Arcadia University Adjuncts Vote to Join Union

PHILADELPHIA—Today, adjunct faculty at Arcadia University voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers and its local affiliate, United Academics of Philadelphia. This is the second victory for the AFT in its Philadelphia-metro-area contingent faculty organizing campaign, following the hard-earned victory that 1,500 adjunct educators won at Temple University in November 2015.

The AFT is the largest higher education union in the country and represents 80,000 adjunct and contingent faculty members. The Arcadia University unit adds an additional 300 new members to the AFT’s ranks. In Philadelphia, the AFT represents the part-time and full-time faculty at Temple University, Community College of Philadelphia, Moore College of Art and Design and Rutgers in neighboring New Jersey.

Frankie Mallis, adjunct professor of English, says, “A union victory for me means after eight years of devoting all my passion and energy to Arcadia University, I will finally have the chance to negotiate for livable wages and job security.”

AFT President Randi Weingarten released the following statement on Arcadia’s vote results:

“Today, Arcadia adjuncts voted to join a union and have a real voice on the job. By so doing, they joined contingent faculty across the country who are equally committed to transforming their profession. Union representation helps create stability in classrooms, improve working conditions for educators and allow adjuncts to earn a living wage. We congratulate Arcadia adjuncts on their yearlong campaign to form a union and welcome them to the AFT family.”