Howard University Faculty Threatens to Go on Strike Over Unfair Working Conditions

An electronic signboard welcomes people to the Howard University campus in Washington. Faculty members say they plan to protest over unfair working conditions for its tenure faculty on campus. Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Hundreds of faculty members at Howard University in Washington, D.C., say they are threatening to go on strike next week over complaints of unfair working conditions.

During a demonstration held on campus Wednesday, several university faculty members, students and alumni leaders rallied in support of the school’s faculty as they argue what is low pay for non-tenured, full-time teaching faculty and adjunct professors.

Some faculty members say if an agreement is not reached with the university by Friday, they will execute a strike starting next week.

Currently, there are 150 non-tenure-track, full-time teaching faculty and more than 200 adjunct professors on Howard’s campus — all of whom are represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500, which shared these employment figures.

“The University leadership has made clear that a better teaching environment and better learning environment is unimportant to them,” said Contingent Faculty leader and Howard alumnus Cyrus Hampton, according to SEIU.

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SOURCE: NPR, Jonathan Franklin