HU adjuncts vote to join SEIU in landmark union election

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HamlineUnivLogoHamline University adjunct professors have voted overwhelmingly to join part-time faculty at Northeastern University, Georgetown University and thousands of instructors nationwide in a growing union movement.

The vote marks the first time that adjunct faculty at a private Twin Cities-area university have formed a union in their quest to improve higher education for students and faculty. Hamline adjuncts joined SEIU Local 284 after votes for the all-mail ballot election were counted last month. 72% of the valid ballots counted voted yes to forming the union.

David Weiss, an adjunct faculty in the Religion department at Hamline, spoke about why he thought the win reflected a victory for the entire Hamline community. “This is a great day for faculty, students, and the whole Hamline community. It was clear in this campaign that for adjuncts in Minnesota, our time is now. By coming together to address the low pay and lack of benefits and stability for adjunct faculty, we are taking steps to strengthen all of higher education for students and faculty alike. I’m confident that our success today will help empower other workers, including adjunct faculty like ourselves at schools like St. Thomas, to change working and learning conditions in higher education.”

Jennifer Beckham teaches in the English department and spoke said, “We sent a letter to Provost Jensen expressing our interest in building a productive relationship that reflects our shared value in making Hamline a great place for faculty and students. Adjuncts have been energized by the support of tenured faculty, students, alumni, and community supporters throughout this process, and we look forward to continuing this important work.”

Minnesota adjuncts are joining a union movement that hopes to address what they see as a crisis in higher education that has turned what was once a good middle-class profession into a low-wage, no-benefits job without any job security from semester to semester.

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