Non-supervisory staff in American University’s Student Affairs, Information Technology and University Communications and Marketing divisions will now be represented by SEIU Local 500 and join the collective bargaining unit, following a vote from the staff, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer Bronté Burleigh-Jones announced Monday.
Over 190 staff members in these divisions filed for representation within the existing union with the National Labor Relations Board on April 29.
“The university respects the rights of our staff to choose to have union representation,” Burleigh-Jones wrote in the announcement.
The University also reached a tentative contract agreement with the Provost and Undergraduate Enrollment division of their staff union, SEIU Local 500.
The agreement includes “provisions on wages, benefits, leave and other terms of employment,” according to the email.
These announcements follow a rally organized by the union on May 1, also known as May Day or International Workers Day. Hundreds of staff, faculty and students marched from the President’s Office to the office of Burleigh-Jones. At the conclusion of the rally, representatives entered 3201 New Mexico Ave. NW and delivered demands to Burleigh-Jones’ office.
The demands included settling a fair contract with Union members, respecting the rights of unionizing workers, repealing the Jan. 25 ban on protests inside University buildings and providing transparency regarding its budget and investment portfolio. It is not clear if these demands have been met by the contract. As of June 17, the Jan. 25 ban is still in place.
Representatives from the University and the staff union will finalize the contract language and then submit the agreement for ratification in accordance with the union’s processes, as outlined in the email.
“We appreciate the ongoing engagement with our colleagues in the bargaining unit and SEIU Local 500 and the dedicated effort of all that led to this mutually beneficial agreement,” Burleigh-Jones wrote.
This article was edited by Mackenzie Konjoyan, Tyler Davis and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Charlie Mennuti.
