Office of Human Resources
Le Moyne College
Grewen Hall, Room 209-E
Syracuse, NY 13214
(315) 445-4155
(315) 445-6023 (fax)
lemoynehr@lemoyne.edu
In light of the recent NLRB vote tally, several questions have been asked which undoubtedly are of interest to all adjunct faculty members.
Q. Now that the final vote has been tallied and a majority of those voting supported NYSUT, what happens?
A. Following certification of the vote tally by the NLRB, the College expects that it will receive a formal request from NYSUT to begin collective bargaining. We cannot speculate, however, when that request might actually arrive or when that process will begin.
It is likely that it will take NYSUT some period of time to select a bargaining committee and decide on proposals it would like the College to consider as part of the bargaining process.
For the time being, at least, you should expect things to continue “as is.” For example, those of you scheduled to teach this Spring semester should proceed as you always have. For its part, the College will also be proceeding as it normally does, including assigning classes, schedules, locations, etc., as it historically has done.
Q. As an individual adjunct, what can/should I do now?
A. We believe the most important thing you can do at this stage is to become active in this process by making sure your voice is heard within NYSUT. Once certified, NYSUT will represent all adjuncts who fall within the scope of the previously agreed to bargaining unit, regardless of whether you are or decide to become a NYSUT member, or whether you voted for the union or not. As explained below, you are not currently obligated to become a union member. However, even if you do not become a union member, there is no way to “opt out” of the union representing you if you are within the scope of the bargaining unit.
Just as we advocated throughout this process that your voice be heard by voting, we continue to advocate that you let your voice be heard within NYSUT, whether you decide to become a member of the union or not.
Q. Will I have to join the union and/or pay dues?
A. As of now, you have no obligation to join the union and pay dues. If you nonetheless decide to join the union, you may well have an obligation to pay dues, as a direct function of your own decision to become a member, but that is an internal NYSUT matter.
Parties to a collective bargaining agreement are permitted to agree that all bargaining unit employees must become “members” of the union as a condition of remaining employed and that membership dues be deducted directly from pay. For this purpose, “membership” can include becoming full members of the union (in which case, for example, you would be subject to all of the rules and regulations imposed by the union on its members) or you can become “financial core members” (in which case you would pay a fee to the union roughly equivalent to dues, but would not become a full member). While financial core members are still represented by, and entitled to fair representation from, the union, they are not subject to internal union rules and regulations (because they are not “full members”), but they also may not be subject to all of the benefits of union membership, such as being allowed to hold a position with the union, serve on a bargaining committee, or participate in “union” votes on various issues.
Although it may be easier to have your voice heard as a union member, you should fully understand the requirements of membership before applying.
While parties to a collective bargaining agreement may agree to membership and dues provisions, there is no requirement that they do so, and that is a matter left for the collective bargaining process. Regardless of how that bargaining turns out, however, there currently is no obligation to join the union and pay dues.
We appreciate that this process is new to many of you and we hope that this communication addresses your most immediate questions. If additional information would be helpful to you, please let us know.