Cross posted at Happening-Here
So few of us now belong to a labor organization that most of us probably don’t even ask ourselves that question. If we do, we may think a union is just something that takes a bite out of our paychecks but never does anything else. Sometimes that may even be true, but not always.
Today I got a nice reminder of why having a union might be a real benefit. My partner is a “freeway flyer.” That is, she makes a living by teaching as “adjunct faculty” at various colleges. “Adjunct faculty” is fancy language for a temp worker — she gets no benefits and no guaranteed contracts. But one of the places she works does require her to be part of a faculty union.
Yesterday she taught her last class of the semester; today she got a note from her union rep:
In case you are interested, here is information regarding unemployment.
All part-time faculty are entitled to collect unemployment benefits based upon legal precedence set forth in the Cervisi case that was litigated by the CFT local at City College of San Francisco over a decade ago.
There are two key elements to demonstrate your legal right to collect benefits. You have been laid off due to “LACK OF WORK”. In other words, there are no more classes to teach. Thus, you are legally unemployed. It doesn’t matter if the employer still owes you money. You are unemployed after you finish teaching your last class.
The possibility of reemployment is “CONTINGENT UPON ENROLLMENT”. While you may think it probable that you will be re-employed, technically, and thus, legally, you have NO GUARANTEED CONTRACT to be re-employed.
Semester after semester, part-timers’ classes are cancelled due to lack of enrollment, so apply for the unemployment insurance benefit that you have paid for in your payroll deductions. To do so, go to ….
Now my partner is an adult; she knows this — but all of us could use often use someone to remind us that we have rights and should use them.
Do other folks have stories about that unions have done for them? Please share.
After 9/11/2001, the spouse went through some major personal and psychological upheaval. It culminated in his nearly losing his job due to work performance in 2003. The union went to bat for him, pointing out that he had exemplary work history for 20+ years. After several meetings between the spouse and management, with a union rep in attendance, the threatened termination was reduced to a one-month suspension without pay. (We ended up losing our apartment as well and lived with his folks for a year, but that’s another story…)
Having a union rep in this case was just like having a lawyer when going into court against a corporation…you need to have someone in your corner who knows the rules and can fight for you when necessary…
Exactly. Last fall I worked on a special project for the California Nurses Association (which is a kick-ass union BTW) and got to overhear a labor rep behind me just rip into management on behalf of the nurses she was speaking for. It was so great to listen to someone doing that who didn’t have to be afraid of the consequences. She enjoyed it.
(which is a kick-ass union BTW)
They damn sure are! Just ask Gropenfuehrer.
Heh, heh, heh.
After being a Union activist and Local, State and Regional advocate for workers for most of 30 years, I can say the last thing anyone of us in this country wants is the Unions to disappear.
No the unions are not always right. No they don’t always do things in the nicest ways. But until Workplaces actually are willing to live up to the things they agreed to offer their workers in return for there huge profit making labor, there will always be a need for Unions.
Everything you get from employment that you think is of value, wages, insurance, sick leave, worker’s comp, vacation, 5 day week, 40 hour week, holidays (paid or not), safe working conditions, retirement, the right to a harassment free work environment, no sexual harassment, some sort of equity of workers. . .that and much much more we all owe to those who organized unions and demanded those benefits, and did so very often to the loss of their own lives.
Before any trash unions, they really need to know how they got what they expect from their jobs.
Benevolent caring for employees does not coexist in the company’s view of things.
It is so hard to make it doing what your partner is doing. I became friends with a prof I met in the Women’s Studies dept at my uni years ago, and she was doing that whole adjunct dance, and I was appalled by how little they paid her. Especially considering the lack of benefits and security. Even as a student I was living much better than she was (I was an older student so she & I were nearly the same age), and she was single and pregnant.
Thanks for the reminder, and best of luck to you both.
She is still loving it because she really learns how to teach. And teaching is why she got into academia. I think it is going to get old one day, but we’ll see.
It did get old. I LOVE teaching, which is why I’m teaching in a community college. Plus I have this bleeding heart liberal thing about education being available to those who can’t afford university tuition, and also because of the amazing numbers of students I’ve had who were smart and hard-working, but who would not have succeeded at a university right out of high school because their K-12 education was so pathetic. Community college gave them two years to learn how to study effectively and to gain the confidence that they could do college level work before moving on to a 4-year school or a professional program like nursing.
But, jeez, those six years were hard, especially the last few. Teaching more classes than the “full-timers” at half the pay, with no benefits or job security. It’s such an exploitive racket for the colleges trying to reduce their costs. They take advantage of people like me and your partner who love teaching so much that we’ll stick with it even under those circumstances.
And I was one of the lucky ones – we have adjuncts at our college who have been doing it for ten, fifteen, even twenty years. If your partner is working toward a full-time position, I’d be happy to share some tips about the things that helped me move from part-time to full time. Email below. And, oh yes, former NTEU member, now AFT.
Being a Detroiter, with the US auto companies and suppliers struggling, the attitude on my favorite blogs has generally been let them fail, even with a tone of vicious self-satisfaction.
My personal feeling is that we should be a little more constructive because if these companies fail, a major and active population of Union workers will dissapear to be replaced by companies that have been very sucessful in keeping unions out.
I know many will take exception to this comment, attack it as propping up the Big 3 etc… but my personal code is:
Buy Blue, Buy American, Buy Union.
