By Fritz Klug
Western Herald
On June 29, 2009, Western Michigan University’s Part-time Teacher’s Organization officially became a state recognized union after votes were hand counted in Lansing by officials of the Michigan Employment Relations Commission.
There were 207 votes in support of the union, and 29 opposed.
“I am really pleased and proud of out hard work over the last year and a half,” Janet Heller, a part-time instructor in the English Department & Gender & Women’s Studies Program. “For many instructors this is the first time that Western has to recognize us. We need to be taken seriously by all departments.”
The election came out off a series of meetings between PIO and the Academic Collective Bargaining in March, April and May.
According to a May 11 compromise, someone is considered a PIO member who is a “non‑tenure‑track instructors holding an appointment(s) greater than or equal to 3.0 credit hours . . . at WMU.” A member must also have “instructional duties,” including “1. Assigned teaching of students via appointment letter(s)aw; and 2. Evaluation/grading of performance of same students.”
Ballots were sent out on June 3 and were due in the MERC office in Detroit by June 25.
The PIO was formed because Heller and other part-time instructors said they felt they were not receiving adequate pay and benefits.
The Western Herald submitted a Freedom of Information Act request on Friday, June 19 requesting information on pay and benefits of part-time employees as far back as the records were available electronically (which is 7 years).
As part of the same FOIA request, the Herald requested information concerning the amount of money allocated to pay and the names of the lawyers hired for the negotiations.
The FOIA office asked for a 10-day extension on Monday, June 29, after which they will grant the request, issue a written notice denying the request, or grant the request in part.
The administration was not available to comment at the time this article was published.
The PIO will meet on Wednesday, July 1, to draft a constitution, bylaws, elect officials and decide on what issues they will start bring to bargain with the University.
“This is a group achievement,” Heller said.
For more updates on this story, check the westernherald.com.
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