ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN / NEWS EDITOR

Non-tenure track (NTT) professors reached an election agreement with USD on April 15. Since February,  NTT professors in the College   of Arts and Sciences (CAS) have been organizing a union effort with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). 10 days after  the   professors filed for a union   election,  USD reached an agreement    to hold an   election that   will    determine    whether their union  is  officially   recognized. 

Following the election agreement, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) sent out ballots to NTT faculty, allowing them to vote to decide if they want to be represented by the SEIU Local 721  for   the purpose of collective bargaining, which is a  process of negotiating contracts with an employer. 

Melissa James, an adjunct assistant professor of sociology and gender studies described her reaction to reaching the election agreement. 

“We   were   very     happy    about the election agreement,” James said. “We are grateful for all the campus and community members that turned out to support us so far.”

Their    movement gained support    and   attention   from many USD students, and –as reported  by The  USD Vista – around 90   people   attended a rally on April 4,   calling   for   a fair union election.  

On April 5, the NTT faculty filed for  a  union election   with the NLRB.  The NTT faculty held another rally on April 11, which both students and professors attended. 

Many  tenure-track   professors in CAS and other colleges showed their support for the movement by signing a letter telling the USD administration to support a free and fair process with the NTT union.

Some students also participated in various “union teach-ins,” hosted by professors to learn how to support the union effort. 

Matt Parker, an adjunct assistant professor     of         chemistry, explained what would happen if the NTT faculty voted to create a union. 

“Every member of the bargaining unit [a group of employees   represented by a union] will be invited and encouraged to participate in a survey, conversations and meetings  that help identify the top priorities  for non-tenure  track (NTT)  faculty   in the College of Arts and Sciences,” Parker said. “Negotiations will cover wages, benefits,  pathways for advancement and    other topics  of   importance   to members   of  the  bargaining unit.”

According to the Instagram account associated with the movement, @usd_nttfaculty, the election    results  will be determined after  May 13, which is the    deadline for   NTT  professors to   send   their     ballots  to  the  NLRB. 

On April 4, the day before filing for a union election with the NLRB, NTT faculty held a rally. Emma-Kate Squires/The USD Vista