In Solidarity, Always.

Students march in solidarity with The New School’s part-time faculty union. Photo courtesy of Marc Lepson (@marclepsonart) on IG.

A PERSONAL STATEMENT ON THE PART TIME FACULTY STRIKE

In Solidarity, Always.

Personal Statement on the Part Time Faculty Strike

At the dawn of November 16, 2022, The Part Time Faculty at The New School University announced the commencement of an indefinite strike. For many months now, the faculty have called the administration to the table for a restructuring of their employment contracts which happen to last five years at a time. The administration has proven itself to be quite reluctant to renew contract deals, to the extent that they ghosted the part-time faculty till their contract was nearly over. In wake of this, the tension between administration and the part time faculty has only continued to rise rapidly. Over the period of about two to three months, both admin and faculty have presented different stories about the frustrations and the reality of the bargaining process. The administration continues to insist that they are trying to meet the demands of the part time faculty, however their demands are out of the scope of their budget. More recently, they have announced that the part time faculty has been standoffish and reluctant to reach a final agreement. The part time faculty, on the other hand, have also kept us informed of the continuous desire of the admin to ignore the discontent of its workers. In fact they have gone so far as to hire one of New York’s best union busting layers to put an end to the workers political action. The part time faculty have shown us data that describes a huge disparity in the income distribution between the top administration and the part time faculty and are demanding a fair redistribution of income, especially from President McBride and the Provost of the New School. While there are many sides to the story, and many more technicalities to the stances of both parties, the message appears to be clear on both sides. The Part Time Faculty have had enough and are utilizing one of their most profound political and economic superpowers— the ability to withhold their labor power, in service of their bourgeois right i.e, the right to be paid the value of their labor. And like the “typical villain” of the story, the new school administration seems to be in favor of doing everything they can to deprive them of it, whether it is by hiring lawyers, or strategizing for an impasse to make faculty requests superfluous.

Like many students of the new school, myself included, its “progressive” branding was not one of the factors that influenced my decision to attend the college. Even then, we are not so desensitized to the internal conditions of our academy that seem to contradict this branding. On October 31, the part time faculty,in solidarity with other students carried out the funeral of the new school's progressive values as a statement and a warning of their collective decision to authorize the strike, as well as in response to the administration's reluctance to meet their demands. Despite the solidarity, it is still difficult for students to fully invest their passion to support the faculty into the strike.The transactional relationship that exists between the students and the school is one that is naturally economically opposed to each other especially during the conditions of a strike. This is because students are the consumers in the university market, while professors produce our transcript. Considering we have paid an exorbitant amount for this product, solidarity appears very nuanced. The strike is meant to intentionally disrupt our consumption of the products of the part time faculty’s labor. Even beyond that, it is ultimately meant to disrupt their employers (admin) “abuse” of their labor. However, solidarity between students and the part time faculty only grows stronger and I am personally appreciative of the collective strike plans and organizational activities the students in my small classes have planned in order to continue our education in one way or another while also respecting the picket line and advocating for our part time faculty. We should also be understanding of the many students and part time fellows who will not be able to join us in solidarity for legal reasons and consequently the students who are affected by their decision.

It is important, however, that we as students don’t illusion ourselves with the conditions with which we are being met right now. It is not abnormal for the strike to occur, nor is it surprising that the school refuses to pay the teachers their due. It is only to our benefit that we happened to arrive at a time when these social economic relations are at their heights once again. (and at some point very soon will be at their heights once more). It serves to us, as a learning experience, of the political value of labor power. It reminds us that we too, already or maybe very soon, will be entering a world in which such political value will need to be recognized. Better to learn about it now than to be oblivious to it later on.

As an aspiring young socialist, while a strike is powerful it is certainly nothing revolutionary. And I think there is a common consensus on the matter because no one has ever called this strike revolutionary. But, so long as it involves the well-being of many people, who have given their time and effort to educate us and are demanding their bourgeois right, it is always an important, and powerful statement— no matter the outcome. I recognize the part time faculty members struggle for improved working conditions, compensation and essentially a better contract. And I know many of my fellow students agree with this sentiment and support our professors in solidarity, always.

Always, In Solidarity

Michael Kpade.