Unionization In The Classroom: GW's Response To Organizing Part-Time Faculty


Back to Index

October 9, 2006

To: Part-Time Faculty
From: Donald R. Lehman, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Date: October 9, 2006

Subject: Update on Part-Time Faculty Unionization Efforts

As I have done at the beginning of each semester, I write to update you on what has occurred since my last memorandum to you in January 2006.

On January 11, 2006, the University filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit a petition to review the decision of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regarding the results of the election. You may remember that, as a result of a post-election NLRB ruling to include “suppliers” in the certified bargaining unit of part-time faculty members, there are approximately 30 “suppliers” who the University believes were therefore denied a full and fair opportunity to vote. Because the NLRB’s certification of Local 500 of the Service Employees International Union (Service Employees) resulted from a difference of only 10 votes out of 672 counted, the University felt that resolving this matter was important to settle the question of whether a determinative number of eligible voters were disenfranchised from voting in the election.

During the summer, on a schedule set by the U.S. Court of Appeals, briefs were filed by the NLRB and the University, as well as by Local 500 of the Service Employees International Union. The Court recently notified the parties that it would like to hear oral argument in this case; oral argument is scheduled for November 17, 2006. The University is pleased the Court has determined that this issue warrants oral argument in addition to written briefs. Because the part-time faculty’s views on unionization are so divided, we look forward to the Court’s thorough examination of what we believe to be the disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

Please remember that you can e-mail your feedback and questions via the “submit feedback” link found at www.unionization.gwu.edu. Thank you for taking the time to read this memorandum, and I wish you every success this semester.