Newsletter
November 28th, 2023
Keep scrolling to read about these important topics:
We need to ask: Have you signed your union membership card? If you haven’t done so, now is the time. Download the card here and email it to mail@actuaw.org and nyu@actuaw.org. (Note: Your N# can be found on the back of your NYU ID.) We need your participation to help ensure a strong union, and the payment of union dues or agency fees is a condition of continued employment at NYU.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES
TODAY! Tuesday, November 28, 5:00 - 6:30 pm
November Membership Meeting (Hybrid)
Meet in person at 7 East 12th Street, Room 1223 or online via this Zoom link.
This meeting will focus on the various ways rank and file members (all members who have signed a union card) can participate in the union and make our voices heard.
There will be a brief presentation. Please bring your questions, concerns, confusions, fears, and hopes!
Some questions that will be addressed:
Tuesday, December 6, 5:00 - 7:00 pm EST
Organizing Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Please join the NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee for our next meeting on Tuesday, December 6, from 7:00–8:30 pm on Zoom: Zoom link here.
The OC works to build community, solidarity, and collective power among adjuncts across the many schools of NYU. We welcome your energy, skills, and ideas, as we work together to make our union better.
Critical! Friday December 15, 2023
Reappointment Request Letter Due
Submit your reappointment request letter for academic year 2024-25 by the December 15, 2023 deadline if you are eligible for reappointment rights. If you are unsure if you qualify, then submit your request letter anyway.
You can submit your request letter now. So what are you waiting for? Send your reappointment request letter now by using this template.
Need guidance? Email us at nyu@actuaw.org.
ADJUNCT RETIREMENT PLAN WEBINAR FOLLOW-UP
On Friday November 17, TIAA hosted a webinar for NYU adjunct faculty. The purpose of the webinar was to help adjuncts learn how to maximize their retirement benefits as a NYU Adjunct Faculty Union Member. Among other things, TIAA representatives explained the changes brought about by the new contract, provided basic guidance on investment strategies, and offered insights on navigating the website. If you were unable to attend the webinar, you can access the recording here.
You will have to register before you can access the recording. However, once you do you will be able to watch it.
REPS’ CORNER
In each newsletter we answer common questions. In this issue we focus on submitting expense reports for reimbursement.
Q: I was granted a professional development or technology fund grant. When will I get the money?
A: Both the professional development and technology funds are based on reimbursements. Therefore, once you are approved, you must submit you supporting receipts to be reimbursed. Reimbursements go through a multi-step approval process. You should receive a separate check for the reimbursement within 45 days after the reimbursement is processed.
Q: How much time do I have to submit the expense report after making the expense?
A: Expense reports must be submitted within 45 days of the professional development activity or technology expense.
Q: I heard that there’s a new system for submitting expense reports. What is it?
A: At the end of October, NYU transitioned from using AP Workflow for expense reimbursements, to a new system called Concur. Moving forward, all expense reports should be submitted through Concur.
Q: Does the union or university offer any guidance for navigating Concur?
A: The Travel and Expense homepage contains various videos and guides about Concur. Within the site, there is a page dedicated to training and resources. Additionally, you can refer to this tip sheet for submitting expense reports to each approval.
LINKS TO FULL CONTRACT AND CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Link to our full contract and contract highlights, along with other important information, can always be found on our website actuaw.org.Finally, if you have important information you’d like to be included in next week’s newsletter, please send it to mail@actuaw.org by Friday at 9:00 am.
In solidarity,
- Sign your union card
- Upcoming events and important dates
- Adjunct Retirement Plan Webinar Follow-up
- Reps’ Corner: Submitting expense reports for reimbursement
- Links to full contract and contract highlights
We need to ask: Have you signed your union membership card? If you haven’t done so, now is the time. Download the card here and email it to mail@actuaw.org and nyu@actuaw.org. (Note: Your N# can be found on the back of your NYU ID.) We need your participation to help ensure a strong union, and the payment of union dues or agency fees is a condition of continued employment at NYU.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES
TODAY! Tuesday, November 28, 5:00 - 6:30 pm
November Membership Meeting (Hybrid)
Meet in person at 7 East 12th Street, Room 1223 or online via this Zoom link.
This meeting will focus on the various ways rank and file members (all members who have signed a union card) can participate in the union and make our voices heard.
There will be a brief presentation. Please bring your questions, concerns, confusions, fears, and hopes!
Some questions that will be addressed:
- Where do our union dues go? Who pays them? Who spends them?
- Union structure: Who gets paid and who volunteers? What is the difference between the way Reps get paid, vs paid organizers, vs the President and Financial Secretary? How do we pay the UAW International?
- What is a committee? Who are the volunteers?
- How are Joint Council members elected and who do they represent?
- How can I make a proposal as a rank and file member about something I think is important if it needs union dues?
- How can we get public records such as 990s and LM2s showing the information about the union?
- According to the constitution what are the roles of individual members, vs elected positions including Joint Council Members and Executive Board.
- What can we do better in the future?
- How does collective action impact our strength? And how can I get involved if I don’t have a lot of time but want to be supportive?
- Any questions about the Dec. 15 Request to Teach letter, Retirement funds, and other issues will also be addressed.
- And last but not least! How can I find out about the FIRST EVER open meeting of the Joint Council which is taking place on November 30, 2023 at 6 PM.
Tuesday, December 6, 5:00 - 7:00 pm EST
Organizing Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Please join the NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee for our next meeting on Tuesday, December 6, from 7:00–8:30 pm on Zoom: Zoom link here.
The OC works to build community, solidarity, and collective power among adjuncts across the many schools of NYU. We welcome your energy, skills, and ideas, as we work together to make our union better.
Critical! Friday December 15, 2023
Reappointment Request Letter Due
Submit your reappointment request letter for academic year 2024-25 by the December 15, 2023 deadline if you are eligible for reappointment rights. If you are unsure if you qualify, then submit your request letter anyway.
You can submit your request letter now. So what are you waiting for? Send your reappointment request letter now by using this template.
Need guidance? Email us at nyu@actuaw.org.
ADJUNCT RETIREMENT PLAN WEBINAR FOLLOW-UP
On Friday November 17, TIAA hosted a webinar for NYU adjunct faculty. The purpose of the webinar was to help adjuncts learn how to maximize their retirement benefits as a NYU Adjunct Faculty Union Member. Among other things, TIAA representatives explained the changes brought about by the new contract, provided basic guidance on investment strategies, and offered insights on navigating the website. If you were unable to attend the webinar, you can access the recording here.
You will have to register before you can access the recording. However, once you do you will be able to watch it.
REPS’ CORNER
In each newsletter we answer common questions. In this issue we focus on submitting expense reports for reimbursement.
Q: I was granted a professional development or technology fund grant. When will I get the money?
A: Both the professional development and technology funds are based on reimbursements. Therefore, once you are approved, you must submit you supporting receipts to be reimbursed. Reimbursements go through a multi-step approval process. You should receive a separate check for the reimbursement within 45 days after the reimbursement is processed.
Q: How much time do I have to submit the expense report after making the expense?
A: Expense reports must be submitted within 45 days of the professional development activity or technology expense.
Q: I heard that there’s a new system for submitting expense reports. What is it?
A: At the end of October, NYU transitioned from using AP Workflow for expense reimbursements, to a new system called Concur. Moving forward, all expense reports should be submitted through Concur.
Q: Does the union or university offer any guidance for navigating Concur?
A: The Travel and Expense homepage contains various videos and guides about Concur. Within the site, there is a page dedicated to training and resources. Additionally, you can refer to this tip sheet for submitting expense reports to each approval.
LINKS TO FULL CONTRACT AND CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Link to our full contract and contract highlights, along with other important information, can always be found on our website actuaw.org.Finally, if you have important information you’d like to be included in next week’s newsletter, please send it to mail@actuaw.org by Friday at 9:00 am.
