Strike Authorization Vote

Strike Authorization Vote

We are ready to demonstrate that our work is essential to Wellesley, and that the College can no longer deny us basic workplace rights in areas like job security, clear reappointment criteria, longer contracts, or discrimination and harassment protections, or delay needed improvements to salaries, professional development funds, and benefits that have fallen behind the Boston area’s cost of living.

Voting yes in our Strike Authorization Vote is our chance to show our collective power to the College, and to declare forcefully that unless they make significant progress towards a fair contract, they can expect a strike to follow. While we would prefer not to strike, we teach 40% of the courses at the college and the majority of the first-year degree requirements, and we know that a credible strike threat will cause the College to stop delaying and start moving towards a fair contract. We must all come together with one voice in solidarity to make our vision for Wellesley closer to reality. We are asking you to vote “yes” on the ballot.

More than a year has passed since we voted by over 92% to form our union and we have waited long enough. Our strike authorization vote starts at 7:00 AM on Friday, February 14, 2025.

Voting Method

Voting will be held electronically via a secret ballot. ElectionBuddy will send you an email with a unique link to your online ballot. You will receive your ballot at the email where you received this notice. If you cannot locate the email from ElectionBuddy with the ballot, including in your spam, junk, and promotions folders, email us at woawuawelections@gmail.com. 

Voter Eligibility

Eligible voters are Wellesley College Instructors, Lecturers, and Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows who are currently employed by the College and who have filled out a WOAW-UAW authorization card or the bargaining survey. If you have not previously signed an authorization card or filled out a bargaining survey, you may fill out an authorization card during the voting period in order to receive your ballot.

How to Vote

You should receive an email from ElectionBuddy with your ballot at 7am (or shortly after) on Friday, February 14 or soon after you sign an authorization card if the vote has already begun. Please check your spam, junk, and promotions folders, and if you cannot locate your ballot, email us at woawuawelections@gmail.com.

Why are we calling for a Strike Authorization Vote?

Because of the College’s intransigence on core bargaining issues:

  • Workload: the College is proposing a 25% course-load increase

  • Prohibition Against Discrimination and Harassment: The College is refusing standard Union protections for harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment

  • Titles: The College is refusing to offer titles that use the term “professor”

  • Compensation: The College is proposing starting salaries of $68,000 for Visiting Lecturers and $70,000 for Lecturers contingent on a five course workload. Under the College’s proposal we have to teach five courses to retain our current salaries.

  • Appointments and Reappointments: The College is proposing that we will no longer be reviewed by the Committee on Faculty Appointments, is refusing longer contract lengths, and is insisting that we have no reappointment rights (even after many years of service).

  • Professional Development: The College has proposed eliminating our access to FRAC or research grants from centers/institutes and offered very limited funding for professional development ($30,000/year for the entire unit)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A Strike Authorization Vote (SAV) is a vote that authorizes our elected bargaining committee to call a strike if circumstances warrant. A ⅔ majority of those voting is required to authorize our bargaining committee to call for a strike, if necessary in order to reach a fair contract or to address unlawful actions by the College.

  • A majority of our unit voting “Yes” to support our bargaining committee by giving it the authority to call a strike will send a powerful message to the College. Our bargaining committee has had 19 bargaining sessions with the College, and the College has resisted making progress on core priorities such as fair salaries adjusted for inflation and addressing wage compression, job security, protections against discrimination and harassment, titles, and more. Adding insult to injury, the College is insisting on increasing our workload. While we hope the College will move towards reaching a fair agreement, demonstrating our willingness to exercise our right to strike indicates we are willing to fight for a fair contract.

  • No, not necessarily. Voting yes means you are authorizing our bargaining committee to call a strike if necessary to reach a fair contract or to address unlawful actions by the College. Striking is a last resort, and our bargaining committee would only recommend striking if they believed it was the only way to achieve a strong and fair contract.

  • No, voting yes only means that you are authorizing the bargaining committee to call for a strike, if necessary.  A “yes” vote does not obligate you to participate in a strike. That said, should the bargaining team choose to call for a strike, it will only be successful with mass participation.

  • Voting will be held electronically via a secret ballot. ElectionBuddy will send you an email with a unique link to your online ballot. You will receive your ballot where you received this notice. If you cannot locate the email from ElectionBuddy with the ballot, including in your spam, junk, and promotions folders, email us at woawuawelections@gmail.com.

  • Eligible voters are Wellesley College Instructors, Lecturers, and Mellon Postdoctoral Fellows who are currently employed by the College and who have filled out a WOAW-UAW authorization card or the bargaining survey. If you have not previously signed an authorization card or filled out a bargaining survey, you may fill out an authorization card during the voting period in order to receive your ballot.

  • No. The UAW Constitution outlines the process for authorizing a strike, and a 2/3 majority of those voting is needed in order to authorize the bargaining committee to call for a strike.

  • The election is conducted by secret ballot, which means no one will be able to see how you voted.

  • Ballots will be tabulated electronically after the election closes at 11:59 PM on February 20. Results will be announced on Friday, February 21.