Activists from the United States, Mexico, and Canada met August 8–11 in San Diego for the eighth conference of the Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor, of which the AAUP is a cosponsor.
The conference highlighted the extent to which growing contingency is a global problem rather than one limited to the United States (or, for that matter to higher education).
Like other types of workers, academics in many countries are increasingly subject to insecure employment terms, while profit-seeking becomes more important to educational institutions and unions are undermined.
Particularly striking were the presentations made by the small delegation of faculty from Mexico, who spoke of unions that are completely co-opted by the government, extremely low pay for part-time faculty, and harassment of, and sometimes violence against, activists (see the PowerPoint presentation, in Spanish). Because of problems obtaining visas from the United States government, several members of the Mexican delegation were unable to attend the conference at all, while others learned that they would be able to come only at the last minute.
Speakers from Canada described an environment on the other end of the spectrum, where part-time faculty pay tends to be higher, healthcare is universal for all citizens, and the faculty, including part-timers and teaching assistants, is approaching “union solidity,” or 100 percent organization. But even in Canada, the global trend toward contingency obtains, with a bargaining climate making it difficult to secure further gains for contingent faculty, and assaults on TA organizing and on existing union contracts at some institutions.
While emphasizing global trends, the conference also focused on local, practical activism. The strategies briefly outlined below were emphasized in session after session where participants described how they have improved working conditions on their campuses, whether working within unions in large, multi-campus university systems or working in a small activist group at a small private institution. For the most part, these are general strategies, not absolute rules; depending on the situation, it may make sense to adapt or diverge from them.
Organize
In a union if possible. In a strong faculty organization or AAUP chapter. If necessary, as activist Joe Berry puts it, in a “committee of two,” to start. Activists draw energy from one another as well as benefiting from the safety in numbers. The existence of an organization prompts others to join in and lend their talents.
Take the Long View
Most successful campaigns take years, if not decades. Forging ties between different groups of faculty or other campus populations, getting to know the local media and vice versa, and establishing a sustainable and effective organization are long-term activities that need to carry on regardless of crises or lack thereof.
Build Alliances
Contingent faculty at an institution may have common ground with administrators or parents who also oppose state budget cuts to higher education, with students over issues of access and class sizes, or with tenure-track faculty over workload issues. Build formal alliances to campaign together for joint goals, or build goodwill by speaking out on behalf of others before you are in crisis and want them to support your issue.
Emphasize Solidarity
Different groups of campus workers, of faculty, and, indeed, of contingent faculty, have different interests, but they also have interests in common. To the extent possible, emphasize the common causes and work for things that will benefit all. Seek improvements that put all adjuncts on the same track rather than those that force adjuncts to compete with one another. On the flip side, avoid battling with other groups or framing your struggle as a zero-sum game in which a gain for you comes at the expense of another group of workers.
Pursue Incremental Change
Tenure or job security protections that approximate it, pro-rata compensation, and full inclusion in institutional governance may seem (and be) far out of reach, but there is always something within reach. Without letting go of ambitious long-term goals, start where you are and move forward one step at a time. Free parking, tuition remission, improved library privileges, paid office hours, seniority provisions, improvements in health care access—whatever you can win will improve working conditions now and help your group gain momentum.
Take Advantage of Opportunities
Because of the wide variation in types of institutions and state laws, what works in one place will not work in another, and because of the ebb and flow of institutional funding and administrative goodwill, what works at one time will not work at another. Different groups of contingent faculty activists have different resources and capabilities. Take stock and take advantage of what you’ve got. Get your requests for funding in early, not after all money has been allocated. If some departments are more amenable than others to including part-time faculty in decision making, start there and then try to leverage your success with other departments.
Learn more about the Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor.
Join a national discussion list for contingent faculty.
Pictured: Maria Teresa Lechuga of the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico, left, listens as another conference participant translates for her. Photo by David Milroy.