Dr. Darren Murray recently testified at a hearing of the National Labor Relations Board in D.C. about how proposed changes to national labor law could benefit adjuncts who want to form a union. Murray is involved in the effort of adjunct faculty at Loyola Marymount University to form a union, and has first-hand knowledge of what it means to have a union contract.

“I taught at LMU for twenty-one years, and I recently started teaching at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) where the adjuncts are protected by a union contract. At CSUN adjuncts have many more benefits than at LMU, including the ability to earn one-year and three-year contracts, a seniority system, full medical, dental and vision benefits and a retirement program. I was struck by the start contrast between CSUN and LMU where we are considered per diem, at-will employees who can be terminated for little or no reason.”

Murray testified at the NLRB hearing in favor of rule changes that would speed up the election process and allow employees to have equal access to communicate with their colleagues about forming a union as the employer has.

“It’s important for us to be able to exercise our right to free speech and talk to our colleagues about unionization and at least have the same access as the employer does to get the word out and make sure everyone is educated about this issue,” said Murray.

Adjuncts at LMU are currently building support amongst their colleagues to file for a union election. “We’re letting people know that by forming a union at LMU, we have a chance for our voices to be heard by collectively organizing rather than dealing with the university as individuals which really hasn’t accomplished anything.”

For more details about the proposed changes to NLRB rules about union elections, click here.