In solidarity,
November 7, 2023
NYU ADJUNCTS UNION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Keep scrolling to read about these important topics:
SIGN YOUR UNION CARD
We need to ask: Have you signed your union membership card? If you haven’t done so, now is the time. Download the card here and email it to mail@actuaw.org. (Note: Your N# can be found on the back of your NYU ID.) We need your participation to help ensure a strong union, and the payment of union dues is a condition of continued employment at NYU.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES
November 8, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Organizing Committee Meeting
Please join the NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee for our next meeting, Wednesday, November 8, from 7:00pm - 8:30pm on Zoom. Zoom link.
We will be discussing the following topics:
Thursday, November 9, 1:00 pm EST
Work Life Conversation with Linda Mills
NYU is hosting a Work Life Conversation with NYU President Linda Mills. During this session, Mills “will share her vision for the future of work at NYU, driving organizational change, creating a more caring culture, building community, and cultivating work environments in which people can flourish.” Because our work as adjunct faculty is directly related to the subject of work-life and well-being, we hope that you attend to listen carefully to what Mills has to say and to speak up if you feel called to do so. The event is hybrid; you can RSVP to either join us in-person or remotely via Zoom.
Wednesday, November 15, 5:00 - 6:30 pm EST
Member Drop-In Session
The NYU adjuncts union is holding a Spring 2023 drop-in session for all new adjuncts. This is a drop-in session, online, for you to meet union reps and to ask questions about your benefits, your rights, and our new contract with NYU. All are welcome.
Click here to register and for the zoom link.
Friday, November 17, 12:00 - 1:00 pm EST
Adjunct Retirement Plan Webinar
TIAA will hold a webinar for members on our retirement plan. Among other things, TIAA representatives will explain the changes brought about by the new contract, provide basic guidance on investment strategies, and offer insights on navigating the website. To register for the webinar, click here. The session will be recorded for all those who cannot attend.
Friday, November 17, 5:00 - 7:00 pm EST
Organizing Committee Social
Please join the NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee on Friday, November 17 from 5pm - 7pm for our November social at Vol de Nuit, a bar near the Washington Square Park campus (148 West 4th Street, entrance inside the courtyard; there is no sign!).
Come grab a drink and get to know fellow adjuncts! Pizza will be provided (vegan option available), and you can purchase beer, wine, and soft drinks at the bar.
You’ll be able to meet colleagues, ask questions about our contract, bring up any concerns you have about your classes or reappointments, and learn how to get involved with our organizing efforts. New hires are especially welcome, and we will have union cards to sign if you are not yet a member.
RSVP here. If you can’t join us this time, but want more info about our Organizing Committee, please fill out the RSVP form and we will keep you posted about Zoom meetings and future gatherings.
We hope you will join us! Please pass the invitation along to your colleagues. Looking forward to seeing you there!
December 15, 2023
Reappointment Request Letter Due
Submit your reappointment request letter for academic year 2024-25 by the December 15, 2023 deadline if you are eligible for reappointment rights. Criteria for reappointment rights are explained in this week’s rep corner. If you are unsure if you qualify, then submit your request letter anyway.
You can submit your request letter now. So what are you waiting for? Send your reappointment request letter now by using this template.
REPS’ CORNER
In each newsletter we answer common questions. In this issue we focus on union eligibility and membership.
Q: Am I eligible to join the union?
A: If you are an adjunct or part-time faculty member who works more than 40 contact hours per academic year (September 1-August 31), or who does at least 75 contact hours of individual instruction or tutoring during a semester, you are required by NYU to pay dues to the union.
Q: What is a contact hour?
A: A contact hour is defined as 50 minutes of teaching in the classroom. So, if your class meets for 2.5 hours, that equates 3 contact hours per class, or 42 contact hours over the course of a 14-week semester. This one class would mean you must pay union dues.
Q: How much are union dues?
A: Dues are 1.44 percent of your gross pay, which works out to be approximately $14 per $1,000 that you earn. There is also a one-time $50 initiation fee. This is one of the lowest dues collection amounts of all unions. Dues are only collected when you are working. Additionally, annual raises won in every contract since 2002 have outpaced the individual dues rate.
Q: Am I a member of the union?
A: Union membership is not automatic. The easiest way to become a member of the union, and receive all the protections and benefits in our new contract, is to fill out and return a union membership card. Be sure to fill out the card in its entirety, which includes signing it twice. You can send it by mail or email to mail@actuaw.org.
Q: Do I need to fill out the membership card every year?
A: No. If you filled out the membership card and dues are deducted from your paycheck you do not have to do it again. You are a member of our union and protected under the contract.
MATCHING RETIREMENT BENEFITS
NYU matches up to 5% of your total elective retirement contribution from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024. These funds will be added to your TIAA CREF STDA annuity (retirement) account on or about December 1, 2024.
That means if you teach two 4 credit courses during academic year 2023 - 2024, with 42 contact hours each you would earn $21,527.15. If you contribute at least 5% of that (e.g., $1,076.36) to your retirement account during academic year 2023 - 2024, NYU will contribute 5%, automatically, and match the 5%. So NYU would add a total of $2,152.72 to your TIAA CREF STDA annuity (retirement) account on or about December 1, 2024.
Currently only 23% of adjunct faculty members contribute funds to their STDA accounts. This means that more than three out of four of you who are eligible for retirement matching contributions are leaving money on the table.
Don’t leave money on the table!
Learn more about the retirement benefits available to adjunct faculty by accessing NYU’s Retirement Plans webpage.
Contribute to the Supplemental Tax Deferred Annuity (STDA) Plan on a voluntary basis making contributions of your choice with each paycheck as you learn how to enroll and manage your account.
Be in direct contact with a TIAA Representative to learn more about how you can maximize the retirement benefits we won in our current contract.
Remember – To take full advantage of the new matching retirement benefits, you must contribute at least 5% of your gross compensation for the 2023-24 academic year to your STDA Plan. We recommend that if you have not contributed any money to your STDA Plan this academic year and you teach in the Winter 2024, Spring 2024, or Summer 2024 semester, you should contribute at least 10% so you can average at least 5% for the entire academic year.
LINKS TO FULL CONTRACT AND CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Link to our full contract and contract highlights, along with other important information, can always be found on our website actuaw.org. Finally, if you have important information you’d like to be included in next week’s newsletter, please send it to mail@actuaw.org by Friday at 9am.
In solidarity,
Your Rep Team,
Melisa Annis Robert Ausch Gerasimos Karavitis Colette Mazzucelli David Palmer Judy Polyné Caroline Werner
Keep scrolling to read about these important topics:
- Sign your union card
- Upcoming events and important dates
- Reps’ Corner: Union Eligibility and Membership
- Matching Retirement Benefits
- Links to full contract and contract highlights
SIGN YOUR UNION CARD
We need to ask: Have you signed your union membership card? If you haven’t done so, now is the time. Download the card here and email it to mail@actuaw.org. (Note: Your N# can be found on the back of your NYU ID.) We need your participation to help ensure a strong union, and the payment of union dues is a condition of continued employment at NYU.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES
November 8, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Organizing Committee Meeting
Please join the NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee for our next meeting, Wednesday, November 8, from 7:00pm - 8:30pm on Zoom. Zoom link.
We will be discussing the following topics:
- Card drive
- Making NYU a Union Campus
- Organizing goals
- Successes
Thursday, November 9, 1:00 pm EST
Work Life Conversation with Linda Mills
NYU is hosting a Work Life Conversation with NYU President Linda Mills. During this session, Mills “will share her vision for the future of work at NYU, driving organizational change, creating a more caring culture, building community, and cultivating work environments in which people can flourish.” Because our work as adjunct faculty is directly related to the subject of work-life and well-being, we hope that you attend to listen carefully to what Mills has to say and to speak up if you feel called to do so. The event is hybrid; you can RSVP to either join us in-person or remotely via Zoom.
