June 1st, 2020

The Non-Tenured Faculty Coalition (NTFC) of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Local #6546 AFT/IFT/AAUP stands in solidarity with those protesting the persistent, systemic racism that has led to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolic police. 

In recent months, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have died at the hands of those charged to serve and protect. Aleyah Lewis was brutalized at the hands of the Urbana Police. And we remember many others before them: Champaign resident Kiwane Carrington. Eric Garner. Tamir Rice. Sandra Bland. Oscar Grant. Philando Castile. Walter Scott. Terence Crutcher. Samuel Dubose. Michael Brown. […] These are not the only names. This ellipsis is devastating. 

As a labor union, we strive to better the wages and working conditions of our members in order to create a more just and equitable workplace. But there can be no justice, there can be no equity for our members while Black Americans are killed and brutalized by police. This fight is our fight. 

#BlackLivesMatter

#ICantBreathe

In Solidarity,

The Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition #6546 AFT/IFT/AAUP

Apply by by April 27th by submitting your cover letter and CV through to ntfc6546@gmail.com with the subject line “Operations Coordinator.”

Due to Covid-19 public health and safety concerns, we will be practicing social distancing and conduct this job search remotely through phone and/or video-conferencing. Job duties may also begin as working from home, depending on ongoing social distancing guidelines.

About NTFC

The Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition brings together non-tenure track faculty members at the UIUC for purposes of collective bargaining. First organized as part of the Campus Faculty Association in Spring of 2014, we were recognized as Local #6546 AFT/IFT/AAUP by the Illinois Educational Labor Board in July 2014. Since the summer of 2015 we have been known as the Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition (NTFC), Local #6546. Our local union is affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors. For more information, you can explore our website.

Job Description

The Operations Coordinator is a part-time employee that runs the union’s office and supports the work of the Stewards and Executive Councils.

Duties and responsibilities include:

manages membership database and generates reports from the data, answers member inquiries and basic communications for NTFC, handles sensitive information regarding members experiences with the university and often performs intake for grievances, provides strategy and logistical support in organizing, produces support materials for organizing and communications in both print and digital documents, supports the treasurer with dues, reimbursements, and other financial intakes, updates and maintains website and social media accounts, generates website and social media content, plans and coordinates social events and meetings often coordinating with other unions, provides support during training, maintains the office and orders supplies

Requirements:

-Bachelor’s degree

-Demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision

-Knowledge and support of labor issues

Desired Skills & Experiences:

-3 years previous work experience in similar position

-Strong problem solving skills

-Ability to work independently

-Ability to coordinate and follow-up on the work of volunteers

-A desire and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, and flexible work environment

-Ability to manage multiple long-term projects and immediate tasks concurrently

-Basic graphic design abilities

-Proficiency in WordPress, Microsoft Suite, Google products, Canva, Database Management

Hours and Compensation

-Between 15-20 hours a week, occasionally requires up to 25

-Remote work and telecommuting options available

-Starts at $18 an hour, eligible for raise after 3 months

In the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which has resulted in most of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus shutting down, some serious labor and community health concerns have arisen. The Campus Labor Coalition, which is comprised of representatives of the different labor unions on campus, has released the open letter below calling on the University Administration to address these concerns.

To add your name or your organization’s name to this letter, fill out this Google Form.

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Dear Chancellor Robert Jones, Provost Andreas Cangellaris, and University of Illinois Board of Trustees,

 The Campus Labor Coalition respects and applauds many of the recent decisions made by the University Administration to keep the community safe and ensure quality education to students in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

However, many of these decisions have resulted in uncertain, unfair, and unsafe working conditions for university employees. With the shared aim of the economic, physical, and mental well-being of university employees in mind, we are asking that the University Administration commit to the following calls for action. These demands are in line with similar calls for action at Harvard University, Washington University, Indiana University, and Purdue University. 

General

• Guarantee nondiscrimination in all policies to be enacted at the University so that no individuals or groups in our community are targeted (e.g. racial profiling), by forms of harmful discrimination that often come with public health emergencies.
• Immediately comply with the now-active Families First COVID-19 Response Act. Doing so will provide immediate economic and risk relief to university employees.

Paid Sick Leave

• Immediately grant paid sick leave to all university employees in accordance with the stipulations of the Families First COVID-19 Response Act. This leave should not count against any accrued unpaid time-off or paid time-off benefits. 
• Ensure that employees’ requests for time off are considered with utmost seriousness and entail no form of reprisal or compromise their possibilities for employment with the University in the future.

Working Conditions

• Provide options for reduced workloads for those employees now facing increased child and family care needs, in accordance with the stipulations of the Families First COVID-19 Response Act.
• Immediately provide Hazard Pay–either in the form of pay raises or weekly sums–to those still working on campus. 
• Provide adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all employees still working on campus.
• Provide adequate equipment and resources to complete work under the work conditions mandated by the University and the State in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including: access to computers, software, high-speed internet connections, appropriate resources online, and other materials essential to workers’ job functions
• Communicate clearly and in a timely manner (a minimum of thirty days’ notice) any intent to layoff university employees. 

Housing

• Provide free summer housing options, i.e. at Orchard Downs, for international and other graduate employees who cannot return home for the foreseeable future and may not have legal employment options over the summer break.
• Provide free housing for anyone displaced from housing because of reductions or loss in employment with the University, for the duration of the pandemic.

Healthcare

• Provide free testing for coronavirus to all University employees regardless of insurance status.
• Waive fees for healthcare, dental care, and vision care to all employees through the summer period, including access to quality medical care and specialized/medical referrals for all regardless of the ability to pay. Ensure healthcare, dental care, and vision care for all employees. 
• Revoke immediately the recent decision to increase the costs of healthcare premiums for students in the 2020-2021 Academic Year.

Immigration Status

• Ensure that international employees are able to maintain their visa status as courses transition online and hourly work is reduced, and provide legal support for employees who face visa status changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sincerely,

The Campus Labor Coalition