Evening star., 1947-06-06
Howard's Faculty Joins the Go.
Organization Of Teachers in UPWA Local Creates 4
Precedent in American Universities
BY Colt HendIey, III.

Howard University. by signing an agreement
making Local 10. United Public Workers OF
America (CIO), the bargaining agent for its
teaching staff, has set precedent in Ameri-
can educational circles.
The school is the only institution Of higher
learning in the United States which has the
entire staff. from janitors to professors, organ
lied in an industrial union.
The impact of this on other colleges and uni
versities is not known. But this much is GER
tain. Until now the teaching profession in in
sNtutions of higher learning has been reluctant
to leave the class Of the professional white coll
lar worker and join the ranks of labor.
Here's what happened at Howard University.
DR.. Eugene Holmes, philosophy professor and
chairman of the Howard unit was one of the
organizers of local of the American Fedora
tion of Teachers (AFL) on the campus in 1886.
This group limped along, DR.. Holmes said until
in 1914 it was decided to organize along in
dustrial lines with the CIO and leave the Jim
Crow AFL.''
The new union grew until in December,
1945, National Labor Relations Board con-
sent election was held for the nonteaching
staff. UPWA was voted the bargaining agent
by 2o3 to O. Last February the teachers also
voted for UPWA by a count of 13o to l.
The nonteachers' agreement went into ef-
feet year ago. while the teachers agreement
went into effect only this May l. Negotiations
were carried out by union committee and q
committee representing the board of trustees,
appointed by DR.. Mordecai johnson, university
president.
The agreement forbids strike by the teach
ers.
Salaries and working conditions in existence
s~~I- Tr..s- =
university representatives will meet during the
summer to draw up new salary scale for con-
sideration of the trustees at their October
meeting.
No Pattern Of Experience Yet.
Part-time teachers and persons with author
ity to hire, promote, denote, discharge, disci-
pline or otherwise effect changes in the status
of employees are excluded from union member
ship. Voluntary checkoff of dues is permitted.
A system for handling grievances is established.
DR.. johnson said the teachers agreement had
not been functioning long enough for him to
have had much experience with it. During the
past year relations with the unionized non
teaching staff have been excellent, he said.
The trustees always have respected the right
OF employees to negotiate with the university
regarding their terms of employment, DR..
johnson explained. This includes recognition
of unions When 1t became clear, by major
ity vote, that the union represented majority
of the faculty, the trustees proceeded to bargain
with 1t.
Long before the union had majority the
trustees had been cooperative in listening to
their requests, DR.. Johnson said. I'VE felt we
would agree on what was just after ALL" he
added
However, the trustees are working under Ger
tain limitations, Dr. Johnson pointed out.
They actually are agents of the Federal Gov
eminent, under the Federal Security Agency
which administers Howard University, and are
responsible for the expenditures of the public
funds appropriated for the school. Approxi-
mately So per cent of the Howard yearly
budget comes from congressional appropria-
tions.
Thus, In actual practice, the wage agreements
reached by the union committee and the COM
mittee representing the trustees would go to
the trustees for approval They In turn, would
use the agreement for budget recommends
tions which then would depend on congress
sional appropriations.
p. Union and Educational Responsibilities.
The fear that union would tend to weaken
the discipline necessary to provide intellectual
height and superiority of performance in the
staH has been considered by the present agree
ment, DIR. johnson said. The union is to CON-
Germ itself with working conditions, salaries
and job security, he said, leaving other phases
OF the university work to the administration,
We intend to staff the ranks of the univer-