A two-year-long battle waged by adjunct professors for unionization at American University in Washington, D.C., came to a victorious conclusion recently, with AU’s adjunct professors joining Service Employees Local 500. Despite opposition from the university administration, the adjunct professors, with support from students, carried out a campaign of rallies and marches that forced the administration to concede. In addition to the adjunct professors, in recent years AU has seen other labor struggles, as in 2007, when shuttle bus drivers successfully unionized.
Adjunct professors are often in a far more precarious position than other instructors, receiving few benefits, low pay and few protections against dismissal. According to a 2010 study published by the American Federation of Teachers, nearly half of all adjuncts make less than $15,000 annually, while most adjuncts say they would rather have a full-time position, but cannot find one.
The same study indicated that unionized education workers are more likely to have health insurance, better access to pension plans and better pay.
