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Background
Our elected Bargaining Team (BT) is deeply concerned with recent attacks on faculty members and higher education across the country, and the apparent lack of protections that contingent professors have when administrators decide they must go. Over the years, we’ve seen far too many NTT colleagues at institutions across the nation fired for activities and speech that we believe should be protected, a trend that seems to have ramped up since the 2024 election.
The BT feels it’s vital that all faculty members in our union have academic freedom rights codified in our first union contract.
What We’re Proposing
Our Academic Freedom article, just one of many articles we’ve made during bargaining, is based on recent American Association of University Professors’ (AAUP) statements. It applies the tenets of academic freedom to teaching, scholarship, research, and creative work, and says that union NTT faculty:
- will have the same academic freedom rights as tenure-line faculty;
- can teach about controversial subjects in a pedagogically appropriate manner without limits set by outside individuals or entities;
- will be notified if complaints are made about controversial topics discussed in their courses; and
- will not be disciplined or have adverse action taken against them for speech and activities protected under the Article.
LMU’s Response
In the first round of negotiations, LMU rejected our proposal in favor of much softer language already in the faculty handbook. This would maintain the status quo, leaving the administration with far too much power to terminate us for activities and speech that should be protected.
Action You Can Take
To get involved in our campaign for a fair contract — including our fight for academic freedom — we’re asking NTT faculty members to join the Contract Action Team (CAT). The CAT serves as a vital link between the Bargaining Team and the broader faculty. Learn more here.