Dear Colleagues,

Since May 2024, the WOAW-UAW bargaining committee has been negotiating with Wellesley College over all issues pertaining to our work.  Despite 23 sessions and over 80+ hours of face-to-face bargaining, the College is engaging in unlawful conduct and is refusing to fairly negotiate with us on several key issues.  As a result, our bargaining committee has set a strike date of Thursday, March 27, 2025.

We hope the College will continue to negotiate with us over the next 9 days to quickly bring our negotiations to a fair and equitable resolution.  Here are some answers to questions you might have about how to support our efforts. We must actively reject the College’s attempts to divide us with rhetoric and proposals that threaten not just our colleagues, but the integrity of our entire campus community.

FAQ

Why are you striking?

Our full rationale is available on our website. We truly believe that if we do not strike, and accept the College's proposals, we will be compromising student experiences for years to come. Only the College has the power to protect students’ educational experiences.

What is an Unfair Labor Practice?

An Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act. A ULP strike is any refusal to work that was precipitated or lengthened by an unfair labor practice(s) caused or committed by the employer. The National Labor Relations Board writes that, “Employees who strike to protest an unfair labor practice committed by their employer are called unfair labor practice strikers. Such strikers can be neither discharged nor permanently replaced. When the strike ends, unfair labor practice strikers, absent serious misconduct on their part, are entitled to have their jobs back even if employees hired to do their work have to be discharged.”

Wellesley’s unlawful conduct, including refusing to provide information necessary to bargain and threatening to apply an unlawful protest policy to workers, has thwarted progress in bargaining over key issues.

What should I do if the College asks me to teach or cover the classes of striking faculty?

You should decline to cover the labor of striking faculty and instead ask the College to negotiate a fair contract to end or avert a strike. Taking on our labor directly undermines our strike and our negotiating power, and it also has the potential to prolong a strike. 

How can I support my NTT colleagues?

The most impactful way to show solidarity is by refusing to cover struck labor. That means not taking on teaching or other responsibilities for faculty who are striking. While we recognize the concern for students’ educational experiences, the ability to withhold labor is our strongest tool to reach a fair resolution as quickly as possible.

Additionally, you can:

• Join us on the picket line to demonstrate solidarity.

• Speak out in faculty meetings and other spaces to support fair treatment for all faculty.

• Stay informed and help counter misinformation.

Can I teach my own classes?

Yes, we recognize that your classes do not fall under the union purview and thus it is your decision whether or not you teach your own classes. 

What is the college going to do in response?

The College will attempt to dissuade faculty and students from supporting the strike through misinformation or other union-busting tactics. We encourage you to stay informed, fact-check any claims made by the administration, and engage in open discussions with us, your unionized colleagues. Our collective working conditions shape the educational environment for our students. Standing together strengthens our ability to create a more just and equitable workplace.