LOS ANGELES - Dec. 20, 2024 - PRLog -- On June 11, 2024 the full and part-time non-tenure track faculty (NTTF) from Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts (BCLA), School of Film and Television (SFTV), and College of Communication and Fine Arts (CFA) unionized with an overwhelming and historic YES vote (227 yes, 29 against out of 256 votes) under local Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 721. SEIU starts the first contract negotiations with Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Administration on December 20, 2024. The sole goal of the Bargaining Action Team (BAT) is to elevate and increase the fairness of compensation, benefits, and overall value of the union member's expertise of instruction to the LMU student body attending these schools. For example, SFTV is currently ranked as the #5 film school in the nation (The Hollywood Reporter, August 2024, among the country's top 26 film schools), this is due in part to its part-time NTTF who make up the 61% of the faculty and teach 49% (2019) of the courses, as the NTTF bring professional experience to their students. Elizabeth Quinn, Senior Lecturer of Screenwriting (SFTV) stated, "As home to the top five film school in the country, there is a glaring disconnect between LMU relying so heavily on a large number of Hollywood union members working as NTT Faculty to teach SFTV while resisting our need for an NTTF union."

The BAT team comprises NTTF members from the three schools, focusing on the diverse needs of the membership as a whole in contract negotiations. Inspired by our personal stories, NTTF BAT members are fighting for the rights of ALL NTTF union members, many of whom feel unable to individually voice their valuable contributions to the impactful shaping of the LMU students, given the lack of job security. NTTF is seeking that LMU provide compensation which meets the basic needs of their faculty within the high cost of living environment of Los Angeles.  President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D. of LMU earned $1,175,991 in compensation for 2022-23 fiscal year and recently received a 30% increase in salary, while even the highest paid full-time NTTF are paid wages that qualify for low income in Los Angeles county. NTTF are not granted cost-of-living increases, which result in a lesser salary now than they received in years prior. "This is an opportunity for LMU to reaffirm its commitment to social justice by ensuring that non-tenure-track faculty, the faculty who teach most of the courses at the university, can afford to live with dignity in Los Angeles." Stated Brian Wisch, Rhetorical Arts Instructor (BCLA).

The first bargaining meeting will take place at LMU Westchester campus from 10am to 1pm on December 20, 2024. Interested in following the NTTF union members through updates and notices, follow us on Instagram @LMU_NTTFACULTY.

SEIU Mission statement: We are a powerful organization that stands for quality services and wins for our members and the communities where they live and work. https://www.seiu721.org/

Loyola Marymount University Mission Statement:

"...We benefit from our location in Los Angeles, a dynamic city that brings into sharp focus the issues of our time and provides an ideal context for study, research, creative work, and active engagement. By intention and philosophy, we invite men and women diverse in talents, interests, and cultural backgrounds to enrich our educational community and advance our mission:

The encouragement of learning

The education of the whole person

The service of faith and the promotion of justice." https://www.lmu.edu/about/mission/

BAT Members:

Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts (BCLA): Arik Greenberg, Clinical Assistant Professor of Theological Studies; Bryan Wisch, Rhetorical Arts Instructor; Laura Huffman, Senior Instructor of French; Lauren Cole, Senior Lecturer of History; Mark Gaynor, Lecturer of Philosophy

College of Communication and Fine Arts (CFA): Barbara Dyer, Senior Lecturer of Music

Darrin Murray, Senior Lecturer of Communication Studies; Jermaine McGhee, Lecturer of Theatre Arts & Dance; Maureen Gonzales, Lecturer of Dance; Nicki Heskin, Assistant Clinical Professor of Production Management

School of Film and Television (SFTV): Elizabeth Quinn, Senior Lecturer of Screenwriting

Jon Medici, Senior Lecturer of Screenwriting; Leslie La Page, Lecturer of Production Film & Television; Michael Daley, Clinical Associate Professor of Screenwriting; Sam Goff, Lecturer of Animation

SEIU Legal Team:

Hannah Weinstein, Partner at Rothner, Segall & Greenstone, B.A., Carleton College (Phi Beta Kappa), J.D., UCLA School of Law.

Pareesa Darafshi, Associate at Rothner, Segall & Greenstone, B.A., UC Davis, J.D., UCLA School of Law

For interviews or further information on the BAT members, SEIU union, or SEIU union legal team please contact: SEIU- Tim Sandoval 213-218-5855 Email: tim.sandoval@seiu721.org