Announcement of tentative agreement with the union representing lecturers and professors of the practice in the arts

To: Members of the University Community

From: Daniel Diermeier, Provost and Jason Merchant, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Subject: Announcement of tentative agreement with the union representing lecturers and professors of the practice in the arts

Date: March 16, 2018

 

We are pleased today to announce a tentative agreement on a full contract that achieves well-considered changes in the employment conditions for lecturers and professors of the practice in the arts at the University of Chicago, reflecting their important contributions to the University’s distinctive educational experience.

 

Through two years of good faith negotiations, both the University and the bargaining unit represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 have demonstrated a strong commitment to the University’s academic values. The University negotiating team included professors, a senior lecturer, and staff members who worked tirelessly with the lecturers and professors of the practice in the arts in the union to find common ground to ensure that the University will continue to provide outstanding instruction and an educational experience for our students that is among the finest in the world.

 

The tentative agreement covers many areas of importance, including increased pay for part-time and full-time lecturers, expanded eligibility for medical benefits, a class-size cap of 15 students for language courses, a full-time promotion track, and greater reappointment security, along with other provisions. The tentative agreement is now subject to a ratification vote by the members of the union.

 

We are grateful for the goodwill that our colleagues have demonstrated throughout these talks. We also want to thank our faculty, students, staff, and alumni for their wide-ranging input and engagement throughout this process. This tentative agreement reflects the high aspirations of the University community, and our continuing dedication to outstanding education.