Wednesday, November 15, 5:00 - 6:30 pm EST
Member Drop-In Session
The NYU adjuncts union is holding a Spring 2023 drop-in session for all new adjuncts. This is a drop-in session, online, for you to meet union reps and to ask questions about your benefits, your rights, and our new contract with NYU. All are welcome.
Click here to register and for the zoom link.
Friday, November 17, 12:00 - 1:00 pm EST
Adjunct Retirement Plan Webinar
TIAA will hold a webinar for members on our retirement plan. Among other things, TIAA representatives will explain the changes brought about by the new contract, provide basic guidance on investment strategies, and offer insights on navigating the website. To register for the webinar, click here. The session will be recorded for all those who cannot attend.
Friday, November 17, 5:00 - 7:00 pm EST
Organizing Committee Social
Please join the NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee on Friday, November 17 from 5pm - 7pm for our November social at Vol de Nuit, a bar near the Washington Square Park campus (148 West 4th Street, entrance inside the courtyard; there is no sign!).
Come grab a drink and get to know fellow adjuncts! Pizza will be provided (vegan option available), and you can purchase beer, wine, and soft drinks at the bar.
You’ll be able to meet colleagues, ask questions about our contract, bring up any concerns you have about your classes or reappointments, and learn how to get involved with our organizing efforts. New hires are especially welcome, and we will have union cards to sign if you are not yet a member.
RSVP here. If you can’t join us this time, but want more info about our Organizing Committee, please fill out the RSVP form and we will keep you posted about Zoom meetings and future gatherings.
We hope you will join us! Please pass the invitation along to your colleagues. Looking forward to seeing you there!
December 15, 2023
Reappointment Request Letter Due
Submit your reappointment request letter for academic year 2024-25 by the December 15, 2023 deadline if you are eligible for reappointment rights. Criteria for reappointment rights are explained in this week’s rep corner. If you are unsure if you qualify, then submit your request letter anyway.
You can submit your request letter now. So what are you waiting for? Send your reappointment request letter now by using this template.
REPS’ CORNER
In each newsletter we answer common questions. In this issue we focus on union eligibility and membership.
Q: Am I eligible to join the union?
A: If you are an adjunct or part-time faculty member who works more than 40 contact hours per academic year (September 1-August 31), or who does at least 75 contact hours of individual instruction or tutoring during a semester, you are required by NYU to pay dues to the union.
Q: What is a contact hour?
A: A contact hour is defined as 50 minutes of teaching in the classroom. So, if your class meets for 2.5 hours, that equates 3 contact hours per class, or 42 contact hours over the course of a 14-week semester. This one class would mean you must pay union dues.
Q: How much are union dues?
A: Dues are 1.44 percent of your gross pay, which works out to be approximately $14 per $1,000 that you earn. There is also a one-time $50 initiation fee. This is one of the lowest dues collection amounts of all unions. Dues are only collected when you are working. Additionally, annual raises won in every contract since 2002 have outpaced the individual dues rate.
Q: Am I a member of the union?
A: Union membership is not automatic. The easiest way to become a member of the union, and receive all the protections and benefits in our new contract, is to fill out and return a union membership card. Be sure to fill out the card in its entirety, which includes signing it twice. You can send it by mail or email to mail@actuaw.org.
Q: Do I need to fill out the membership card every year?
A: No. If you filled out the membership card and dues are deducted from your paycheck you do not have to do it again. You are a member of our union and protected under the contract.
MATCHING RETIREMENT BENEFITS
NYU matches up to 5% of your total elective retirement contribution from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024. These funds will be added to your TIAA CREF STDA annuity (retirement) account on or about December 1, 2024.
That means if you teach two 4 credit courses during academic year 2023 - 2024, with 42 contact hours each you would earn $21,527.15. If you contribute at least 5% of that (e.g., $1,076.36) to your retirement account during academic year 2023 - 2024, NYU will contribute 5%, automatically, and match the 5%. So NYU would add a total of $2,152.72 to your TIAA CREF STDA annuity (retirement) account on or about December 1, 2024.
Currently only 23% of adjunct faculty members contribute funds to their STDA accounts. This means that more than three out of four of you who are eligible for retirement matching contributions are leaving money on the table.
Don’t leave money on the table!
Learn more about the retirement benefits available to adjunct faculty by accessing NYU’s Retirement Plans webpage.
Contribute to the Supplemental Tax Deferred Annuity (STDA) Plan on a voluntary basis making contributions of your choice with each paycheck as you learn how to enroll and manage your account.
Be in direct contact with a TIAA Representative to learn more about how you can maximize the retirement benefits we won in our current contract.
Remember – To take full advantage of the new matching retirement benefits, you must contribute at least 5% of your gross compensation for the 2023-24 academic year to your STDA Plan. We recommend that if you have not contributed any money to your STDA Plan this academic year and you teach in the Winter 2024, Spring 2024, or Summer 2024 semester, you should contribute at least 10% so you can average at least 5% for the entire academic year.
LINKS TO FULL CONTRACT AND CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Link to our full contract and contract highlights, along with other important information, can always be found on our website actuaw.org. Finally, if you have important information you’d like to be included in next week’s newsletter, please send it to mail@actuaw.org by Friday at 9am.
In solidarity,
Your Rep Team,
Melisa Annis Robert Ausch Gerasimos Karavitis Colette Mazzucelli David Palmer Judy Polyné Caroline Werner
October 17, 2023
NYU ADJUNCTS UNION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Keep scrolling to read about these important topics:
SIGN YOUR UNION CARD
We need to ask: Have you signed your union membership card? If you haven’t done so, now is the time. Download the card here and email it to mail@actuaw.org. (Note: Your N# can be found on the back of your NYU ID.) We need your participation to help ensure a strong union, and the payment of union dues is a condition of continued employment at NYU.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, October 20, 2023, 5-7pm Organizing Committee Social
Please join the NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee on Friday, October 20th from 5pm - 7pm for our October social at Vol de Nuit, a bar near the Washington Square Park campus (148 West 4th Street). Come grab a drink and get to know fellow adjuncts from NYU! Pizza will be provided (vegan option available), and beer, wine, and soft drinks may be purchased at the bar.
At Vol de Nuit, you'll be able to ask questions about our new contract in an informal setting and find out how you can get involved with our organizing efforts. New hires are especially welcome, and we will have union cards to sign if you are not yet a member.
RSVP here. If you can’t join us this time, but want more info about our Organizing Committee, please fill out the RSVP form and we will keep you posted about Zoom meetings and future gatherings. We hope you will join us! Please pass the invitation along to your colleagues. Looking forward to seeing you there!
October 23 - November 6, 2023 Annual Enrollment for 2024 Benefits
Annual Enrollment for your 2024 benefits will be held Monday, October 23 through Monday, November 6, 2023. Please visit your 2024 Annual Enrollment page to review what's new in 2024 and take the time to familiarize yourself with the complete 2024 Benefits Guide.
Whether you would like to continue your NYU benefits or if you are enrolling for the first time, you must actively make an election during Annual Enrollment. Unless you experience a qualifying life event, Annual Enrollment is your only opportunity to elect benefits that become effective January 1, 2024.
Tuesday, October 24 (Manhattan) and Thursday, October 26 (Brooklyn)
Benefits Fairs
You are invited to attend an upcoming NYU Benefits Fair on October 24 (Washington Square) or October 26 (Brooklyn). Representatives from NYU and our benefits providers will be available to meet you and answer your questions. More information about time and location forthcoming.
SUMMER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE PAYMENT
Did you teach one or more courses this summer at NYU? If so, then you should have received administrative service payment in a paycheck dated for October 6, 2023.
Email us at nyu@actuaw.org if you’re eligible and did not get paid yet. In your email, let us know which course(s) you taught and how much gross compensation you’re owed. Please also indicate the school and department where you teach.
Administrative service payment is per course section, per semester at the following rates:
Don’t leave money on the table that belongs to you. Email us now if you’re eligible and didn’t get paid.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: PROTECTED SPEECH
Protecting academic freedom is vital to education and the pursuit of social justice and equity. The union will vigorously defend your rights to free speech, particularly during times like now of heightened political stress.
