A New York University faculty union went on strike Monday for raises and job security, while classes were scheduled to continue.
The strike impacts about half of NYU’s full-time faculty members, who are represented by Contract Faculty United-UAW. The professors, known as “contract faculty,” are not on a track to earn tenure.
In raw numbers, that’s nearly 1,000 NYU professors. It does not include full-time tenure-track faculty, adjunct faculty, or graduate student workers who are represented by other unions.
“We are fighting for stronger job security, support for our careers and families, reasonable workloads, full participation in governance and academic decision-making, academic freedom protections, and fair compensation that reflects our contributions and years of service to NYU,” CFU-UAW said in a Feb. 28 statement announcing their intent to strike.
In February, members voted 90% in favor of authorizing a strike, with 75% of the unit participating, according to the union.
The strike started at 11 a.m. Monday after a temporary extension. Faculty members picketed outside NYU’s Paulson Center in the Greenwich Village and expect to be on the picket line every day this week, according to a union schedule.
NYU spokesperson Wiley Norvell said the school administration had presented a “generous and comprehensive package,” including the highest minimum salaries of any unionized contract faculty in the country.
“We are committed to maintaining our students’ academic progress during this strike. Substitute instructors and/or alternative plans are in place for every section affected,” read the statement.