By in Rhode Island’s Future
PTFU Executive Director Patricia Maguire said negotiations between URI and the
part-time faculty have been dragging on for over 2 1/2 years. Rather than
bargain in a fair and open way, URI negotiators simply say “we have nothing to
offer you.”
Maguire said that her
group has been reduced to “begging” for better wages and working conditions.
“Any [school] president or the administration, that has received a
substantial pay increase, did not have to walk around the university holding
signs, asking for it. I’m not even sure they asked for it.”
Kenneth Jolicouer,
with 35 years teaching experience in higher education and a host of honors to
his credit, said that working conditions at URI have deteriorated
markedly over the last few years.
“I had my part-time
position taken away in September 2013, because according to administration, I
worked too many hours,” said Jolicouer, “15 hours in a staff position plus
teaching two classes. This is a position I have held since 1992. As a result my
URI pay has been cut by close to 50 percent.”
During
Jolicouer’s entire 4 1/2 minutes of speaking, he was ignored by board
member Dr.Jim Purcell,
commissioner of postsecondary education, who simply messaged with his cellphone
the entire time.
It was only when Dorothy Donnelly, another
educator with years of experience, demanded his attention that Purcell began to
feign interest. At the 2m 15s point in the video below, Donnelly asks Purcell
for his seat, which he graciously gave up.
“We have about 25 people
here supporting us. About half of those are part-time faculty,” said Donnelly,
“That’s no surprise. I’m even amazed that they’re here. I thank them for their
commitment and their courage, because they are all at will employees.”
“We have been in contract
negations for almost three years now,” said Donnelly, “and we have not had
contact negotiations since last December.” Donnelly need that
these meetings are known for their repeated delays and stalling tactics on
the part of URI negotiators.
“Part-time
faculty continue to be ignored, exploited and disrespected,” said Patricia
Maquire. URI doesn’t believe in the value of the education they are
selling, says Maguire. Devaluing the educators devalues the education.
Also
speaking was Peter Nightingale, a member of
the physics department at URI and Fossil Free RI, there to express solidarity with the
PTFU. Nightingale took some time to speak about URI’s lack of interest in
divesting from fossil fuels.
Steve Ahlquist is a
writer, artist and current president of the Humanists of Rhode Island, a
non-profit group dedicated to reason, compassion, optimism, courage and action.
The views expressed are his own and not necessarily those of any organization
of which he is a member. His photos and video are usable under the Creative
Commons license. Free to share with credit. atomicsteve@gmail.com; Twitter:
@SteveAhlquist