To protect yourself and your colleagues, it’s critical to understand the limits of political speech in the classroom for adjunct faculty, as described in our contract.
The current contract recognizes the centrality of academic freedom in the sphere of higher education. It describes academic freedom as “essential to the free search for truth” and “fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching and of the student in learning” (Article VII.A).
However, like many current contracts it introduces some limits. In order to be protected it must be “material relevant to a course, with the established curriculum parameters” and should not be “controversial matter that has no relation to their subject.” Given their professional status in the community when speaking as a teacher they should “at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinion of others and for the established policy of their institution” (Article VII.C).
Finally, Article VII.D commits the administration to not employ the disciplinary procedures of Article XVII when faculty exercise their right to academic freedom. Article XVII involves discipline or discharge for just cause.
However, there have been cases in recent years where universities have disciplined or terminated faculty for speech in the classroom and the boundary between what is and what is not relevant to a course is not best determined by administrators or even students. While the union encourages adjunct faculty to be sensitive to the feelings and points of view of their students and the NYU community at large, we also stand ready to defend faculty’s right, as professionals, to determine the parameters of their courses as well as what types of speech are appropriate within the confines of the classroom.
REPS’ CORNER
In each newsletter we answer common questions. In this issue we focus on health insurance.
Q: Am I eligible for health insurance?
A: In most cases, yes: Access to NYU health insurance is a union-won benefit. After working at NYU for one year, adjuncts may apply annually for health insurance through the university's United Healthcare plans.
Q: When can I sign up for health insurance?
A: The sign-up window will be open from October 23 - November 6. Both the union and the university will send reminders via email. Coverage begins on January 1, 2024. Payments are not automatically deducted from your paycheck.
Q: How much will I pay for health insurance?
A: The amount you pay for health insurance is directly related to how many contact hours you taught in the previous academic year. That means NYU will subsidize your insurance based on your record for academic year 2022-23: fall 2022, January 2023, spring 2023, and summer 2023.
Although we do not know the exact rates for next year, our contract lays out the subsidies. If you taught at least 126 contact hours, your subsidy will be 80 percent. Based on the 2023 rate, that should bring costs for an individual plan to about $200 a month, roughly. If you taught between 56 and 125 contact hours, your subsidy would be 60 percent, or roughly $400 a month. If you taught between 40-55 contact hours, your subsidy would be 50 percent, or roughly $500 a month. Again, these estimates are based on 2023 premiums for individual coverage.
The union also won much stronger coverage for families and children. We will dedicate a future Reps Corner in this newsletter to family coverage, but for now, these subsidies also vary based on your total number of contact hours. Please refer to our contract (page 92) for more details.
Q: If I sign up for health insurance, will I only be covered while I am teaching?
A: No. NYU’s coverage continues all year (January 1 - December 31), whether or not you are teaching for a semester or two, however, remember that taking a semester off might affect your subsidy level in the following year.
Q: Is October the only time I can apply for health insurance?
A: Generally, there is only one time a year when you can sign up for NYU insurance, and that is in October during open enrollment. This coverage will start on January 1. However, there is a thing called a "qualifying life event," and if you qualify, you may be allowed to switch over earlier.
NYU maintains an official list of qualifying life events, but the most common are marriage, retirement, losing a job where you had health insurance, breaking up with a partner who provided you coverage, or disability. Birth or adoption of a child also qualifies as a life event.
LINKS TO FULL CONTRACT AND CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Links to our full contract and contract highlights, along with other important information can always be found on our website, actuaw.org. Finally, if you have important information you’d like to be included in next week’s newsletter, please send it to mail@actuaw.org by Friday at 9am.
Until next week and in solidarity,
Your rep team
Keep scrolling to read about these important topics:
- Sign your union card
- Upcoming events and important dates
- Summer Administrative Service Payment
- Know Your Rights: Protected Speech
- Reps’ Corner: Health Insurance
- Links to full contract and contract highlights
SIGN YOUR UNION CARD
We need to ask: Have you signed your union membership card? If you haven’t done so, now is the time. Download the card here and email it to mail@actuaw.org. (Note: Your N# can be found on the back of your NYU ID.) We need your participation to help ensure a strong union, and the payment of union dues is a condition of continued employment at NYU.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, October 20, 2023, 5-7pm Organizing Committee Social
Please join the NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee on Friday, October 20th from 5pm - 7pm for our October social at Vol de Nuit, a bar near the Washington Square Park campus (148 West 4th Street). Come grab a drink and get to know fellow adjuncts from NYU! Pizza will be provided (vegan option available), and beer, wine, and soft drinks may be purchased at the bar.
At Vol de Nuit, you'll be able to ask questions about our new contract in an informal setting and find out how you can get involved with our organizing efforts. New hires are especially welcome, and we will have union cards to sign if you are not yet a member.
RSVP here. If you can’t join us this time, but want more info about our Organizing Committee, please fill out the RSVP form and we will keep you posted about Zoom meetings and future gatherings. We hope you will join us! Please pass the invitation along to your colleagues. Looking forward to seeing you there!
October 23 - November 6, 2023 Annual Enrollment for 2024 Benefits
Annual Enrollment for your 2024 benefits will be held Monday, October 23 through Monday, November 6, 2023. Please visit your 2024 Annual Enrollment page to review what's new in 2024 and take the time to familiarize yourself with the complete 2024 Benefits Guide.
Whether you would like to continue your NYU benefits or if you are enrolling for the first time, you must actively make an election during Annual Enrollment. Unless you experience a qualifying life event, Annual Enrollment is your only opportunity to elect benefits that become effective January 1, 2024.
Tuesday, October 24 (Manhattan) and Thursday, October 26 (Brooklyn)
Benefits Fairs
You are invited to attend an upcoming NYU Benefits Fair on October 24 (Washington Square) or October 26 (Brooklyn). Representatives from NYU and our benefits providers will be available to meet you and answer your questions. More information about time and location forthcoming.
SUMMER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE PAYMENT
Did you teach one or more courses this summer at NYU? If so, then you should have received administrative service payment in a paycheck dated for October 6, 2023.
Email us at nyu@actuaw.org if you’re eligible and did not get paid yet. In your email, let us know which course(s) you taught and how much gross compensation you’re owed. Please also indicate the school and department where you teach.
Administrative service payment is per course section, per semester at the following rates:
- For a non-credit, zero credit, one credit, or two credit course - $1,000;
- For a three credit course - $1,500;
- For a four credit course - $2,000.
Don’t leave money on the table that belongs to you. Email us now if you’re eligible and didn’t get paid.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: PROTECTED SPEECH
Protecting academic freedom is vital to education and the pursuit of social justice and equity. The union will vigorously defend your rights to free speech, particularly during times like now of heightened political stress.
To protect yourself and your colleagues, it’s critical to understand the limits of political speech in the classroom for adjunct faculty, as described in our contract.
The current contract recognizes the centrality of academic freedom in the sphere of higher education. It describes academic freedom as “essential to the free search for truth” and “fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching and of the student in learning” (Article VII.A).
However, like many current contracts it introduces some limits. In order to be protected it must be “material relevant to a course, with the established curriculum parameters” and should not be “controversial matter that has no relation to their subject.” Given their professional status in the community when speaking as a teacher they should “at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinion of others and for the established policy of their institution” (Article VII.C).
Finally, Article VII.D commits the administration to not employ the disciplinary procedures of Article XVII when faculty exercise their right to academic freedom. Article XVII involves discipline or discharge for just cause.
However, there have been cases in recent years where universities have disciplined or terminated faculty for speech in the classroom and the boundary between what is and what is not relevant to a course is not best determined by administrators or even students. While the union encourages adjunct faculty to be sensitive to the feelings and points of view of their students and the NYU community at large, we also stand ready to defend faculty’s right, as professionals, to determine the parameters of their courses as well as what types of speech are appropriate within the confines of the classroom.
