Dear colleagues,

The university has reached an agreement with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) on the petition for a union election of certain non-tenured track faculty.  On March 29, the local National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Regional Director approved a Stipulated Election Agreement. I am writing today to share important new information both about the faculty members included as eligible voters as a result of the agreement and the election itself. These details are also available on our informational website.

The agreement outlines the faculty members who would be part of the bargaining unit represented by the SEIU should the union prevail in the election. The final bargaining unit, detailed below, includes only eligible faculty members in the College of Arts and Science and the Divinity School. Non-tenure track faculty in Peabody College and the Blair School of Music are no longer included in the bargaining unit.  An election will take place by mail ballot between April 10 and April 24.

The bargaining unit only includes non-tenure track faculty in the College of Arts and Science and the Divinity School who are currently teaching at least one course in those schools and hold the following appointments:

College of Arts and Science:

• Full and part-time Lecturers, Senior Lecturers and Principal Senior Lecturers
• Adjunct Professors
• Adjunct Associate Professors
• Adjunct Assistant Professors
• Part-time Writers in Residence

Divinity School:

• Full and part-time Lecturers and Senior Lecturers
• Adjunct Professors
• Adjunct Associate Professors
• Adjunct Assistant Professors

Only those faculty members holding the ranks described above will be eligible to vote in the upcoming election and part of a potential bargaining unit.

Faculty holding administrative titles and roles (including deans, directors, provosts, or chairs) are not included in the unit.  All post-doctoral scholars, emeritus faculty, and visiting faculty are also not included in the unit.

Throughout this process, we have worked to ensure that any final bargaining unit protects Vanderbilt’s important and robust model of shared governance. We believe this agreement brings us much closer to that goal, and does so in a much more timely way than would have been possible had we not reached this compromise.

Next steps:

Voter List:  As required by the NLRB, the university will provide the NLRB and the SEIU a voter list that contains the names and contact information of all eligible voters. The university must provide home addresses, available personal email addresses, and available personal home and cellular telephone numbers. Please understand that Vanderbilt is committed to the highest standards of private data protection. We do not disclose personal information to a third party except as required by law.

Notification: All members of the bargaining unit will be contacted directly by the NLRB. NLRB Election Notices will also be posted throughout campus.

Election: An election will be held by mail-in ballot beginning April 10 and ending April 24. You will receive correspondence from the NLRB with additional detail regarding the procedure for casting your ballot by mail. The ballots will be counted with both university and SEIU representatives present April 25 at the National Labor Relations Board’s Nashville office.

Vote: The vote will be taken by secret ballot – the university, the union and your colleagues will not know how you vote. The outcome will be decided by a majority of eligible voters who actually vote. It is critical that every member of the bargaining unit cast a ballot to register their decision on whether or not they wish the SEIU to be their sole bargaining representative with the university.

Information: Information to help inform your decision is posted our informational website.

I recognize that this has been a challenging process for all involved, including the faculty who support unionization and those who do not. I appreciate the collegiality, patience and commitment to our shared values and academic mission that you have demonstrated throughout, and I know will continue to demonstrate, as we prepare for an election. We have an opportunity to have additional dialogue on this issue at the specially called Faculty Senate meeting March 30 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Flynn Auditorium at the Law School.  

Sincerely,

Susan R. Wente
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs