Part-time faculty union leaders and New School administrators reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement yesterday, ending the strike after 25 days.
The ACT-UAW Local 7902 union, which represents part-time faculty, first announced the news in an Instagram post last night.
“An agreement having been reached, the part-time faculty have agreed to suspend the strike while membership votes on the agreement, and intend to return to the classroom on December 11th,” the union said in the post.
According to an email the union sent to its members, both parties tentatively agreed on a contract that includes substantial raises, pay for work outside of the classroom, improved healthcare access, job security, paid family leave and more.
In a joint statement, the university and the union said that the contract will now go to the part-time faculty for a ratification vote.
“This is a strong, fair, five-year contract that increases compensation significantly, protects health care benefits, and ensures that part-time faculty are paid for additional work done outside the classroom to support our students,” the statement said.
The union said they have withdrawn their Unfair Labor Practice charge against the university, which was filed with the National Labor Relations Board when The New School asked employees to fill out weekly work certification forms in order to receive wages.
Though the part-time faculty strike is over, some students continue to occupy the University Center at 63 Fifth Ave. Hours before the end of the strike was called, occupying students posted a list of demands to the Instagram account @newschooloccupied. Demands included a tuition refund for the instructional time lost during the strike, a universal A grading policy for the fall semester, a tuition freeze through 2027-28, the protection of international students and communal use of the university president’s house.
Following a town hall this afternoon that served as a space for students and faculty to speak openly about their feelings and goals, occupying students held a general meeting in the University Center. Several events are planned for tomorrow, including a student vote of no confidence in the administration and a general assembly.
Updated on Dec. 12 at 12:33 p.m.
Additional reporting by Katie Akhalbedashvili
Received communication from the school today saying they will not refund or credit me for the three week strike. All my classes were cancelled and not even a partial refund!