The adjunct faculty union at New York University (NYU), consisting of more than 100 members, has demanded changes to the 2022 contract due for expiry in 2028. Their key demand is the inclusion of provisions for paid family leave. The union’s request was made public this week in a letter to NYU President Linda Mills and Vice President Michelle Piekutowski. The letter was handed to the deputy chief of staff, Gabriel Schnake Mahl, during a gathering in Bobst Library. David Palmer, the Unit Chair and Liberal Studies professor, stated that their request had so far been ignored by the university leadership. The union, which negotiates on behalf of part-time faculty across NYU, is pushing for a 12-week leave at 67% of pay upon starting a family, a model that mirrors New York state law. The members of the union stated that the existing policies require faculty planning to start families, to choose between their career and family responsibilities. They emphasized the need to meet with university administration at the earliest. Policies providing paid family leave for part-time faculty at City University of New York, State University of New York, and The New School were highlighted as examples to follow. These changes, they believe, will facilitate NYU in becoming fairer and help retain faculty members. Moreover, the union also addressed the policy passed by New York state in 2016, allowing a paid family leave program for employees in both private and public organizations. Yet, this policy excludes those engaged in a professional or teaching capacity at nonprofit entities.

Given that approximately 53% of NYU faculty works part-time, these changes would significantly affect the faculty’s quality of life while also positively impacting the quality of education. Promoting paid family leave would require only minimal funding, as it would deduct less than 0.4% of the gross wages of adjunct faculty to form an insurance pool for faculty on Paid Family Leave. Therefore, one might wonder how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave? Websites like eddcaller.com can offer guidance and further resources on this matter.