A Detroit person, you might be interested in these pictures from a meeting about the fight to get universal healthcare that was held in Michigan the same day the UAW had to give back on GM workers pensions.
As someone says below, the economy has changed, but I see no reason why people who worked hard and played by the rules should lose what they had a right to expect. The unions have not been imaginative all the time, but we’d be more screwed in this transition without them.
Part of the problem is that the workplace has changed and the role of a union needs to change along with it. The benefits of health insurance and retirement were predicated on a stable company with the prospects of long-term employment. This is no longer the norm with many workers switching jobs several times during their careers.
Companies are being pressured to eliminate benefits to remain competitive and to lower obligations. Thus a worker’s organization needs to start to think in terms of taking up the slack.
Towards this end I proposed a new type of worker’s organization based upon the AARP model. It would provide access to group services such as insurance and also build a sense of community for workers.
A brief essay describing it here:
An AARP organization for workers
Additional ideas appreciated.
Are you talking an organization like the trades unions, where the union is essentially the labor provider to an organization?
Btower:
Could you expand upon this idea a little? Do mean something like a hiring hall run by the union or a more expansive role?
Something proactive in terms of helping members find a job might be an interesting idea to explore further.
Some of the industrial trades unions essentially function as employment contractors which works out pretty well for everyone as demand for those skills varies considerably.
Since the trades union members work out of the hall they do not really receive benfits from the contractors. The union provides training, skils development, wages, health and life insurance, pensions etc. In the higher tech trades, the contractor can specify skills required, to some degree pick and choose appropriate personel etc..
Essentially the trades union is acting as a high end staffing agency, you tell them how many you need, what skills etc, they fill the need and when the work is complete submit a bill.
In some trades the project scope and staffing levels, cost etc. are negotiated between the Contractor and the union with the union taking over the labor side of the project for a fixed price.
I was a member of United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers Union when I was paralyzed. Had it not been for the union I’m sure my employer would have canceled my insurance and left me screwed. They fought to extend my coverage for two years post injury, which covered more than a million dollars of medical bills.(that’s 1987-88 dollars)
My immigrant grandparents worked in the garment industry. They were paid subsistence wages for very long hours. They had no chance to better themselves by learning English (no time) or saving money (none left). But when the unions came along, they were able to get them better wages for fewer working hours. That gave my grandparents the means to give their kids more opportunities, including a couple who were able to go to college. And every one of their grandkids went to college.
As a teacher and an historian, I whole-heartedly agree that unions are a positive. They are the #1 driving force behind the rise of the middle class in 20th Century America.
Now for some light-hearted pro-union sentiments, check out the lyrics to the BareNaked Ladies’ “Elf’s Lament”
Speaking of teachers unions, people may not realize how important they are for protecting the students as well as the teachers.
A couple of years ago, the parents of a student in my husband’s class were trying to get their child into special ed. The school corp was resisting because the child was borderline and special ed is expensive. But all the testing and the kid’s performance in class said he would greatly benefit from special ed classes. My husband and his team teacher worked with the parents and fought the school admin (despite pressure not to do so) all the way. The admin finally caved. Without a union, my husband and the other teacher would have never been able to do this.
Late to the party, but I do have something to thank my union for.
I pay almost nothing for all of my benefits. About $20/month for medical, $15/month for dental. And the coverage is amazing. I recently did a stint in the hospital and have not had to pay a dime. Average dr. visit or prescription is $10.
I also get all the other benefits for little or nothing.
The downside is that my pay is pathetic and my union is corrupt. But I still fee amazingly lucky when it comes to healthcare.
I am retired on disability from the post office and have insurance through the federal employees health benefits program. It is excellent coverage but year after year I am forced to do battle with my provider just to collect my contractual benefits. I’m not afraid to fight my own battles, but it sure feels good to know that there are at least half a million people behind me. That’s what being in a union does for me.
My union always supports me, and I am glad to support them, it’s a family.
Because the union was my only protection against a psychotic ‘boss.’
I’m a staff nurse who’s transferring out of my current clinical assignment (bone marrow transplant) to a new one (neurology/neurosurgical intensive care) effective next month.
I hate the thought of leaving a practice area that means a lot to me professionally and personally, but the unit’s manager is that most dangerous of people – an insecure, incompetent, and vindictive lunatic.
She retaliated for my questions and concerns about scheduling by nitpicking on insignificant bullshit, claiming that my practice was sloppy and dangerous to patients. They were totally trumped up charges, but created enough of a hassle to make my life miserable.
My union rep supported me the entire way – fully listened to my side of things, attended a meeting with me and the lunatic, and advised me regarding options (which included filing a grievance). She backed me when I decided to seek another assignment, and was available if the lunatic tried to fuck up the transfer.
Without a union, I would have been entirely on my own in this situation. Management’s already organized…a union just helps level the playing field.
I’ve never been a union member myself, but I’ve come to appreciate their importance more and more. When I was a kid, a lifelong union worker I knew took me aside and explained to me that the most important thing a union did was to allow a working person to work with dignity. Oversimplified, perhaps, but essentially true, and the comment has stuck with me.
Right now, the UAW is doing its best to advocate for the rights of workers in the Delphi bankruptcy — both in terms of negotiations to try to preserve wages and benefits, and in terms of court actions to preserve pension benefits. Without the union as an advocate and coordinator of collective action, workers would be at an even greater disadvantage than they already are.