From Nataly Reed, a member of United Campus Workers Arizona, a CWA affiliate and HELU member
If it weren’t so devastating, it would be comic timing.
Every year, contingent faculty, specifically lecturers with academic year appointments, at the University of Arizona are laid off in May. Then, in the fall, some are hired back in even more precarious positions as adjunct instructors. At the last minute, a frantic email goes out: Who can take on an extra class? Last year, there were even adjunct instructors teaching full-time loads—all the work and none of the security.
This May, my colleagues in the UA Writing Program suffered insult to injury. Not only were ten of the fifty lecturers laid off, but they were cut off from health insurance and access to their university accounts with less than a week’s notice.
Devastating. Everyone who has lost a job faces that dread—How will I survive? How will I provide for my family? What are my options?
Speaking to the Tucson Daily Star, two of my colleagues, who are also members of United Campus Workers Arizona, shared their reactions to losing their jobs:
Logan Phillips, “who has been with the writing program since 2018, said…he found out the health insurance for himself and his child would be cut off within six days” and that “this creates a culture of silence in which we are scared to advocate for ourselves, lest we face this exact outcome.”
Jon LaGuardia, “who has been with the writing program since 2008” and “whose health insurance was also expiring on Sunday,” said he was panicking. ‘I take medications that would be disastrous to stop.’”
Another colleague, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke of the emotional toll. How demoralizing it is to be rejected from a chosen career, despite years of investment in the success of the program and despite receiving positive performance reviews.
My colleagues whose contracts were not renewed are highly qualified and experienced faculty, some of whom were in the middle of their promotion process. They have been leaders in university service and professional development.
In May, I had just participated in a “Borderlands Teaching Collective” training, work that supports the University of Arizona’s designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution, when I learned that one of the leaders of the workshop also lost their job. It is unconscionable to extract this fellow worker’s labor; in one week sharing his expertise in a post-semester workshop and in the next week facing unemployment.
If anything good has come of this catastrophe of contingency, it is that we are not alone. From the moment the layoffs were announced, we have been fighting back through a range of collective actions.
In the Writing Program cohort, we immediately began with check-ins, strategy meetings, and mutual aid for our colleagues.
United Campus Workers Arizona demanded the reinstatement of all ten Writing Program lecturers in this public statement, and continues to campaign for job security for contingent faculty on all of our campuses; see our current statewide petition “Unite to Defend Public Education Against Federal Attacks.”
Union members who are also leadership in the UA Faculty Senate challenged the layoffs in terms of university policy and ethical practices, outlined in this document prepared by the Faculty Chair Leila Hudson, “Top Ten Reasons Why the Nonrenewed Are Owed a 90-day Contract Extension.”
Writing Program faculty and allies have spoken to the press and to the Arizona Board of Regents during public comments to raise awareness and call for their colleagues to be rehired.
Our national affiliate, Communications Workers of America, has provided legal guidance and support.
In the UCWAZ Contingent Faculty Working Group, we are mobilizing and organizing on all Arizona campuses because we know these types of layoffs are happening everywhere. In addition to planning actions for the fall, such as “Have you seen my colleague?” posters and “Disorientation” events to counter university management’s narratives, we are strengthening our support networks for each other and we are strategizing escalations in our campaign to fight for job security, fair working conditions, and thriving wages.
In solidarity!