NYC electeds back NYU faculty union with strike looming

More than 60 state and city elected officials sent a letter to top New York University leaders on Friday, urging them to avert a looming work stoppage by giving the union representing the institution’s contract faculty a “fair agreement.”

The letter, which was sent to NYU President Linda Mills, was organized by Democratic New York City Council Member Harvey Epstein. It comes several weeks after members of Contract Faculty United-United Auto Workers overwhelmingly voted to strike after nearly a year and a half of negotiations with university administrators over what would be a first contract. 

CFU-UAW Local 7902 represents around 950 full-time non-tenure-track professors – about half of NYU’s full-time faculty. Without a deal, members are slated to strike beginning March 23. 

 “A strike at NYU would seriously disrupt life for tens of thousands of New Yorkers who are students, employees, and members of the NYU community,” the letter reads. “We call on you to do everything in your power to return to the bargaining table and ensure a strike is averted and these workers receive the strong contract they deserve.”

Noting that full-time non-tenure professors make about 36% less than their tenured colleagues,  clinical associate professor Ger O’Donoghue said the union is seeking fair compensation, academic freedom and job security, faculty oversight over the use of artificial intelligence and greater support for faculty with families.

“We hope that elected officials will be persuasive in letting our administrators know that what we’re asking for is not unreasonable,” O’Donoghue said, adding that the union met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on St. Patrick's Day. “We’re really encouraged by the support we’ve had from public representatives and are hopeful they will remain visible and vocal in support of us if we have to go on a strike.”

Mamdani spoke at the union’s bargaining kickoff rally in 2024, but hasn’t publicly spoken in favor of the union as mayor.

Mills has said the salaries NYU is offering the union are among the highest in the nation and has called the union’s demands “excessive and dramatically out of step” with other contract faculty unions.