A small change to the AFT constitution will make a big difference to locals representing part-time, adjunct and/or contingent employees. Delegates to the AFT's biennial convention July 15-18 in Las Vegas voted for a constitutional amendment that will allow locals to apply for a reduction in the per-capita payments on union members who are paid less than $10,000 a year--which, sad to say, is the situation for many part-time and adjunct faculty. The constitutional change gives locals the option to ask to pay $1/member/month for these lowest-paid workers.

Speaking before the vote, AFT vice president William Scheuerman noted that "passing this amendment would be another important step in AFT’s continuing efforts on behalf of part-time/adjunct faculty.  It aids AFT locals that already represent this group, but more importantly will serve as a catalyst for organizing more part-time/adjunct faculty around the country, something we are committed to doing."

The change provides relief that will have an immediate impact, says Lou Stollar, president of the United College Employees/AFT of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. "For years, we have thought it was a wise expense" to subsidize part-time faculty in order to have them in the union. "Their numbers are great; they tend to be active, loyal unionists and are a force to be reckoned with."

Noting that part-time faculty teach more than 50 percent of all the courses taught in community colleges nationally, Stollar says, "We want them in, not outside" the union. [Barbara McKenna]

[August 21, 2002]