Univ. of South Florida Adjuncts Vote Heavily for Union

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Adjunct professors at the University of South Florida have voted 326-91 for union representation, the Service Employees International Union announced Mar. 18. “I had a feeling that we would win because it’s been such an issue for adjuncts—our general living and working situations,” Dana Corrigan, an animation adjunct instructor, told the student newspaper The Oracle, “and also trying to find full-time work at colleges, because it’s not like most of us are not trying.” The vote, which ended Mar. 13, came after an antiunion campaign by the university’s administrators. The union now has to negotiate a contract with the USF administration, something that universities such as Columbia have resisted. “I’m hoping it will work out,” said Jarad Fennell, an English literature adjunct professor. “I can’t really imagine remaining an adjunct for any significant period of time without something changing.” Read more