Fifty students and faculty rallied Monday in support of an adjunct faculty union and more shared governance at Duquesne University, then delivered a petition to the president’s office to drive home their message.
Frank “Trey” Weise, student spokesman for a group calling itself Duquesne for Shared Governance, said the main thrust of the May Day protest was to urge the university to drop its opposition to a campus union formed by the United Steelworkers.
The National Labor Relations Board has ruled that Duquesne must recognize the collective bargaining rights of 125 faculty in the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts. The university says the agency lacks jurisdiction, given Duquesne’s religious mission as a church-run school.
The dispute dates to 2012, when adjuncts in the college voted to organize in a campus election.
On Monday, the protesters met outside College Hall, marched along Academic Walk and then delivered 400 petition signatures in support more shared governance to the office of Duquesne President Ken Gormley.
Mr. Weise said protesters believe, in light of budgetary moves by the university, including a decision to close the Duquesne University Press, that more than the faculty senate and student government are needed as sounding boards. “It’s been very clear those are not avenues where the university wants to receive input,” he said.
Responding to Monday’s protest, Duquesne spokeswoman Bridget Fare said the university continues to believe it has a right to be free of government intrusion into its religious mission.
Concerning complaints about a lack of shared governance, she said there “are numerous opportunities for feedback, participation and sharing of information with committees and other groups” representing students, faculty and staff.
She said Mr. Gormley himself has met over the last year with a number of those groups and individuals “to discuss his vision and receive input from them.” She said budget re-allocations based on changes in demand are not unusual.
Bill Schackner: bschackner@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1977 and on Twitter: @BschacknerPG.
First Published: May 1, 2017, 8:09 p.m.
