Q: What is a proposal?

A: A “proposal” is a proposed change to our current union contact.

Q: What has the bargaining team proposed?

A: The part-time faculty has presented proposed changes to 30 different articles of our union contract to the university, both changes to current contract articles and new articles entirely. These proposals include significant raises, health insurance equal to that offered to full-time faculty, baseload expansion, increased job security, and more. You can find copies and summaries of the proposals here.

Q: Can the New School actually agree to our proposals?

A: Both sides will have to make compromises to reach an agreement. In the event that the university’s negotiating team states that the university cannot afford one or more of our proposals, the bargaining committee fully expects the university’s team to substantiate such a claim with financial information. The bargaining committee will proceed from there.

The bargaining committee—the people drafting and presenting proposals—are themselves part-time faculty and have a vested interest in the university and their students’ success. We don’t want to bankrupt the university. We love our students and we are proud to teach at The New School—we want to make the university better for our students and a more equitable place at which to work for part-time faculty.

Q: What does it mean that the university hired an outside law firm?

A: In September, the university’s bargaining team announced that their new chief negotiator was an attorney from a corporate law firm. It means the university would rather spend tens of thousands of dollars on outside legal counsel than agree to the raises part-time faculty deserve. Given prevailing wages for employment-side labor lawyers in NYC, the university likely pays its outside legal counsel in a single bargaining session what many part-time faculty earn for teaching a semester-long course.

Q: Is the Bargaining Committee paid?

A: The part-time faculty serving on the bargaining committee are not paid. Since March, they have volunteered hundreds of hours to work for a fair contract for all of us. In contrast, everyone on the university bargaining team is paid. In addition to the corporate attorney, their team comprises administrative management and the university’s chief council. To date, they have only been willing to meet with our volunteer bargaining committee during their paid working hours.

Q: Will bargaining continue during the vote and, if a strike occurs, while we’re on strike?

A: The bargaining committee will remain ready and willing to meet with the university as frequently as the university would like, at nearly anytime the university would like, including nights and weekends.