Dear Alma,
I’m NTT, but I’m compensated well for the work I do and I have a good working relationship with the tenure-stream faculty in my unit, particularly my head. Won’t a union lower my status and make those relationships adversarial?
Happy W. Whattigot
Dear Happy,
Glad that you are in the well-compensated minority of NTT faculty. But, Alma wonders, why would “getting it in writing” lower one’s status or make relations adversarial? Professional athletes, screen writers, musicians, and faculty at universities such as Oregon, Florida, and Rutgers all understand the value of a strong union contract. You can count on staying in the good graces of a particular head or chair but what happens once she or he leaves the post? Does fingers crossed = good enough?
Love,
Alma.
Campus Faculty Association 