Dear UCU Members,
We encourage all members to review Laura’s email to the community, as it outlines significant changes to Cooper Union’s operations. Notably, all instruction will continue online through the Fall semester.
Such a large change to the institution’s operations will affect our members, though after engaging with the administration over these plans, the UCU would like you to know that there have been no lay-offs. Furloughs are occurring solely for positions where there is a lack of work due to the coronavirus, and all members that are being furloughed at this time have already been contacted by both HR and the UCU.
We ask again that if your working conditions are impacted by these changes, please reach out to the UCU. As new developments may impact the Fall further, we are continuing to meet regularly to determine how best to support the membership through this crisis.
In solidarity,
UCU Executive Committee
June 24 Update:
Dear UCU Members,
We’ve been responding individually to members to address concerns about the furloughs, but we’d like to provide additional information to the membership as a whole.
The administration’s decisions to furlough staff was based on lack of work, with no specified end date for the furloughs. For affected members, this means that the individual circumstances of your job will determine when you will be called back to work. Given the continued uncertainty over the extent to which Cooper will be physically open in the fall, this could be before, during, or after the Fall semester. The administration has said that they will give you two weeks notice for your return to work, and we will continue to stress the importance of giving members advance notice.
The operational changes required by the pandemic disproportionately affect certain workers. While 37 of our 144 members have been furloughed, 78% of those members are either technical staff or members of the Facilities team. We hope that restrictions can be loosened safely to provide greater access to shops, labs, and buildings and to allow these members to return to work.
While we were informed by the administration that decisions were made in consultation with faculty and staff, we are aware from some members that department chairs and/or faculty were unaware that members critical to their work were being furloughed. We advise members to continue informing us in these situations, as we may come to find out there was no lack of work, and will contest those furloughs.
For part-time and seasonal staff, the administration is again delaying a determination based on the uncertainty over the Fall. We were informed that a decision would be made by the end of July. We will push the administration to meet that deadline.
For any members not currently working through no fault of their own (including any part-time summer workers who did not receive appointment letters for the summer), we advise that you consider filing for unemployment. Eligibility has been expanded, and we would not want anyone who is eligible to be deprived of these benefits.
We’re working to update members with information as soon as it’s confirmed. If you have concerns about anything not addressed directly, contact us directly.
In solidarity,
UCU Executive Committee