Non-Tenure Union Update

Jon Curtiss, an organizer for the American Federation of Teachers, outlined his organization's goal of unionizing non-tenure track faculty at MSU today.

Curtiss said the union will emphasize job security for these workers, who often have to wait until a few weeks before a new semester begins to learn if they have been hired for that term. The union will also look to secure higher salaries for non-tenured instructors, as well as health insurance benefits and opportunities for professional development. 

A similar unionization drive occurred at the University of Michigan in 2003, where the AFT was successful in achieving better job security for its members.

A petition with the names of prospective union members will be presented to the Michigan Employment Relations Commission in about two weeks, Curtiss said. He predicted a vote will be made on the issue by the end of the spring semester.