Contract Victory at the University of Akron

Faculty in the AAUP collective bargaining chapter at the University of Akron overwhelmingly ratified a strong new agreement on February 26—a major victory after a difficult year that included significant layoffs and open conflict with the administration.

In May 2020, the administration declared force majeure, which it argued allowed major changes to the collective bargaining agreement—including the retrenchment of ninety-seven full-time faculty members. AAUP chapter leaders and members worked hard to mount opposition to the cuts, organizing public actions, letter-writing campaigns, and petitions that galvanized hundreds of members and allies. Negotiations over terms specific to the cuts were fruitless, however, and the membership rejected a “last, best, and final offer” in August.

In the fall, the negotiating team returned to the table to begin bargaining over the full collective bargaining agreement in advance of the contract’s expiration in December. A tentative agreement was reached in early February, and liaisons worked to build member support for it throughout the month. In all, 82 percent of members voted, with 97 percent voting in favor of the six-year agreement.

Among other achievements are a six-year freeze on changes to health-care benefits and a one-time stipend for faculty members who create distance-learning courses. The administration also agreed to work with the union’s representatives on the Labor-Management Policy Committee to develop a memorandum of understanding that will increase transparency and strengthen shared governance.

The chapter developed innovative ways to engage and involve members throughout bargaining. Notable among them was Toni’s Takes, a series of regular video updates from negotiating team member Toni Bisconti that were made publicly available on YouTube.

Finally, while they were unable to secure severance for the retrenched faculty members, the chapter is launching a unique campaign to aid their former colleagues. The group is asking all members to donate their distance-learning stipends to a fund to be divided among faculty members who lost their jobs in 2020. Chapter leaders are hoping to build on the goodwill created by this campaign, as well as the guaranteed stability for the next six years, to expand chapter membership and increase engagement among current members.