More than a year after they unionized and still with no contract, ArtCenter College of Design faculty union members Friday announced they’ve filed their fourth National Labor Relations Board complaint against college management, alleging the school illegally and unilaterally changed the terms and conditions of their employment.
Around 50 faculty members, elected officials and supporters attended a news conference outside the institution’s south campus on S. Arroyo Parkway, in which ArtCenter Faculty Federation members warned that a strike could be imminent unless good faith negotiations begin, despite administrators’ saying the sides were progressing toward an agreement.
Their complaint accuses management of unfair labor practices when it moved to reorganize the school’s structure, which they claim would place more faculty in management positions and chip away at the union’s membership.
“The Employer has reorganized departments and leadership, in a manner affecting the bargaining unit that makes the Employer’s actions subject to decisional bargaining, without first providing the Charging Party with an opportunity to bargain over the reorganization plan,” the complaint reads.
ArtCenter officials were not available for comment Friday, but in a statement said the two sides were progressing toward a collective bargaining agreement and were not approaching an impasse.
“We support ACFF’s right to publicly express their concerns, but we’re eager to return the teams’ focus back to the bargaining table, so we can reach agreement soon through productive discussion,” Karen Hofmann, president and CEO of ArtCenter College of Design said.
“We must balance the demands of the faculty with the value and affordability for our students and the financial health and sustainability of ArtCenter for the entirety of our faculty, staff and students. Our community can be assured that we will work tirelessly to achieve a fair and equitable contract.”
The…
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