Saturday, July 26, 2008

Part Time Union?

WMU part time instructors are considering forming a union. They are complaining about not having 'job security'. But the whole point of having part-time instructors is to be flexible, as the number of classes varies from semester to semester. You can bet this union will end up costing students and taxpayers more money.

-------------

WMU part-time instructors may form union

KALAMAZOO -- Part-time instructors at Western Michigan University may have union representation if an organizing effort is successful.

Janet Heller, who has taught part-time at WMU for 10 years, said she and several colleagues have been meeting since March to discuss forming a union.

While no specific event inspired movement this year, Heller said several long-standing concerns prompted their desire for collective bargaining with the administration.

"We have no job security. We have no academic freedom. We have no health insurance,'' said Heller, who teaches English and women's studies.

Each school year, WMU employs more than 400 part-time instructors in various disciplines across the university. They teach no more than nine credit hours per semester and are hired on a semester-by-semester basis.

No comments: