UArts teachers gather on the steps of the University of the Arts building at Broad and Pine Streets in Philadelphia to launch a bid to unionize Sept. 7, 2020.Faculty at the University of the Arts by a near unanimous vote ratified a new contract, which runs through June 2026, the union announced Wednesday.Nearly 90% of the 300 faculty members voted, and of those, 99% voted yes, according to the United Academics of Philadelphia , AFT Local 9608, the union that UArts faculty joined in 2020.
“This contract will realize double-digit raises for most faculty at UArts ...,” Daniel Pieczkolon, president of the union, said in a statement. “Eighty-five percent of UArts faculty are part-time and have worked at rates well below nearby schools, without benefits or long-term contracts. This is a step in the right direction after three years of stalling from UArts administrators.”few years, held multiple demonstrations and informational pickets, calling to attention the lengthy negotiations.
Among other highlights were a $200 health-care stipend for part-time faculty with seniority, and the addition of three nonvoting faculty representatives to the board of trustees and one to the president’s council. “I commend both negotiating teams for their dedicated work, day in and day out, that brought us to a tentative agreement,” university, who has made reaching an agreement a priority since arriving on the job six months ago, said last week when the tentative pact was reached. “It is heartening to see the two sides come together to uphold UArts’ academic excellence across the visual, performing, and creative arts.