REPS’ CORNER
In each newsletter we answer common questions. In this issue we focus on health insurance.
Q: Am I eligible for health insurance?
A: In most cases, yes: Access to NYU health insurance is a union-won benefit. After working at NYU for one year, adjuncts may apply annually for health insurance through the university's United Healthcare plans.
Q: When can I sign up for health insurance?
A: The sign-up window will be open from October 23 - November 6. Both the union and the university will send reminders via email. Coverage begins on January 1, 2024. Payments are not automatically deducted from your paycheck.
Q: How much will I pay for health insurance?
A: The amount you pay for health insurance is directly related to how many contact hours you taught in the previous academic year. That means NYU will subsidize your insurance based on your record for academic year 2022-23: fall 2022, January 2023, spring 2023, and summer 2023.
Although we do not know the exact rates for next year, our contract lays out the subsidies. If you taught at least 126 contact hours, your subsidy will be 80 percent. Based on the 2023 rate, that should bring costs for an individual plan to about $200 a month, roughly. If you taught between 56 and 125 contact hours, your subsidy would be 60 percent, or roughly $400 a month. If you taught between 40-55 contact hours, your subsidy would be 50 percent, or roughly $500 a month. Again, these estimates are based on 2023 premiums for individual coverage.
The union also won much stronger coverage for families and children. We will dedicate a future Reps Corner in this newsletter to family coverage, but for now, these subsidies also vary based on your total number of contact hours. Please refer to our contract (page 92) for more details.
Q: If I sign up for health insurance, will I only be covered while I am teaching?
A: No. NYU’s coverage continues all year (January 1 - December 31), whether or not you are teaching for a semester or two, however, remember that taking a semester off might affect your subsidy level in the following year.
Q: Is October the only time I can apply for health insurance?
A: Generally, there is only one time a year when you can sign up for NYU insurance, and that is in October during open enrollment. This coverage will start on January 1. However, there is a thing called a "qualifying life event," and if you qualify, you may be allowed to switch over earlier.
NYU maintains an official list of qualifying life events, but the most common are marriage, retirement, losing a job where you had health insurance, breaking up with a partner who provided you coverage, or disability. Birth or adoption of a child also qualifies as a life event.
LINKS TO FULL CONTRACT AND CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Links to our full contract and contract highlights, along with other important information can always be found on our website, actuaw.org. Finally, if you have important information you’d like to be included in next week’s newsletter, please send it to mail@actuaw.org by Friday at 9am.
Until next week and in solidarity,
Your rep team
September 26, 2023
NYU ADJUNCTS UNION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Welcome back! We hope your semester is off to a great start! We are resuming our weekly newsletter. Our goal is to regularly provide our members a succinct and dependable source of information.
Keep scrolling to read about these important topics:
We need to ask: Have you signed your union membership card? If you haven’t done so, now is the time. Download the card here and email it to mail@actuaw.org. (Note: Your N# can be found on the back of your NYU ID.) We need your participation to help ensure a strong union.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday, September 26, 6 - 7:30pm
Fall Orientation Session for All New Adjuncts
The NYU adjuncts union is holding a fall 2023 orientation session for all new adjuncts. This is a drop-in session, online, for you to meet union reps and to ask questions about your benefits, your rights, and our new contract with NYU. You can register for the Zoom meeting here. All are welcome.
Thursday September 28, 6:30 - 8pm
September Membership Meeting (Zoom)
The September membership meeting will focus on collective action following the publication of the collective action letter. As of September 20th there were over 1,850 signatures on the letter, which was delivered to NYU President Linda Mills. If you haven’t already signed the letter, please do so here.
October 6, 2023
Summer 2023 Administrative Pay
NYU has told us that the Summer 2023 administrative pay will arrive in an off-cycle paycheck on October 6, as a one-time payment. Payments are $2,000 for a 4-credit course; $1,500 for a 3-credit course; $1,000 for 2-credit, 1-credit, 0-credit, or non-credit courses.
REPS’ CORNER
In each newsletter we answer common questions. In this issue we focus on the technology fund.
Q: I’ve been seeing communication about a technology fund. What is it exactly?
A: The technology fund is a new union-won benefit. In a side letter to our new contract, NYU set aside $100,000 each academic year for the purchase of teaching-related technological equipment. If you need new technology for your class or even if you are just looking to upgrade, you should definitely apply!
Q: What is the maximum amount I can request?
A: Adjunct faculty may apply for up to $500 for reimbursement for approved purchases. This could be something like a computer, a recording device, a webcam, or a tablet.
Q: How can I apply for technology funds?
A: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. They are subject to review and approval from the university. You can find a description and an application form here. Please send your applications to mail@actuaw.organd cc nyu@actuaw.org in your email.
Q: What should I include in my application?
A: Please include the following:
ADJUNCT NEWS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
In this section we highlight recent adjunct news and achievements. If you have something that you would like to share in next week’s newsletter, please send it to mail@actuaw.org by Friday at 9am.
ADJUNCT UNION REPRESENTATIVES
Our union has seven adjunct representatives, or reps. Reps are here to answer questions and to help if you have problems with your department or want to alert us about something that seems off. If you have any questions or concerns about the contract or a complaint about your working conditions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at nyu@actuaw.org. By advocating for yourself, you are enforcing the contract for all union members.
David Palmer, NYU Unit Chair (Arts & Sciences)
Caroline Werner (Silver)
Colette Mazzucelli (Arts & Sciences; SPS)
Gerasimos Karavitis (Arts & Sciences)
Judy Polyne (Wagner)
Mêlisa Annis (Tisch)
Robert Ausch (SPS, Steinhardt)
LINKS TO FULL CONTRACT AND CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Links to our full contract and contract highlights, along with other important information can always be found on our website, actuaw.org. Finally, if you have important information you’d like to be included in next week’s newsletter, please send it to mail@actuaw.org by Friday at 9am.
Until next week and in solidarity,
Your adjunct rep team
Welcome back! We hope your semester is off to a great start! We are resuming our weekly newsletter. Our goal is to regularly provide our members a succinct and dependable source of information.
Keep scrolling to read about these important topics:
- Sign your union card
- Upcoming events and important dates
- Reps’ Corner: Technology Fund
- Adjunct union representatives
- Links to full contract and contract highlights
We need to ask: Have you signed your union membership card? If you haven’t done so, now is the time. Download the card here and email it to mail@actuaw.org. (Note: Your N# can be found on the back of your NYU ID.) We need your participation to help ensure a strong union.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday, September 26, 6 - 7:30pm
Fall Orientation Session for All New Adjuncts
The NYU adjuncts union is holding a fall 2023 orientation session for all new adjuncts. This is a drop-in session, online, for you to meet union reps and to ask questions about your benefits, your rights, and our new contract with NYU. You can register for the Zoom meeting here. All are welcome.
Thursday September 28, 6:30 - 8pm
September Membership Meeting (Zoom)
The September membership meeting will focus on collective action following the publication of the collective action letter. As of September 20th there were over 1,850 signatures on the letter, which was delivered to NYU President Linda Mills. If you haven’t already signed the letter, please do so here.
October 6, 2023
Summer 2023 Administrative Pay
NYU has told us that the Summer 2023 administrative pay will arrive in an off-cycle paycheck on October 6, as a one-time payment. Payments are $2,000 for a 4-credit course; $1,500 for a 3-credit course; $1,000 for 2-credit, 1-credit, 0-credit, or non-credit courses.
REPS’ CORNER
In each newsletter we answer common questions. In this issue we focus on the technology fund.
Q: I’ve been seeing communication about a technology fund. What is it exactly?
A: The technology fund is a new union-won benefit. In a side letter to our new contract, NYU set aside $100,000 each academic year for the purchase of teaching-related technological equipment. If you need new technology for your class or even if you are just looking to upgrade, you should definitely apply!
Q: What is the maximum amount I can request?
