What Collective Bargaining Could Change
- A union contract would apply uniformly to every person in a bargaining unit.
- The university may be limited in its ability to negotiate individually or be flexible with faculty in the bargaining unit depending on the terms of the contract.
- Once a union election process begins and during collective bargaining, there are legal restrictions on the university’s ability to make changes to wages, benefits, or working conditions.
- There is no opting-out. Once voted in, the union contract would bind all faculty in the bargaining unit, regardless of whether they voted or how they voted.
Understanding the Current Landscape
For more than two decades, USC, in partnership with the Academic Senate and faculty committees, has developed a shared governance model that is both rare and reflective of our values.
- More than 15% of RTPC faculty serve in administrative roles across the institution and/or receive stipend pay or course relief for these duties.
- Every RTPC faculty member is eligible to serve on committees, as committee chairs, and in Academic Senate leadership.
- Four of the last six Academic Senate presidents have been RTPC faculty.
- Many RTPC faculty serve on their school’s executive faculty council.
Workplace protections are already in place for RTPC faculty that unions typically pursue on behalf of their members.
- RTPC instructional faculty contracts include multi-year appointments, clear workload expectations, and compensation for additional duties and summer courses.
- Full-time and part-time RTPC are all subject to impartial merit-review processes.
- Every full-time RTPC appointment and non-reappointment goes through a multi-level peer review process.
- These policies were created years before unionization was discussed because we believe in faculty shared governance and fair, equitable treatment.
RTPC faculty working 50% FTE or greater have access to the same health and retirement benefits as every other USC faculty and staff, including tenure-stream faculty and staff.
- This has been the standard here for some time.
We do these things because they are right and because we appreciate our faculty and all they do for the university and our students.
- The investments USC has made in faculty governance, compensation, and working conditions reflect our values.
- We will continue to make investments in these areas.
RTPC & Faculty Shared Governance Resources
Links to relevant resources on faculty governance at USC as well as existing policies on RTPC faculty rights and responsibilities.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions received from faculty on the topic of RTPC faculty unionization efforts and impacts.