The college has declined Emerson Staff Union’s request to voluntarily recognize staff in the Office of the Arts as union members. The bargaining unit consisted mainly of staff working in the Box Office, Guest Experience, and Marketing departments.
“Expanding our union to include the dedicated and experienced staff of the Office of the Arts aligns perfectly with our core values,” a news release sent before the response said. “By bringing these hardworking and dedicated community members, we strengthen our collective bargaining power, enhance our union’s skillset and knowledge base, and ultimately advocate more effectively for the rights, equity, and well-being of all members.”
The union issued a letter requesting recognition to President Jay Bernhardt on Nov. 22, after the majority of eligible staff for union membership signed union cards.
“Emerson College strongly values its professional staff and respects their legal right to organize,” said Director of External Strategic Communications Rosemary Lavery in a statement to The Beacon. “Emerson will ensure our employees fully understand their rights and responsibilities and have opportunities to exercise their right to vote and be heard. The College will abide by all laws and requirements applicable to this process.”
The staff union will now take the matter to a vote with the National Labor Relations Board to call for an election to certify the seven eligible members to join the union.
The Emerson Staff Union, a collective bargaining organization representing an estimated 180 staff members at the college from the Academic Affairs, IT, and the Marketing Communications departments, is represented by Local SEIU 888.
Staff members from the three units in the Office of the Arts worked with the union for several months, seeking equitable salaries, representation across the board with the college, and job protections, John-Albert Moseley, chair of the union and the program coordinator of Visual Media Arts, told The Beacon.
The latest request comes after the union asked the college in February to voluntarily recognize 15 staff members in Financial Aid and Student Accounts as union members.
