The Professional Instructors Organization, AFL-CIO, will be holding elections today at 4:30 p.m in Room 213 of the Bernhard Center.
The PIO became a recognized union by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission on June 29, 2009 by a vote of 207 to 29.
The PIO is currently in negotiations with the Western Michigan University administration on a new contract for part-time instructors.
The ballot includes two unopposed positions. Steven Cartwright, Ph.D., a part-time instructor in the Department of History for vice president and Kathryn Curtis-Smith, a French professor, for treasurer.
Janet Heller, Ph.D., a part-time English instructor and Karl Schrock, a part-time instructor in the School of Music, are running for president.
According to a May 11 compromise between the PIO and WMU’s Academic Collective Bargaining, 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) and 2. Evaluation grading of performance of same students.”
Membership cards will also be available at the meeting.
Any part-time and adjunct faculty may join PIO if they have not done so. They will be qualified to vote at the meeting.
UPDATE 11/02/09: Karl Shrock of the School of Music was elected President of PIO, receiving 65 percent of the votes cast. According to Shanda Blue Easterday, 50 percent of registered voters participated in the election.
