Many jobs in housekeeping, skilled maintenance, and the bookstore have already been contracted out. Only with collective bargaining can we negotiate language that will protect us against contracting out. For example, at Northeastern Illinois University, the contract prohibits any contracting out that would result in the layoff of any employee. We remember all too well when many of us had our hours increased with no say and no extra pay. Under collective bargaining, it is illegal for management to take away benefits without our approval.
Collective bargaining is our best opportunity to address the increase in hours.
If they want us to work more then they should pay us more. Changes in working conditions would have to be reviewed, negotiated and approved by staff. For example, when the Maryland Department of Human Resources decided to unilaterally remove a four-day work week schedule, under collective bargaining the union and the contract were able to stop the take away action. The past few years have seen a huge rise in the creation of contingent jobs. With collective bargaining we can negotiate for provisions in our contract that would require the university to make contingent workers permanent.