Q: When does this current contract expire?
A: This current contract will expire in November 2009. We are finalizing times and dates for collective bargaining with management. We anticipate commencing in June 2009, with a goal of having the contract settled before the Fall 2009 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 determines the dues structure?
A: The current structure was the result of a unanimous faculty vote taken in Spring 2002. The new structure became effective Fall 2002.
Q: Where do my dues go?
A: The majority of the dues (over 70%) we collect go to paying our local dues to both the National (American Federation of Teachers) and State (Massachusetts Federation of Teachers). In addition, our costs include our office staff (Will Silvio and Lorna Sateline) and stipends for the Officers and Division Reps. In addition; there is a small stipend for Exec Committee members. The balance goes to our annual Convention (AFT and MFT). We are now in the process of starting a small savings program for a strike fund should the need arise.
Q: Who determines how many conversions (part time to full time) there are?
A: The Union negotiates the number of conversions on a contract-by-contract basis.
Q: Who determines who gets conversions?
A: This determination is made solely by Academic Affairs. The Union cannot have hiring input without jeopardizing its bargaining rights (Yeshiva).
Q: How often does the Union Committee meet?
A: Our regular meetings are Thursdays from 1-2pm in the Davis Room in the 150 Mass. Ave. building and take place during the Academic Year (Fall and Spring). In addition, the Union Officers meet with management once a month. Faculty members are invited to sit in on our regular Thursday full committee meetings.
Q: Can any faculty member come to an Executive Committee meeting?
A: Executive Committee meetings shall be open to all faculty. However, 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: A weighted unit is a contact hour plus a percentage of time given for preparation, grading, etc. Typically classroom teachers get 1.25 weighted units for each contact hour; Ear Training and Performance courses get 1.13 weighted units for each contact hour. Ensembles, Labs and private lessons get 1.00 weighted units for each contact hour.
Q: Why are there weighted units?
A: To compensate classroom faculty for additional time spent for preparation and grading tests, homework, examinations, projects and so on.
Q: When can I go for Promotion?
A: FULL TIME:
1. Instructor to Assistant: Apply in your 6th year
2. Assistant to Associate: Apply in your 6th year
3. Associate for Professor: Apply in your 8th year
PART TIME:
1. Instructor to Assistant: apply in your 12th semester
2. Assistant to Associate: apply in your 12th semester
3. Associate to Professor: apply in your 16th semester
(Summer 12 wk. teaching is included in the semester count for part time faculty)
- Frequently Asked Questions