By Joshua Phelps
The Scene staff
Adjunct faculty members at St. Louis Community College voted on their first union contract last week, but as of press time, no one would confirm the results.
The Scene could not get information from representatives of the Service Employees International Union, which represents more than 800 adjuncts; the union bargaining committee; or the college bargaining committee.
SEIU emailed ballots to adjuncts on Feb. 20 and asked them to vote between Feb. 21 and 23 to accept a contract that would be retroactive to Jan. 1 and run through June 30, 2020.
The union and college bargaining committees had been in negotiations since May of 2016. The previous October, adjuncts voted 188-15 to unionize.
The union emailed adjuncts on Feb. 15 to announce the contract agreement, characterizing it as a big victory.
“The current administration fought us at every turn,” it stated. “They did not wish to make any concessions to adjuncts or recognize our union in any meaningful way, but after extensive negotiation, organizing, media interviews, board meetings, federal mediation and tremendous, courageous support from students, now is the time for us to vote on our agreement.”
According to the email, the contract would provide a 3 percent wage increase; access to a 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity and other benefits; improvements in the course-assignment process and handling of personnel files and student complaints; and establishment of a part-time faculty-administration committee to review ongoing matters.
The Scene reached out to union bargaining committee member and Forest Park adjunct art professor Brett Williams; SEIU Organizing Coordinator Stacey Manuel; and STLCC Executive Director of Marketing Kedra Tolson. Williams and Manuel did not return phone calls. Tolson declined comment.