Q: When does this current contract expire?
A: This current contract will expire in November 2010. We are finalizing times and dates for collective bargaining with management. We anticipate commencing in June 2010, with a goal of having the contract settled before the Fall 2010 semester starts so that we can get our annual raises, etc.
Q: How much are my union dues?
A: For full time faculty, dues are 1.25% of base salary for the Academic Year (Fall & Spring Semesters). For part time faculty, dues are 1.25% of your net pay for teaching, office hours and dept. meetings for the Academic Year. No dues are deducted for summer employment (this applies to both full and part time)
Q: Why are dues a fixed percentage?
A: This system is based on the belief that we all share the burden equally. In other words, the more you make, the more your share. The previous system had a flat rate for full time and flat rate for part time regardless of your earnings. This was very unfair, particularly for part timers who were teaching only a couple classes paying the same dues as those teaching a "full" part time teaching load.
Q: Who determined the dues structure?
A: The current structure was the result of a unanimous vote taken at an all-faculty meeting in Spring 2002. The new structure became effective Fall 2002.
Q: Where do my dues go?
A: The majority of the dues (over 70%) go to pay our affiliation fees to the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers – Massachusetts. Other expenses include union office staff (Office Manager and Assistant Office Manager), stipends for the Officers and Division Reps, honorariums for the other Executive Committee members, arbitrations, consulting fees, office equipment, conventions, conferences, business dinners, faculty emergency assistance, non-profit contributions, copying expenses, interest bearing accounts, emergency strike fund, etc.
Q: Who determines how many conversions (part time to full time) there are?
A: The Union negotiates the number of conversions.
Q: Who determines which part-time faculty members receive conversions?
A: Academic Affairs makes those decisions. The Union cannot have hiring input without jeopardizing its bargaining rights (Yeshiva).
Q: How often does the Union Executive Committee meet?
A: The Committee meets every Thursday from 1-2 p.m. in the Davis Room in the 150 Mass. Ave. building, during the Academic Year. The Committee also meets with management once a month during the Academic Year. Summer meetings are called as needed.
Q: Can any faculty member attend a Union Executive Committee meeting?
A: Union Executive Committee meetings are open to all faculty. Prior e-mail notification to the Union would be appreciated. Because of the confidential nature of some issues discussed in the meetings, the Committee may vote to go into Executive Session and non-committee members will be required to leave.
Q: What is a contact hour (teaching hour)?
A: Actual "clock time" spent in the classroom.
Q: What is a weighted unit?
A: Classroom teachers are credited with 1.25 weighted units for each contact hour; Ear Training and Performance courses are credited with 1.18 weighted units for each contact hour. Ensembles, Labs and private lessons are unweighted (one unit for each contact hour).
Q: Why are there weighted units?
A: To compensate classroom faculty for additional time spent for preparing and grading tests, homework, examinations, projects, etc.
Q: When can I apply for Promotion?
A: FULL TIME:
1. Instructor to Assistant: apply by October 15th of your 6th year in rank
2. Assistant to Associate: apply by October 15th of your 6th year in rank
Note: An approved professional development program must be agreed upon with the department chair approximately one year prior to application for promotion. (e.g. cir. October of the fifth year in rank)
3. Associate to Professor: apply by October 15th of your 8th year in rank
PART TIME:
1. Instructor to Assistant: apply by October 15th in or after your 12th semester in rank
2. Assistant to Associate: apply by October 15th in or after your 12th semester in rank
Note: An approved professional development program must be agreed upon with the department chair approximately one year prior to application for promotion. (e.g. cir. October of the fifth year in rank)
3. Associate to Professor: apply by October 15th in or after your 16th semester in rank
(Summer 12 wk. teaching is included in the semester count for part time faculty but 5 wk. teaching is not)
Frequently Asked Questions