By a vote of 168 to 11, a union representing over 400 adjunct faculty voted this summer to join the AFT. The new union, the Dowling College Adjunct Chapter, is affiliated with the New York State United Teachers and joins a chapter of full-time faculty that has been a NYSUT/AFT local for more than 30 years.

The issues that motivated the adjuncts are money, benefits and job security, says Richard Baron, a NYSUT labor specialist. The pay for teaching a three-credit course at Dowling, a private college, begins at $1,800 and tops out at $2,200, says Susanne Bleiberg-Seperson, president of the Dowling College full-time faculty chapter. This is significantly less than other colleges pay. The adjuncts became increasingly aware of their poor situation at the college, especially as they picked up teaching jobs in other Long Island colleges with NYSUT affiliate unions. NYSUT represents 20,000 adjuncts statewide and virtually all of those working in public colleges in Suffolk County, where Dowling is located.

"Adjuncts earn 40 cents on the dollar compared with full-time faculty," notes NYSUT president Thomas Y. Hobart Jr. "They have no job security or benefits. At Dowling, the adjuncts don't have access to health care insurance. Now, with NYSUT on their side, the adjuncts at Dowling College can fight for the professional respect they deserve." [Barbara McKenna]

[August 14, 2002]