Here's why solidarity is so important! EWU adjuncts succumb to bullying, but will try again in the fall!

The United Adjunct Faculty Association (UAFA) at East-West University (EWU) withdrew its petition to vote for a union. In a letter addressed one day before EWU administration received the National Labor Relations Board collective bargaining petition notice for adjuncts, Chancellor M. Wasiullah Khan informed all department chairs, full-time faculty, part-time faculty and staff that “no contract will be renewed this year effective the forthcoming summer session and the academic year beginning with Fall quarter 2010.” The letter went on to point out that no department chair, full-time faculty, part-time faculty or staff member would be hired back “without first meeting with the Chancellor.” As an adjunct at EWU, I have never ever witnessed such blatant disrespect and disregard for the many hard working people who care deeply about their job. The primary reason for the petition withdrawal is based on the administration’s attorney argument that no adjunct would be an employee at East-West during the summer so the petition for collective bargaining was no valid. UAFA members are not deterred. It will regroup and re-file the petition at the start of fall 2010. For more information and words of support, please send to EWUadjuncts@gmail.com.

We're with you on this, EWU! Join us in our Adjuncts United! March to the opening ceremonies of the U.S. Social Forum at 3 p.m. on June 22 and get your story out there! Also, join us for this workshop, also during the Social Forum and sponsored by UPTF-AFT Local 477 (Wayne State):  "Voice for the Voiceless: Organizing Part-time Faculty in Higher Education," June 23, 1-3 p.m.. See http://www.ussf2010.org/ for USSF registration info (day registration needed for workshop attendance). See http://www.uptf.org/ for event flyers and a short video, too.