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icThe Ithaca College Contingent Faculty Bargaining Committee released a statement Monday after contract negotiations with tcollege administrators came to a close and a strike was cancelled.

"We're all very happy and excited that we came to such a terrific agreement," said SEIU Local 200United contingent faculty member Tom Schneller. "It really was a collective victory - this would never have happened without massive pressure from our SEIU Local 200United members, from our students, from our tenured and tenure-track colleagues, and from our Ithaca allies, especially Pete Meyers from the Tompkins County Workers' Center, as well as Cornell Graduate Students United. It was beautiful to witness this coming together of our community in support, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who made this possible. As we have learned from this process, anything is possible when we stop being afraid, reach out to others in sympathy and solidarity, and are tenacious in the pursuit of justice."

Organizers said a two day ratification vote will be announced after members review the negotiated contract.

"Today at negotiations we won on everything!," read the statement.  "A significant pay increase for PT faculty, more stable appointments for FT contingent faculty, and maintaining our voice as one faculty union.  We are very pleased to announce that on the eve of our strike, our administration met all our demands. We have tentatively agreed to a collective bargaining agreement that we are extremely proud of.  Let us be clear, none of this would have happened without the campus community coming together in overwhelming numbers and demanding justice for our profession, our students and our college."

According to union officials concessions by Ithaca College included:
  • An established path towards pay parity for PT faculty. PT faculty will receive immediate raises, as well as annual raises totaling $1,025/3 credit course over the life of our contract. We believe that because of our hard work the administration is committed to the concept of pay parity going forward.
  • More stability for FT contingent faculty. FT contingent faculty will be eligible for two year appointments after 3 years of teaching at IC and three year appointments after 5 years of teaching at IC.
  • More stability for PT contingent faculty. PT contingent faculty will be eligible for two year appointments after 3 years of teaching at IC. In addition, if classes are cut last minute, PT contingent faculty will receive a $1,300 kill fee per class canceled.
  • Earlier notice of appointment for FT and PT contingent faculty to plan our lives.
  • Guaranteed interview and consideration for minimally qualified FT and PT contingent faculty applying for any full-time faculty position.
  • Access to professional development funding
  • The right to be one faculty union
  • A grievance procedure as well as just cause provision so no one will be fired without just cause.
  • A labor management committee which will meet regularly to discuss contingent faculty concerns.
  • Contingent faculty will be eligible for the same teaching excellence awards as tenured and tenure track faculty.
  • Earlier fall semester pay day for part-time faculty.


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