Orientation & Welcome Guide
Fall 2024

Welcome to Duke! We are thrilled that you are here. We’re excited to welcome you to the Duke Faculty Union, the first faculty Union at a private university in the Southern U.S. From our origins as “Duke Teaching First” to winning our first contract in July 2017 to the present, the Duke Faculty Union has continued to advocate for non-regular rank faculty at Duke and help make it a better workplace.
Here is some helpful information on Duke, Durham, and our Union. There are links to academic and recreational resources as well as explanations of Union protections and benefits.

We welcome your questions, suggestions, and comments any time at dukefacultyunion@gmail.com. We encourage you to get to know more about our Union and become a member!

The Duke Faculty Union

WHAT IS THE DUKE FACULTY UNION?
Formed in 2017, the Duke Faculty Union advocates for non-regular-rank faculty at Duke and bargains collectively with the University to produce legally binding contracts governing the terms of our employment. As Local 26, we are affiliated with the Workers United Southern Region of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

WHAT HAS IT ACCOMPLISHED?
Starting with our first contract seven years ago and continuing on to the present, here are some of the things we have gained for unionized faculty:
We have increased pay for every faculty member covered by our contracts. Our first contract brought the lowest salaries up by 46%. Unionized faculty now receive regular yearly cost-of-living raises equal to those of regular-rank faculty.
Appointments have been regularized, improving job security. Family and medical leave benefits now match those of regular-rank faculty.
We have increased our ability to participate in departmental functions and get access to teaching materials and professional development funding, as well as a standardized evaluation and reappointment procedure.

WHO IS COVERED BY OUR CONTRACT?
Non-regular rank faculty in the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School, and the Center for Documentary Studies who are listed as either Instructors or Lecturing Fellows are covered by our bargaining agreements with the University Administration, regardless of whether they are members.

IF I ALREADY GET THE BENEFITS, WHY SHOULD I BECOME A MEMBER?
Members are the Union. Becoming a Union member gives you a say in improving your working conditions and brings you into a vibrant community of scholars and creators. Members serve on the Executive Committee, vote on leadership, ratify our contracts, and set bargaining priorities. They may also participate in surveys, serve on committees, and attend bargaining sessions. By adding to our membership numbers, you increase our power in contract negotiations with the University. And you also make us stronger by helping to pay for the resources – such as seasoned negotiators and experienced labor lawyers – essential for continuing our work.

HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER? WHAT ARE THE DUES?
Go to the Duke Faculty Union Website and click on “Become a Member.” The dues are 1.5% of your monthly paycheck, up to a maximum of $50 per month.

WHAT IS SEIU?
SEIU is the Service Employees International Union, the largest and fastest-growing Union in the U.S. SEIU represents nearly 54,000 members in public and private higher education in the United States. While the Duke Faculty Union is self-governing, our affiliation with SEIU’s Southern Region gives us access to resources and expertise that we cannot provide without them. These have supported our efforts from first steps in organizing to the latest negotiations.

WHAT IS THE DUKE FACULTY UNION’S STRUCTURE?
Every three years, Union membership votes for two Co-Chairs and an Executive Committee. Currently, our Co-Chairs are Jim Haverkamp (Cinematic Arts) and Sandra Cotton (Music), and the Executive Committee consists of Secretary Amy Jones (German Studies), Treasurer Eileen Anderson (Romance Studies), Sergeant-at-Arms Leslie Maxwell (Thompson Writing Program), and At-Large Members Rene Caputo (Thompson Writing Program), Harry Karahalios (Romance Studies), Cathy Shuman (English), and Miranda Welsh (Thompson Writing Program). In addition, groups of departments are served by Cluster Representatives (check the website for your current cluster rep).

HOW CAN I GET MORE INVOLVED?
The Duke Faculty Union is one of the few cross-department communities at Duke. We encourage all members to come to our general body meetings and social events! You might also consider joining the Executive Committee or becoming a Cluster Rep. Check out our website or email us about opportunities to get more involved.

ARE THERE OTHER UNIONS AT DUKE?
Yes! Duke Workers United is a coalition bringing together the six unions at Duke:

Working at Duke

WHAT DO THE JOB TITLES MEAN?

  • Instructor A:  Instructor As teach courses on a semester or one-year basis, in order to fill temporary needs in a department – as when a faculty member goes on leave or a new course is being tested.  After four years of consecutive service, they are offered a 3-year appointment and reclassified as Lecturing Fellows. (See Contract, Article 8)
  • Instructor B:  Instructor Bs do not teach independent courses, but engage in instructional activity such as leading a lab or discussion section.  For the first year, they may have a semester- or year-long appointment.  After three years, they are offered 2-year appointments, and after five years, three-year appointments. (See Contract, Article 8)
  • Lecturing Fellow: Lecturing Fellows teach and design courses.  Initial and second appointments may be for one, two, or three years.  After two one-year appointments or five years of consecutive service, the appointment is for three years.  Lecturing Fellows hired on a per-course basis may be appointed on a semester or one-year basis.  After three years of consecutive service, the appointment is for two years, and after five years, for three years. (See Contract, Article 8)

WHAT ABOUT JOB SECURITY?
See above for initial appointment lengths. Union faculty eligible for multi-year appointments will be reappointed unless one of the following applies: poor performance, elimination or downsizing of the department or program or other general curriculum modification, the hiring of a regular-rank faculty member, or serious financial change impacting the University. (See Contract, Article 8)

HOW ARE SALARIES DETERMINED?
Every three years, the Union negotiates minimum pay rates for the various categories of non-regular rank faculty. These minimums go up with years of service. We also receive the same yearly cost-of-living pay raises as regular-rank faculty. (See Contract, Article 17)

WHAT MATERIALS AND FACILITIES WILL DUKE PROVIDE?
If your appointment has been approved for one or more academic year(s), you should be provided with a computer and with computer services and training on the same basis as other faculty. With approval, you can get reimbursed for materials, supplies, or software you need for your classes. You should also have access to appropriate space for preparing class, meeting with students, and storing teaching materials. (See Contract, Article 20)

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY COURSE GETS CANCELED?
If you teach full-time and/or have taught at Duke for at least five years, you will lose no pay or benefits for a course cancellation. If you teach part-time with fewer than five years, you will receive a cancellation fee of 15%. (See Contract, Article 9)

HOW DO I GET FUNDING FOR PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES?
The Union’s Professional Development Fund provides funding for conference attendance and other professional development activity related to teaching, scholarship, artistic or professional practice at Duke. (See Contract, Article 19)

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MY SPECIFIC WORK SITUATION – WHO DO I CONTACT?
The more we all know about each other’s working conditions, the better. Email us with any questions or issues about your work at Duke.

Teaching Tips

Things to Do: Member Favorites in Durham & Beyond

Also check out Indy Week – a good source for local news – and its annual Best of the Triangle.

Animal Activities

Entertainment

Farmers’ Markets
You can drop off your compost at both Carrboro and Chapel Hill Farmers’ Markets!

Fun with the Kids

History/Art

Hiking and Outdoors

Be sure to watch out for ticks in the summer!  

Food!

Cafes & Bakeries

International Grocery

Restaurants

Wine, Beer, etc.