by Mike Hall, Dec 18, 2007

Almost everybody has a holiday wish list—iPods, Wii consoles, maybe even world peace. The adjunct faculty at Pace University in New York has been putting the same thing at the top their list—a fair contract—since 2004 when they voted to join New York State United Teachers/AFT (NYSUT/AFT).

But the university administration’s legal maneuvering, stalling and foot-dragging in bargaining with the Union of Adjunct Faculty at Pace (UAFP) is entering its fourth year. (Click here to read what Pace physics professor Chris Williams told us in March about the struggle.)

So the faculty members who earn about one-sixth to one-fifth of what full-timers make, with no benefits and little job security, decided to use a holiday tradition to spotlight Pace’s four year’s worth of “grinch-ness.” They went caroling.

Craig Smith at Face Talk tells us that dozens of UFAP members, along with a white-bearded man in a red suit—showed up to serenade a large group of Pace alumni who were gathered for dinner on a balcony in the grand old hall at Grand Central Station.

While the songs in the carol songbook followed familiar tunes, the lyrics might have drawn a little attention. I am pretty sure it was the first time anyone heard the “Adjunct Paycheck Song” sung to the tune of “The Dreidel Song” or “Friedman, the Interim President” sung to the tune of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” But when you have been bargaining a contract for over three years (while the administration has been stalling), you have to get creative at Grand Central Station.

Smith says the carolers crooned several songs before the police came along to let them know the show was over. But UAFP President John Pawlowski, a PACE alumnus, was keeping up the call for justice at the dinner by circulating a letter to fellow alumni, asking them to tell the university’s administration to reach a fair agreement with the school’s adjunct faculty.

Pawlowski’s letter notes that as part of the university’s 100th birthday celebration it is running a fundraising/capital campaign. The Centennial Campaign is aimed especially at alumni.

I couldn’t agree more with the Centennial Campaign overview which reads in part, “Centennial Campaign is aimed at directing this remarkable university toward new heights of excellence in terms of student financial aid, faculty support, student learning opportunities, and facilities and grounds. This monumental endeavor will require a renewed commitment from all who hold Pace dear. It will allow the university to reaffirm and further its position as a renowned and distinctive private institution of higher education.” But as a proud alumnus (and Pace parent), I am appalled that, particularly at this time in history, Pace administration has spent over a million dollars fighting over the last few years, fighting its own employees.

As Smith suggests:

Perhaps someone should drop a copy of A Christmas Carol off to the Pace administration to remind them that treating people fairly is more important than profits—particularly at this time of year.

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