Students March in Support of Union Faculty, Organize Around Demand to Return to Bargaining!

On Wed., Oct. 15, more than 150 students marched on campus in support of our demand for the university to return to contract bargaining with our non-tenure track (NTT) faculty union.

The march — which also included faculty members and community supporters — started at Alumni Mall and made its way to University Hall, where students cried out chants like “Union-Busting is Disgusting” and “We’re Lion Loud. We’re Lion Proud. Union-Busting is Not Allowed!”

On Sept. 12, LMU administrators and board members announced that the university would stop recognizing our NTT faculty union and — for the first time — invoke its alleged “religious exemption” from the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which governs collective bargaining for private employers. The announcement came after nearly 10 months of bargaining for a union contract between the university and NTT faculty members — who approved joining SEIU Local 721 by a vote of nearly 90% in summer 2024 in an election certified by the NLRB.

The students and supporters then marched to the main entrance of campus at Lincoln Blvd. and LMU Drive, chanting and rallying there, too.

Later, a delegation of students and community supporters attempted to deliver to LMU President Thomas Poon more than 20 letters written by student organizations and community groups demanding that the university return to the bargaining table with NTT faculty. Poon didn’t respond to knocks, so the delegation members posted the letters on his office door.

Students have gotten involved in many other ways — including by promoting and signing petitions in support of union faculty, releasing statements of support, hanging posters around campus, and joining meetings to call out the administration in person. We appreciate their support!

READ A LION ARTICLE ABOUT STUDENT SUPPORT FOR OUR UNION FACULTY