A recent National Labor Relations Board ruling strengthens labor's position in organizing faculty at private and religious colleges. In its 3-2 ruling involving contingent faculty at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington state, the NLRB in December set new criteria for dealing with two old questions: Are faculty too involved in management to be eligible to organize?
And, does the NLRB have jurisdiction over religious colleges?
The NLRB decision effectively chipped away at the landmark 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision, National Labor Relations Board v. Yeshiva University, which prohibited full-time faculty at private colleges from organizing.
The NLRB also determined that Pacific Lutheran faculty are not involved in religious indoctrination, despite the university's self-characterization as a religious institution. The ruling is expected to be challenged in federal courts.
—Karen Mattison
Nominate a peacemaker
Peace First, a national nonprofit organization that exists to create the next generation of peacemakers, is seeking nominees for its third annual Peace First Prize. The organization is supported by several nonprofit partners, including the American Federation of Teachers.
The prize will recognize five young people between the ages of 8-22 for their compassion, courage and ability to create collaborative change. Winners receive a two-year, $25,000 Peace First Fellowship. The deadline for nominations and applications is Monday, March 30.
Visit http://peacefirst.org/ prize/ for more information.