Faculty Senate Stands Firm on Unions

The Faculty Senate renewed its stand against collective bargaining May 5, following an hour-long discussion featuring legislative maneuvering and debate on both sides of the issue.

The senate sidestepped a motion from Mathematics Professor Anatole Beck to immediately pursue the right of faculty to form a union to bargain wages and other employment terms with the state.

Instead, it voted by a narrow margin to replace Beck’s motion with a resolution opposing the current Wisconsin Senate bill to enact enabling legislation for collective bargaining. The resolution also affirms the senate’s 1994 position to oppose collective bargaining legislation unless it meets specified conditions regarding bargaining rights, tenure and governance. The resolution was approved, with only a few dissenting votes.

This issue has been simmering since October, when Beck first proposed his motion. The senate in December tabled Beck’s motion to study the issue, and the University Committee presented its report to the senate on May 5.

Supporters said the Beck motion would merely give faculty the right to form a union to bargain with the state. They also said it would strengthen relationships with other UW System faculty, legislators and the governor, and help with budget negotiations.

“I’m not trying to hustle the Madison faculty into collective bargaining,” said History Professor James Donnelly.

Those opposed said faculty already have the right to form a union under state law and that collective bargaining enabling legislation could undermine governance and tenure.

“I see no advantage to proposing opening the doors to collective bargaining,” said Law Professor Gordon Baldwin.

The UW System administration opposes the enabling legislation bill in the Wisconsin Senate. It contends that the bill, if passed, would weaken shared governance. Similar bills have been introduced but not passed in the Legislature for several years running.

The Faculty Senate’s action follows a close vote by University of Minnesota faculty in February not to form a union. Minnesota faculty who supported collective bargaining said they were concerned with the possible weakening of tenure by Minnesota’s university regents.

In other action, the senate:

• Approved the establishment of equity and diversity committees in schools, colleges and major units. The committees will promote diversity in hiring and in the workplace. The University Committee will review the committees after three years and report back to the senate.
• Passed a resolution urging the Legislature to restore new UW System library funding in the state budget.
• Approved the establishment of a standing Committee on Retirement Issues.

The senate adjourned for the academic year with one item of unfinished business. It will continue its discussion of the recommendations and resolutions from the Ad Hoc Committee on the Use of Student Course Evaluations at its next meeting, scheduled for Oct. 6.