Precarious Labor Rights in American Higher Education

Abstract

A changing political and social environment threatens the mission of American universities, along with the livelihoods of employees. Budget cuts have forced universities to cut costs, and to rely ever more heavily on low-paid and non-regular faculty and staff. American universities have steadily increased their reliance on low-wage employees to operate over the past four decades. The ratio of tenured and tenure-track university faculty fell from 45 percent to 30 percent from 1975 to 2015, while that of contingent faculty rose from 55 percent to 70 percent, even though the latter have the same classroom-performance responsibilities and expectations. Furthermore, graduate students and support staff provide services, ranging from research and teaching to technical support, that are more vital than ever, yet they also suffer poor employment conditions.

　In reaction to these trends, unionization efforts and campaigns for faculty and staff rights have been gathering momentum. Unsurprisingly, these struggles are consistently undermined by the unfriendly political environment that has for years hampered the labor union movement. The obstacles include Supreme Court rulings that have upheld employer-friendly interpretations of labor laws, making it difficult for faculty, staff, and graduate students to claim rights to organize unions and conduct collective bargaining. On the other hand, the recent upsurge in union activism, notably in public education, has provided moral and material support for labor activism, helping to bring improved conditions for some employees. This paper will examine the current situation of faculty and staff employment in higher education, with special attention to organizing activities and to the ways in which the political environment assists or hinders union activity.