A: Adjunct faculty may apply for up to $500 for reimbursement for approved purchases. This could be something like a computer, a recording device, a webcam, or a tablet.
Q: How can I apply for technology funds?
A: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. They are subject to review and approval from the university. You can find a description and an application form here. Please send your applications to mail@actuaw.organd cc nyu@actuaw.org in your email.
Q: What should I include in my application?
A: Please include the following:
- In the subject line, write “Tech Fund Application” followed by your last name and first name.
- In explaining how the technology is teaching-related on the application form, relate it as closely as possible to your NYU appointment(s).
- Remember to sign your application document in the appropriate spot.
ADJUNCT NEWS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
In this section we highlight recent adjunct news and achievements. If you have something that you would like to share in next week’s newsletter, please send it to mail@actuaw.org by Friday at 9am.
ADJUNCT UNION REPRESENTATIVES
Our union has seven adjunct representatives, or reps. Reps are here to answer questions and to help if you have problems with your department or want to alert us about something that seems off. If you have any questions or concerns about the contract or a complaint about your working conditions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at nyu@actuaw.org. By advocating for yourself, you are enforcing the contract for all union members.
David Palmer, NYU Unit Chair (Arts & Sciences)
Caroline Werner (Silver)
Colette Mazzucelli (Arts & Sciences; SPS)
Gerasimos Karavitis (Arts & Sciences)
Judy Polyne (Wagner)
Mêlisa Annis (Tisch)
Robert Ausch (SPS, Steinhardt)
LINKS TO FULL CONTRACT AND CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Links to our full contract and contract highlights, along with other important information can always be found on our website, actuaw.org. Finally, if you have important information you’d like to be included in next week’s newsletter, please send it to mail@actuaw.org by Friday at 9am.
Until next week and in solidarity,
Your adjunct rep team
September 20th, 2023
This morning, I emailed NYU President Linda Mills a collective letter signed by more than 1,850 members of the higher education and labor communities, including over 1,400 people from the NYU community — both full-time and adjunct faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and alumni, among others. The letter and signatures have been published in The Washington Square News as part of an article about the cancelling of courses taught by NYU adjuncts.
The letter is a collective call for NYU to be a fairer and more just employer.
This entails:
Now that the letter is public, here are six things you can do to help build momentum:
In solidarity and with gratitude,
David Palmer, NYU Unit Chair, on behalf of members like you who volunteered their time to assemble the collective action letter, gather signatures, organize, and make our union stronger!
The letter is a collective call for NYU to be a fairer and more just employer.
This entails:
- An end to the arbitrary cancelling of courses taught by adjuncts;
- Clear and prompt communications about the terms of adjunct employment;
- An end to the weaponizing of curriculum change, insufficient enrollment, and other means of cancelling courses without pay.
Now that the letter is public, here are six things you can do to help build momentum:
- Sign the collective action letter if you have yet to do so;
- Persuade your colleagues to sign the letter too so we can reach 2,500 signatures by the end of September;
- Share the collective action letter on social media using the hashtags #honorourcontract #nyuowesadjuncts #nyuadjunctpower #adjunctlife #NYU #union #solidarity and tag our Local Instagram @act_uaw7902 and on ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) @UAW7902;
- Email NYU union reps at nyu@actuaw.org to alert us when something seems unjust or off in your department;
- Come grab a drink and meet up with fellow NYU adjuncts at the Organizing Committee Social this Friday, September 22 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Vol de Nuit, a bar near the Washington Square Park campus (148 West 4th Street). RSVP here. Pizza will be provided, and a vegan option will be available.
- Attend our next monthly membership meeting to discuss next steps on Thursday, September 28, 6:30-8:00 pm – Discuss Ideas Collective Action Following Publication of the Collective Action Letter (Zoom link here).
In solidarity and with gratitude,
David Palmer, NYU Unit Chair, on behalf of members like you who volunteered their time to assemble the collective action letter, gather signatures, organize, and make our union stronger!
September 18, 2023
We hope your Fall 2023 semester is off to a great start! Please join the NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee on Friday, September 22nd from 5pm - 7pm for our first social of the semester at Vol de Nuit, a bar near the Washington Square Park campus (148 West 4th Street). Come grab a drink and get to know fellow adjuncts from NYU! Pizza will be provided (vegan option available), and beer, wine, and soft drinks may be purchased at the bar.
At Vol de Nuit, you'll be able to ask questions about our new contract in an informal setting and find out how you can get involved with our organizing efforts. New hires are especially welcome, and we will have union cards to sign if you are not yet a member.
RSVP here. If you can’t join us this time, but want more info about our Organizing Committee, please fill out the RSVP form and we will keep you posted about Zoom meetings and future gatherings.
We hope you will join us! Please pass the invitation along to your colleagues. Looking forward to seeing you there!
In Solidarity,
The NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee
At Vol de Nuit, you'll be able to ask questions about our new contract in an informal setting and find out how you can get involved with our organizing efforts. New hires are especially welcome, and we will have union cards to sign if you are not yet a member.
RSVP here. If you can’t join us this time, but want more info about our Organizing Committee, please fill out the RSVP form and we will keep you posted about Zoom meetings and future gatherings.
We hope you will join us! Please pass the invitation along to your colleagues. Looking forward to seeing you there!
In Solidarity,
The NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee
September 13, 2023
Please read the following note carefully. You might lose out on employer contributions if you do not set your own retirement contributions in accordance with the new plan.
As a result of the new contract, the structure of our retirement plan has changed.
Eligible adjuncts have been able to participate in a retirement plan offered through the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA). Up until now, NYU has made a “non-elective” contribution to a participating adjunct’s retirement account every December. This contribution has amounted to 6% of the compensation that the adjunct received in the previous academic year. December 2023 will be the last time that NYU makes this 6% contribution.
Starting with the current academic year, there is a new plan in place. NYU will now make both a “non-elective” contribution and a “matching” contribution to a participating adjunct’s retirement account. It will contribute: (a) an amount equal to 5% of the adjunct’s compensation from the previous academic year plus (b) an amount that matches the adjunct’s own contributions up to 5% of the adjunct’s compensation from the previous academic year. (See examples 1-3 below.)
NYU’s first contribution under the new plan will be made on or around December 1, 2024. The individual contributions an adjunct makes during the 2023-2024 academic year will determine the university’s first contribution under the new plan.
Please note: The new plan will not work optimally for you unless your own contributions are greater than or equal to 5% of your compensation for the year. (See example 4 below.)
An adjunct is eligible to participate in the new retirement plan if they have taught a minimum of:
Examples:
Example 1:
Suppose an adjunct’s total compensation for Academic Year 2023-2024 equals $40,000. Suppose also that the adjunct contributes $1,000 in that year to their retirement plan. NYU will contribute (a) 5% of the $40,000 (or $2,000) plus (b) another $1,000 - that is, an amount which matches the adjunct's own contribution fully even though it remains below the 5% limit associated with NYU’s “matching” contribution.
Example 2:
Suppose an adjunct’s total compensation for Academic Year 2023-2024 equals $40,000. Suppose also that the adjunct contributes $3,000 in that year to their retirement plan. NYU will contribute (a) 5% of the $40,000 (or $2,000) plus (b) another $2,000 – that is, an amount which does not match the adjunct’s own contribution fully but does so up to 5% of the adjunct’s total compensation for the previous academic year.
Example 3:
Suppose an adjunct’s total compensation for Academic Year 2022-2023 equals $30,000 and their total compensation for Academic Year 2023-2024 equals $40,000. Suppose also that in Academic Year 2023-2024 the adjunct’s own retirement contributions equal $6,000. In December 2023, the adjunct can expect to receive a “non-elective” contribution amounting to 6% of $30,000 (or $1,800). In December 2024, the adjunct can expect to receive (a) a “non-elective” contribution equal to 5% of the $40,000 (or $2,000) plus (b) NYU’s “matching” contribution of up to 5% of the adjunct’s total compensation for the previous academic year (or $2,000).
