The following comes from advocate Frank Reiser’s Adjunctsaurus blog, a New York-focused website that has become an important center for information on the experiences of adjunct professors in midst of an epic fight, in New York and nationwide, for their right to fair working conditions on college campuses. Take a look:

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In September of 2013 the adjunct faculty at Nassau Community College went on strike protesting three years of inaction in negotiating a new contract. Only two-hundred of over a thousand union members struck for a period of one week. The union’s executive committee, disappointed in the turnout after having had a resounding pro-strike vote, called off the strike. (see posts at Adjunctsaurus blog documenting the administrations pre-strike threats).

New York State’s Taylor Law prohibits public employees, even part-time workers, from participating in any type of job-action. The NYS Public Employees’ Relation Board exercised their authority and levied Taylor Law penalties against those who struck and the union as a whole. PERB ruled in December to fine the striking union supporters two days gross pay for each day out of class plus eliminated the union’s right to dues collection through payroll deduction. The strike failed, it was ended, and the adjunct union and its members have paid the fines in accordance with NY State law.

The vote requested of Nassau Community College’s Board of Trustees by Acting President Kenneth Saunders on March 15 to fire adjuncts who went on strike for a week last September will be retaken on May 1. Although the president’s request to support his plan for mass termination passed 5 to 2 the vote was ruled improper as having been held in executive session but not listed on the meeting’s agenda.

WE NOW KNOW IN ADVANCE! Help us prepare to act.

The public meeting will be held in the administrative tower, 11th Floor, May 1, at 7:30 pm, Nassau Community College, Garden City, NY 11530

If you wish to speak to the board at the meeting there is an audience microphone but you must list your name in advance by calling 516-572–7205 or emailing Acting President Kenneth Saunders at: Kenneth.Saunders@ncc.eduv

Minutes from the Executive Session of the NCC Board of Trustees Meeting of Board from March 18, 2014 on the mass adjunct firing are available at the university website. A vote will be taken at the May 1, 2014 meeting on the following resolution:

WHEREAS IN MARCH 18, 2014, A RESOLUTION WAS PASSED THAT THE BOARD GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO PUBLIC OFFICER LAW, SECTION 105, FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: 1) TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING INVOLVING THE NCCFT AND THE AFA; AND 2) TO DISCUSS MATTERS INVOLVING LITIGATION RELATING TO THE LABOR DISPUTE WITH THE AFA, AND

WHEREAS, ON THE SAME DATE, WHEN THE BOARD WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE COLLEGE’S ATTORNEYS RECOMMENDED THAT THE ACTING PRESIDENT TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS: (A) THE TERMINATION OF ADJUNCT EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS FOR SOME MEMBERS OF THE AFA WHO ENGAGED IN A STRIKE, AND (B)

THE SUSPENSION OF RELEASED TIME RIGHTS AND PAYMENTS FOR RELEASED TIME RIGHTS OF AFA OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES WHO CAUSED, ENGAGED IN OR ENCOURAGED SAID STRIKE, AND (C) THE SUSPENSION OF SENIORITY RIGHTS OF AFA MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN SAID STRIKE, AND

WHEREAS, THE ACTING COLLEGE PRESIDENT THEREUPON STATED THAT HE WOULD TAKE SUCH ACTIONS ONLY IF THERE WAS A CONSENSUS OF BOARD MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF HIS DOING SO, AND

WHEREAS, AT LEAST ONE TRUSTEE PROTESTED THAT THIS MATTER WAS NOT SPECIFIED IN THE MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND COULD BE DISCUSSED ONLY IN PUBLIC SESSION, AND

WHEREAS, THEREUPON AND NEVERTHELESS, EACH TRUSTEE WAS ASKED TO STATE SUPPORT OR NON-SUPPORT OF SUCH ACTIONS, RESULTING IN 5 IN FAVOR AND 2

OPPOSED, AND WHEREAS, THE BOARD’S CHAIR ANSWERED ONE TRUSTEE, WHO REMARKED THAT THE ITEM HAS FAILED BECAUSE IT LACKED 6 VOTES, BY PRONOUNCING THAT IT WAS NOT A VOTE, BUT A CONSENSUS IN FAVOR OF THE ACTIONS, AND

WHEREAS, DESPITE AT LEAST ONE TRUSTEE’S DEMAND THAT THE RESULT OF THE VOTE BE ANNOUNCED AT THE BOARD’S SUBSEQUENT OPEN MEETING, THE CHAIR REFUSED TO ALLOW SUCH PUBLIC NOTICE OF SAID ACTION, AND

WHEREAS, IT IS MORE FITTING AND PROPER THAT THE AFORESAID ISSUES BE DECIDED IN PUBLIC SESSION.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,

THAT THE ACTING PRESIDENT IS DIRECTED TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS: (A) TO TERMINATE ADJUNCT

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS FOR SOME MEMBERS OF THE AFA WHO ENGAGED IN A STRIKE, AND (B) SUSPEND RELEASED TIME RIGHTS AND PAYMENT FOR RELEASED TIME RIGHTS OF AFA OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES WHO CAUSED, ENGAGED IN OR ENCOURAGED SUCH STRIKE, AND (C) SUSPEND SENIORITY RIGHTS OF AFA MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN SUCH STRIKE

Adjunctsaurus is an opinion blog about college teaching from an adjunct’s perspective. The material is drawn from my experiences in the biology department at Nassau Community College, Garden City, NY. I hope the information and documents posted will serve as a resource for others in higher education seeking information about similar circumstances.