its contribution towards out health insurance premiums beginning this Wednesday, which they are legally entitled to do.
This is strike-breaking and union-busting. Luckily, the UAW has our back.
Don't Complete the University's Attestation Form
Nearly all of the University's faculty are on strike. A very small number are crossing the picket line. The University doesn’t know who is and is not working. To determine who’s working, the University will send out self-attestation forms as part of its union-busting efforts.
We believe the university will send out an attestation form next Monday, December 12th, to ask about work from December 7th to December 14th.
You should NOT complete the form while we are on strike.
Ignore it.
Health Insurance
If you have not done so, sign up for strike benefits now. (More at bottom of this post.)
You should continue to use your New School Health Insurance Card.
If the card is rejected, you should use the UAW Strike Benefits Insurance Card. The UAW will mirror the university's insurance plan.
If you signed up for strike benefits online or did not receive a card when you signed up in person, find one here. The card's "ID Number" is your Social Security Number.
Will I have to pay full-price to see the doctor?
No. Provided that you have signed up for strike benefits, the UAW insurance will mirror the university's plan's out-of-pocket costs. You will pay the same amount as usual.
Do I have to pay the UAW a premium?
No. You do not have to pay a premium. The UAW insurance is a third-party claims payer who will pay the fees for your medical expenses.
Will my healthcare provider still be in-network?
Yes. The UAW will mirror your health insurance as if you are still covered by the university, so the coverage, cost, and network will be mirrored as closely as possible.
What about dental and vision?
The UAW does not cover dental or vision. As of this post, we have not seen any evidence that the university has terminated dental or vision coverage.
Strike Pay
What is strike pay?
You will receive strike pay for any days where your payment from the university has been cut. As of today, the university has not cut pay. Strike pay is $400 per week.
How do I receive strike pay?
If you have not done so, sign up for strike benefits now. (See the bottom of this post for details.)
If the university does cut pay, you will be able to pick up your check at the UAW office: 350 W 31st street suite 401.
We will schedule times for you to pick up strike paychecks if the university cuts pay, as evidenced in a reduced January 27th paycheck. If you do not live in the NYC area, we will mail your strike check to the address you added to your benefit form.
When will paychecks start being impacted?
If the university cuts pay effective December 7, that will be reflected in your January 27th paycheck.
You Can File for Unemployment Benefits While on Strike
If You Live in NY State
If you live in New York State and you have been participating in the strike, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits while on strike after 14 days from the start of the strike.
Last summer, the UAW updated the strike rules to allow workers to collect strike pay and unemployment benefits simultaneously. While the union does require you to complete 5 hours of strike duty each week, this alone will not invalidate your eligibility for unemployment insurance.
You could earn as much as $904 a week while on strike ($400 in strike pay and up to $504 in unemployment benefits).
Eligibility for Unemployment Insurance
Your work as a Part-Time Faculty at The New School does qualify for unemployment benefits after 14 days on strike. When you apply for unemployment, they will calculate your eligibility based on length of employment and total earnings.
It is important that you do report any ongoing employment if you teach elsewhere, have another job, or freelance. As part-time workers, if you do not report all of your work when applying for unemployment benefits, you may be subject to penalties including loss of benefits and fines if you do not report all of your hours of work.
If you are working at another job while collecting unemployment benefits for striking your work at The New School, you can expect the following reduction in weekly benefit based on hours worked elsewhere. If you work at another university, you should only count your contact hours in the classroom. *Please factor your approximate 5 hours of required strike duty into your claim for partial unemployment insurance*
0-10 hours of work = 0 days worked: No reduction in weekly benefit rate
11-16 hours worked = 1 day worked: 75% of weekly benefit rate
17-21 hours worked = 2 days worked: 50% of weekly benefit rate
22-30 hours worked = 3 days worked: 25% of weekly benefit rate
31+ hours worked = 4 days worked: 0% of weekly benefit rate
Read more about partial unemployment insurance.
How do I Apply?
ONLINE
To apply for unemployment benefits, login to the Department of Labor website using your NY.Gov ID and navigate to unemployment insurance services. You may need to report your regular pay and work history, among other details, so it would be helpful to have paystubs available.
APPLY BY PHONE
888.209.8124. Press 2 to file a claim.
CERTIFY FOR BENEFITS WEEKLY ONLINE OR BY PHONE:
888.581.5812
HELP CENTER (FOR TECH HELP WITH YOUR NY.GOV ACCOUNT):
800.833.3000
Info you will need for the UI application:
ID # (driver’s license or other)
New School HR phone # 212.229.5671
Your hire date at the New School
Last day of work at the New School (the last day that you taught this semester)
Your title at the New School: i.e “Part-Time Lecturer,” or “Part-time Assistant Professor,” or “PT Associate Professor”
The same info regarding any other employers
The reason for the application is “strike” and the work category is “professional”
Once you have registered for unemployment benefits, they will make a determination about your eligibility and let you know how much money you will receive weekly. You will need to certify or claim your unemployment benefits every week you are on strike after the 14th day to collect unemployment insurance. If the strike ends, you can indicate that you are returning to work on the certification system, or simply stop claiming benefits through the DOL portal.
Please see the Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook for more details, as well as this summary explainer for Unemployment Insurance and Strikes.
Unemployment Insurance Outside New York State
If you live outside of New York State, you should consult your local state unemployment insurance eligibility laws for more details.
Union Address if needed for out-of-state application
ACT-UAW Local 7902
350 West 31st Street
Suite 401
New York, NY 10001
Signing Up for Strike Pay & Benefits
All part-time faculty on strike are eligible for strike pay and benefits if the University cuts our pay or benefits.
You can complete the necessary forms and submit them electronically over email.
You can find the necessary forms in a google folder here, along with a document prepared by one of your part-time faculty benefits counselors on how to review and complete the forms.
You can also view a recording of the remote strike benefits sign-up meeting here (the passcode is 5s1kCCx%).
Please complete the W-9 and UAW Enrollment Form and send them to mromero@uaw.net and ptfstrikebenefits@gmail.com with the subject line “Strike 441 Local 7902 [Your Name]” to ensure you are covered.
If the university does cut pay, the UAW will issue strike pay checks for faculty who complete strike duty for each week we are on strike, or $80 for each day, Monday – Friday, if we are on strike for a portion of a week. This includes picketing, remote strike duty, or a combination of both.
Upcoming Events
Membership Meeting
Today 8pm on Zoom
Mediation / Bargaining Caucus
Wednesday 5pm onwards
The Zoom links are in the email version of this post,
or contact your strike captain or a bargaining committee member.
This Week’s Picket Schedule
Mon - Fri 12pm - 3pm ET at the University Center
63 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003