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What actually is a union?
A labor union is a group of workers who join together to protect their rights and improve their working conditions. Whether it’s better pay, job security, or benefits- unions give workers a stronger voice by standing together.
Do we have a union?
Yes! We successfully voted and formed a union!
All NTTF (non tenure track faculty) in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, the College of Communications and Fine Arts, and the School of Film & Television are now part of SEIU local 721.
Who represents me in the union?
The bargaining action team (BAT) are representatives that were elected from current LMU faculty by the union members.
There are 15 BATs, with five from each school in the union.
What is the Bargaining Action Team (BAT)?
The BAT is a group of 15 elected faculty that meet with LMU administration to bargain our union contract. There are 5 faculty representatives from each of the schools in the union.
Who are my BAT reps?
The BAT members from SFTV are:
- Leslie LaPage – Production
- Jon Medici – Screenwriting
- Mike Daley – Screenwriting
- Sam Goff – Animation
- Elizabeth Quinn – Screenwriting
The BAT members from BCLA are:
- Arik Greenberg – Theology
- Bryan Wisch – Rhetorical Arts
- Mark Gaynor – Philosophy
- Laura Huffman – Languages
- Lauren Cole – History
- Lin Hua (Alternate)
The BAT members from CFA are:
- Maureen Gonzales – Dance
- Jermaine McGhee – Dance
- Barbara Dyer – Music
- Brian Moss – Photography
- Nicki Heskin – Production
What is the Contract Action Team (CAT)?
The CAT is the connection between the BAT and the rest of the faculty members. The CAT is a group of faculty that disseminate union updates and relay feedback from faculty to the BAT. They are the keepers of the “phone tree”!
Who are my CAT reps?
We are always looking for more CAT members! Please consider joining and reach out to learn more.
The CAT members from SFTV are:
- Laura Harrington
- Rebecca Sherwood
- Kim Icrevezi
- Michelle Amor Gillie
The CAT members from BCLA are:
- Jessica Martinez-Tebbel
- Clinton Carl
- Michelle Bitting
- Alexander Zambrano
The CAT members from CFA are:
- Laurel Butler
Can I lose my job for getting involved in union activities?
No, absolutely not.
Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), it is illegal for an employer to retaliate against a worker for being involved in their union.
How long will it take to get our first contract?
The goal of the BAT is to have our union contract by the beginning of Fall ‘25 Semester. In order for that to happen we need everyone to be involved and show support for your union. The more pressure we put on LMU the faster we will get our contract.
How can I get more involved?
The biggest need we have right now is getting involved in the CAT! CAT members have a weekly meeting to get up to speed with what are upcoming events.
Don’t have that much time? Here are other ways you can get more involved:
- Attend a general membership meeting on zoom
- Attend a bargaining session in person
- Attend our marches and rallies
To learn about these opportunities, check your email inbox, follow us on Instagram, or reach out to your BAT and CAT representatives!
Can I sign my contract for the next academic year?
Yes! Please do!
Whatever we are bargaining in our union contract will supersede what is in your current contract. All changes will be made retroactively, so continue with business as usual until then.
What is SEIU?
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing almost 1.9 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States and Canada. SEIU Local 721 is the largest union in SoCal. They represent over 100,000 members in various job sectors ranging from Healthcare, Public Services, and Higher Education.
What other schools does SEIU represent?
SEIU Local 721 represents workers across 6 different campuses:
- University of Southern California
- OTIS College of Art and Design
- Laguna College of Art and Design
- Whittier College
- Occidental College
- University of San Diego
What is “Slack”?
Slack is a messaging system (like your texts, facebook messenger, what’s app, etc.) that allows participants to join not only the group chat, but multiple sub chats as well. It is also a cross platform app that can be accessed from your phone, computer, and tablet seamlessly. More information from their website here.
The BAT uses Slack to keep all BUMs (bargaining unit members) informed of what is happening in the bargaining room IN REAL TIME. That way, even if you can’t attnend the bargaining in person, you can still know exactly what is going on.
You will also have the opportunity to comment and engage with the BAT team so that they can immediately address questions and concerns that come up for you while the meeting is happening. This is a really powerful way to get involved and make sure your voice is heard! Details on how to use the Slack channel can be found here.
