Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 02050075
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED169818 AUTHOR: Shanker, Albert
TITLE: Unions and the Academic Enterprise.
YEAR PUBLISHED: (1978)
NOTE: 14 p.
AVAILABILITY: American Federation of Teachers, 11 Dupont
Circle, N.W., Washington, DC 20036 (Item no. 623. single
copy $0.25, $15.00 for 100)
ABSTRACT: Excerpts from magazine and newspaper interviews
with the president of the American Federation of Teachers
concerning unions and collective bargaining at colleges and
universities are presented. Topics concern: professionalism
and economic self-interest, unions and freedom of inquiry,
merit pay, academic elitism, the political influence of
college teachers, faculty participation in governance,
defining university management, the shrinking academic job
market, tenure under attack, productivity in education,
unions and affirmative action, and the role of college
members in the American Federation of Teachers. It is shown
that collective bargaining has dealt with economic
conditions and due process procedures and does not conflict
with professionalism. Collective bargaining and a union
protect academic freedom and promote fairness in faculty
salaries rather than relying on subjective decisions.
Faculty members could be a potent political force in higher
education, which depends on the tax structure and on public
policy. For the most part, faculty senates have not had
power in college governance, but they could continue to
coexist with unions. The need to guarantee job stability
for
senior faculty and to provide educational programs for
nontraditional students is addressed. Disagreement with
efforts to promote productivity in higher education is
expressed. (SW)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Academic-Freedom; Affirmative-Action;
Decision-Making; Employment-Opportunities;
Higher-Education;
Interviews-; Power-Structure; Productivity-; Teacher
Administrator-Relationship; Teacher-Employment-Benefits;
Teacher-Role; Teacher-Salaries; Tenure-
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Collective-Bargaining; *College-Faculty;
*Faculty-College-Relationship; *Faculty-Organizations;
*Governance-; *Unions-
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