University of St. Francis faculty have had a busy Fall in their continuing struggle to organize and affiliate with UPI Local 4100.

A majority of faculty at the private, liberal-arts college in Joliet have signed authorization cards indicating their support for UPI as their bargaining agent, and the Faculty Compensation Committee voted unanimously for affiliation, just prior to the proceedings in a fact-finding hearing before the National Labor Relations Board.

Legal arguments for UPI and the university administration will follow prior to an NLRB decision on the jurisdiction of the board to conduct a campus vote for organization by UPI. The university's argument against NLRB jursidiction revolves around the claim that faculty at USF are managers, and hence, cannot organize.

While awaiting the decision, UPI continues to assist USF faculty in preparation for their next compensation negotiations. Even though faculty do not have a collectively bargained contract, the university president does allow faculty to be represented by a faculty committee in negotiating compensation.

• Jon Nadler, UPI Field Director

February 2002