Adjunct faculty at Temple University filed authorization cards on Dec. 17 with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board seeking union representation with the United Academics of Philadelphia, which is the AFT's Philadelphia-area local for adjunct faculty, and the Temple Association of University Professionals, which is the AFT-affiliated union for Temple's full-time tenure-track and nontenure-track faculty.
By seeking union representation, Temple University's approximately 1,100 adjuncts are taking a big step toward realizing UAP's overall vision of livable wages, benefits, job security and professionalism for contingent faculty who live and work in the Philadelphia area.
"Both full-time and adjunct faculty care deeply about the quality of education we provide at Temple University, and thus deserve the right to collectively bargain for wages, benefits and respect," says Art Hochner, president of TAUP. "That is why we are happy to support our adjunct colleagues in their fight for unionization, and we welcome them into our union. Their success and increased job security will ensure that Temple remains a world-class institution that attracts and retains top-tier faculty for its students."
"As a mother and an adjunct professor, I'm thrilled about this step toward winning an adjunct union at Temple University. Being able to negotiate over meaningful job security and knowing whether I'll be able to return to Temple the next semester will improve the educational experience for my students," said Elizabeth Spencer, UAP organizing committee member and adjunct English professor. "By negotiating a fair contract with Temple, I know I'm working toward providing stability for my family."
UAP represents more than 15,000 adjunct faculty in the Philadelphia area, with membership in 20 colleges and universities.
[United Academics of Philadelphia press release]