Example 4:
Suppose an adjunct earned $40,000 in Academic Year 2022-2023 and contributed $0 of their own to their retirement account. In December 2023, NYU’s contribution would equal 6% of that $40,000 (or $2,400). Now, suppose the same adjunct earns $40,000 in Academic Year 2023-2024 and, once again, contributes $0 of their own to their retirement account. In December 2024, NYU’s contribution would equal (a) 5% of the $40,000 (or $2000) plus (b) $0 dollars as a “matching” contribution. Thus, the total contribution from NYU under the new plan would equal $2,000 in total, or $400 less than what the adjunct would have received from NYU under the previous plan.
But if, in Academic Year 2023-2024, the same adjunct made contributions amounting to, say, 2.5% of their total compensation (or $1000), NYU’s “matching” contribution would then be $1,000, and the university’s total contribution to the adjunct’s retirement account would equal $3,000. In this case, the adjunct would be receiving more in employer contributions than what they would have received under the previous plan. Yet they would still not be making optimal use of the new plan because it is only if their own contributions amounted to 5% or more of their total compensation that NYU would make its maximum “matching” contribution.
In solidarity,
Melisa Annis, Robert Ausch, Gerasimos Karavitis, Colette Mazzucelli, David Palmer, and Judy Polyne (NYU Reps)
As a result of the new contract, the structure of our retirement plan has changed.
Eligible adjuncts have been able to participate in a retirement plan offered through the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA). Up until now, NYU has made a “non-elective” contribution to a participating adjunct’s retirement account every December. This contribution has amounted to 6% of the compensation that the adjunct received in the previous academic year. December 2023 will be the last time that NYU makes this 6% contribution.
Starting with the current academic year, there is a new plan in place. NYU will now make both a “non-elective” contribution and a “matching” contribution to a participating adjunct’s retirement account. It will contribute: (a) an amount equal to 5% of the adjunct’s compensation from the previous academic year plus (b) an amount that matches the adjunct’s own contributions up to 5% of the adjunct’s compensation from the previous academic year. (See examples 1-3 below.)
NYU’s first contribution under the new plan will be made on or around December 1, 2024. The individual contributions an adjunct makes during the 2023-2024 academic year will determine the university’s first contribution under the new plan.
Please note: The new plan will not work optimally for you unless your own contributions are greater than or equal to 5% of your compensation for the year. (See example 4 below.)
An adjunct is eligible to participate in the new retirement plan if they have taught a minimum of:
- 40 contact hours in each of the three previous academic years or 75 hours of individual instruction or tutoring in a semester during each of the three previous academic years.
- 126 contact hours in the two previous academic years or 150 hours of individual instruction or tutoring during the two previous academic years (with a minimum of 75 hours of individual instruction or tutoring in one semester during each of the previous two years)
- 126 contact hours in the previous academic year or 225 hours of individual instruction or tutoring during the previous academic year (with a minimum of 75 hours of individual instruction or tutoring in at least one semester). But for an adjunct to qualify in this way, they must teach a minimum of 168 contact hours of instruction in their first academic year of employment with the university.
Examples:
Example 1:
Suppose an adjunct’s total compensation for Academic Year 2023-2024 equals $40,000. Suppose also that the adjunct contributes $1,000 in that year to their retirement plan. NYU will contribute (a) 5% of the $40,000 (or $2,000) plus (b) another $1,000 - that is, an amount which matches the adjunct's own contribution fully even though it remains below the 5% limit associated with NYU’s “matching” contribution.
Example 2:
Suppose an adjunct’s total compensation for Academic Year 2023-2024 equals $40,000. Suppose also that the adjunct contributes $3,000 in that year to their retirement plan. NYU will contribute (a) 5% of the $40,000 (or $2,000) plus (b) another $2,000 – that is, an amount which does not match the adjunct’s own contribution fully but does so up to 5% of the adjunct’s total compensation for the previous academic year.
Example 3:
Suppose an adjunct’s total compensation for Academic Year 2022-2023 equals $30,000 and their total compensation for Academic Year 2023-2024 equals $40,000. Suppose also that in Academic Year 2023-2024 the adjunct’s own retirement contributions equal $6,000. In December 2023, the adjunct can expect to receive a “non-elective” contribution amounting to 6% of $30,000 (or $1,800). In December 2024, the adjunct can expect to receive (a) a “non-elective” contribution equal to 5% of the $40,000 (or $2,000) plus (b) NYU’s “matching” contribution of up to 5% of the adjunct’s total compensation for the previous academic year (or $2,000).
Example 4:
Suppose an adjunct earned $40,000 in Academic Year 2022-2023 and contributed $0 of their own to their retirement account. In December 2023, NYU’s contribution would equal 6% of that $40,000 (or $2,400). Now, suppose the same adjunct earns $40,000 in Academic Year 2023-2024 and, once again, contributes $0 of their own to their retirement account. In December 2024, NYU’s contribution would equal (a) 5% of the $40,000 (or $2000) plus (b) $0 dollars as a “matching” contribution. Thus, the total contribution from NYU under the new plan would equal $2,000 in total, or $400 less than what the adjunct would have received from NYU under the previous plan.
But if, in Academic Year 2023-2024, the same adjunct made contributions amounting to, say, 2.5% of their total compensation (or $1000), NYU’s “matching” contribution would then be $1,000, and the university’s total contribution to the adjunct’s retirement account would equal $3,000. In this case, the adjunct would be receiving more in employer contributions than what they would have received under the previous plan. Yet they would still not be making optimal use of the new plan because it is only if their own contributions amounted to 5% or more of their total compensation that NYU would make its maximum “matching” contribution.
In solidarity,
Melisa Annis, Robert Ausch, Gerasimos Karavitis, Colette Mazzucelli, David Palmer, and Judy Polyne (NYU Reps)
September 8th, 2023
The summer had its challenges. Dozens of adjuncts lost their teaching assignments. Some received payouts for these cancellations. Others didn’t. Our union has fought and will continue to fight to protect our jobs and to support our members to the fullest extent possible. But, it's been said before and it bears repeating: you, we, all of us are the union. What we have is one other. Our power is in our solidarity, our willingness to stand up for and with one another. So we'd like to begin this academic year with an appeal to be ready to show up in solidarity with your fellow adjunct workers. To protect all of our members, we have to go to the wall for each and every one.
Amid the challenges this summer, we held our ground, fought back, and found success.
But we need your help!
Keep us informed: Our union has over 2,400 members across over one-hundred departments and divisions within 11 schools. But we have only one contract. To make our contract work for everyone, let your union rep team know what’s going on in your department, especially when you suspect something is off. Email us at nyu@actuaw.org to keep us posted on any issues that arise or that you anticipate. Once we receive your email, a union rep will follow up with you within a few days. If you don’t hear from us after three days, please email us again.
Educate yourself about the contract: This is your contract. It’s the touchstone of your rights and protections as adjunct union members. Read the contract carefully, and don’t hesitate to email us with questions about your rights as union members.
Sign up to become a union member if you have yet to do so: Signing up is easy and enables you to take advantage of the many benefits your union has won while building union strengths for future campaigns. So if you’re not a member, become one now. Download, fill out, and return this card tomail@actuaw.org and nyu@actuaw.org. If you have any questions or any trouble with the card, please contact us at the aforementioned addresses.
Get involved: The union is empowered through the involvement of adjunct volunteers, lending their talents and their ideas to make the union stronger with the character and ethos they seek. There are so many ways to get involved! Interested? Please fill out this form and someone will get back to you soon.
Join the 1,650 people who have signed our collective letter to protect adjuncts’ jobs! In 2022, we won a contract with significant pay increases and more affordable and expanded healthcare benefits. In 2023, NYU has used a variety of tactics to try to limit the numbers of courses adjuncts teach. Help protect our jobs by telling NYU President Linda Mills to fund schools to pay their adjunct faculty. Please sign the letter here and pass it along to part-time and full-time colleagues, NYU students and alums and others across higher education. Let NYU know that we are not buying its false austerity story. Stay tuned for our public presentation of the letter! And bring your ideas to the next Organizing Committee meeting where we will discuss the planning. Tuesday Sept. 12 at 7 pm on zoom, using this link.
