Dear all,
Although I wasn't on the original email list, I did come across this email
thread and wanted to provide my own personal experience.
While I deeply respect Bruce's opinion regarding potential unionization, I
am not sure I completely agree with his assessment of what the AAUP would do
to the Health Center. I was a member of the AAUP when I was on the faculty
in Storrs (1991-1999) and I found this membership to be nothing but a
positive experience. In fact, I honestly didn't even realize I was a member
of a union (nor did I really care since I was totally focused on getting NIH
grants and teaching) for the first five years I was in Storrs, but when I
wanted to come up for tenure one year early (based on my previous 3 1/2
years of equivalent rank at the Rockefeller University) and the
administration told me no way, I went to the AAUP and they took my case and
facilitated my request.
I think the time has come for faculty at UCHC to seriously consider the
AAUP.
DWR
From: Henry Kranzler [mailto:henry.kranzler@gmail.com]
ReplyDeleteSent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 9:15 PM
Subject: Re:
My experience speaks very differently about the AAUP. The last time that unionization was seriously considered by the UCHC faculty, a development that I supported, the AAUP deserted the effort midstream due to the expense of a sustained campaign. Although at that time the faculty had no real role in governance (which is why I supported the union effort), the situation is very different now. Faculty committees now have a voice in the governance of the Health Center, so I personally see no real value in a union. If I did, though, I would have no confidence that the AAUP will be there to support the effort. Although as Dan points out, AAUP may have a role to play at Storrs, the circumstances are very different at UCHC and that union (or any other, in my view) is unlikely to play a meaningful role in the governance of the Health Center. Bottom line (in my view): governance is a do-it-yourself process