Save the date for our first Fall Adjunct Social. Friday 9/22 (5-7 pm) at Vol De Nuit, 148 West 4th Street, New York. This is a great opportunity for adjuncts across the university to meet, socialize, network, and organize around issues that matter to you.
Have a great rest of your first week back at NYU!
In Solidarity,
Melisa Annis, Robert Ausch, David Palmer, Judy Polyné, and Caroline Werner (Your NYU Reps)
Amid the challenges this summer, we held our ground, fought back, and found success.
- In Liberal Studies, seven adjuncts who were positioned to have their courses canceled due to insufficient enrollment were able to move to another section and teach their courses as a result of our pressure through the filing of grievances and collective action;
- We fought back against arbitrary, administrative overreach on disciplinary matters; the union fought to protect due process for adjunct faculty members;
- By filing Requests for Information, the union put the administration on notice that we will fight class cancellations for under-enrollment due to the university raising the course caps. As a result, we saw virtually no increases to course enrollment caps or course cancellations due to low enrollment in Fall 2023;
- Volunteer union organizers initiated a collective action letter insisting that NYU funds the schools properly, in keeping with the pay increases they agreed to and signed in Fall 2022. In the first month, over 1,650 people signed, including FT faculty, adjuncts, students, parents, and staff;
- We intervened in cases where adjuncts did not receive the payouts they were owed due to course cancellation, including filing several grievances;
- We developed a more aggressive campaign to combat cases where adjuncts do not receive course reduction pay through contractual manipulation related to enrollment insufficiency and curriculum change.
But we need your help!
Keep us informed: Our union has over 2,400 members across over one-hundred departments and divisions within 11 schools. But we have only one contract. To make our contract work for everyone, let your union rep team know what’s going on in your department, especially when you suspect something is off. Email us at nyu@actuaw.org to keep us posted on any issues that arise or that you anticipate. Once we receive your email, a union rep will follow up with you within a few days. If you don’t hear from us after three days, please email us again.
Educate yourself about the contract: This is your contract. It’s the touchstone of your rights and protections as adjunct union members. Read the contract carefully, and don’t hesitate to email us with questions about your rights as union members.
Sign up to become a union member if you have yet to do so: Signing up is easy and enables you to take advantage of the many benefits your union has won while building union strengths for future campaigns. So if you’re not a member, become one now. Download, fill out, and return this card tomail@actuaw.org and nyu@actuaw.org. If you have any questions or any trouble with the card, please contact us at the aforementioned addresses.
Get involved: The union is empowered through the involvement of adjunct volunteers, lending their talents and their ideas to make the union stronger with the character and ethos they seek. There are so many ways to get involved! Interested? Please fill out this form and someone will get back to you soon.
Join the 1,650 people who have signed our collective letter to protect adjuncts’ jobs! In 2022, we won a contract with significant pay increases and more affordable and expanded healthcare benefits. In 2023, NYU has used a variety of tactics to try to limit the numbers of courses adjuncts teach. Help protect our jobs by telling NYU President Linda Mills to fund schools to pay their adjunct faculty. Please sign the letter here and pass it along to part-time and full-time colleagues, NYU students and alums and others across higher education. Let NYU know that we are not buying its false austerity story. Stay tuned for our public presentation of the letter! And bring your ideas to the next Organizing Committee meeting where we will discuss the planning. Tuesday Sept. 12 at 7 pm on zoom, using this link.
Save the date for our first Fall Adjunct Social. Friday 9/22 (5-7 pm) at Vol De Nuit, 148 West 4th Street, New York. This is a great opportunity for adjuncts across the university to meet, socialize, network, and organize around issues that matter to you.
Have a great rest of your first week back at NYU!
In Solidarity,
Melisa Annis, Robert Ausch, David Palmer, Judy Polyné, and Caroline Werner (Your NYU Reps)
August 31st, 2023
With the Fall semester quickly approaching, we have a number of items to bring to your attention:
Technology Fund is now available: We are pleased to announce the launch of the Adjunct Faculty Technology Fund. As established in a side letter to the 2022-2028 contract, NYU will administer a fund for the purchase of teaching-related technology by adjuncts. Adjuncts can begin applying for the fund now and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The maximum amount is $500.
You can find a description and an application form here. Please send your applications to mail@actuaw.org and cc nyu@actuaw.org in your email. Please write “Tech Fund Application” in the subject line. Note: In explaining how the technology is teaching-related on the application form, please relate it as closely as possible to your NYU appointments.
Professional Development Fund update: Effective this Friday, September 1, NYU Adjunct Faculty who are members of the adjunct union may apply through this Application Form (Doc 30.8 KB) for a grant of up to $1,250.00 to support attendance at an academic conference, meeting, or other relevant professional development activity. Review this page for more information on this fund, including other relevant professional development activities that apply.
Become a union member if you have yet to do so: Signing up to become a member of the adjunct union is easy and enables you to take advantage of the many benefits your union has won. Signing up also builds union strength for future campaigns and is legally required to work as an NYU adjunct. Please download, fill out, and return this card to mail@actuaw.org andnyu@actuaw.org. If you have any questions or any trouble with the card, please contact us at the aforementioned addresses.
Union meetings this week:
Your Rep Team,
Melisa Annis, Robert Ausch, Gerasimos Karavitis, Colette Mazzucelli, David Palmer, Judy Polyne, and Caroline Werner
Sign this collective action letter to help protect adjuncts’ rights to teach their courses. We are 1550+ and counting!
Technology Fund is now available: We are pleased to announce the launch of the Adjunct Faculty Technology Fund. As established in a side letter to the 2022-2028 contract, NYU will administer a fund for the purchase of teaching-related technology by adjuncts. Adjuncts can begin applying for the fund now and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The maximum amount is $500.
You can find a description and an application form here. Please send your applications to mail@actuaw.org and cc nyu@actuaw.org in your email. Please write “Tech Fund Application” in the subject line. Note: In explaining how the technology is teaching-related on the application form, please relate it as closely as possible to your NYU appointments.
Professional Development Fund update: Effective this Friday, September 1, NYU Adjunct Faculty who are members of the adjunct union may apply through this Application Form (Doc 30.8 KB) for a grant of up to $1,250.00 to support attendance at an academic conference, meeting, or other relevant professional development activity. Review this page for more information on this fund, including other relevant professional development activities that apply.
Become a union member if you have yet to do so: Signing up to become a member of the adjunct union is easy and enables you to take advantage of the many benefits your union has won. Signing up also builds union strength for future campaigns and is legally required to work as an NYU adjunct. Please download, fill out, and return this card to mail@actuaw.org andnyu@actuaw.org. If you have any questions or any trouble with the card, please contact us at the aforementioned addresses.
Union meetings this week:
- Organizing Committee Meeting, TODAY, Wednesday, August 30th, 7:00pm - 8:30pm (Zoom link). Please join the NYU Adjuncts Union Organizing Committee for our first meeting of the fall 2023 semester on Wednesday, August 30th, from 7:00pm - 8:30pm on Zoom. The OC works to build community, solidarity, and collective power among adjuncts across the many schools of NYU. We welcome your energy, skills, and ideas, as we work together to make our union better.
- August Membership Meeting, TOMORROW, Thursday, August 31, 5:30-7:00 pm (Zoom link and RSVP here). This monthly meeting will enable you, the members, to share your thoughts about issues you’d like the union to prioritize as we prepare for the start of the fall semester. Hope to see you!
Your Rep Team,
Melisa Annis, Robert Ausch, Gerasimos Karavitis, Colette Mazzucelli, David Palmer, Judy Polyne, and Caroline Werner
Sign this collective action letter to help protect adjuncts’ rights to teach their courses. We are 1550+ and counting!