Wellesley Organized Academic Workers (WOAW-UAW), the non-tenure track faculty union, will begin a strike this Thursday, the College announced today in an email sent to all students, faculty, and staff.

The Wellesley News reported yesterday that WOAW would likely begin a strike after both parties failed to agree on key issues, including compensation and workload in the Tuesday bargaining session. 

The College said the Union rejected the College’s offer to move to mediation facilitated by federal mediators under the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). 

FMCS is an independent federal agency that provides mediation and other conflict resolution services to help resolve labor-management disputes.

However, President Trump announced a presidential action on March 14, directing FCMS and other targeted federal agencies to eliminate “non-statutory components” and to “reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.”

The agency reiterated their efforts to remain operational and continue to provide their statutorily mandated services, in a press release on March 19.

“To be clear, FMCS is still operational and performing our statutory functions of collective bargaining mediation work in the private and federal Sectors, USPS dispute cases, labor-management committee work, and providing arbitration panels,” the agency said.

Members of WOAW plan to picket at the Route 135 entrance to campus, but the entrance and College Road will remain open, according to the College. 

The Union currently has plans for strikes on April 5-6 on a shift sign-up form on their website. That weekend, the College will host the Hillary Rodham Center Summit which includes speakers like former state of secretary Hillary Rodham ’69 and Arkansas State Senator Breanne Davis (R).

In an emailed statement to the News, WOAW believed the College’s mediation request was “disingenuous” and “would not have averted a strike,” on top of the fact the College announcement came after it was made aware that the FMCS is no longer able to provide such services.

“The college requested that future sessions be mediation, but still did not offer any dates before April 3. In our bargaining session yesterday, we offered to bargain with the college today to avert a strike and they declined.

“We believe mediation at this time is premature, and we have said many times we are willing to negotiate on many areas in our proposal,” said Jacquelin Woodford, lecturer in Chemistry.

The College told the News that they were unaware of the suspension of federal mediation services when the community email was sent, and their labor lawyer reached out to the mediator yesterday, before the administrative leave announcement had been made.

“The College stands by its offer to move to mediation with WOAW. Private mediation is still an option with a neutral mediator. The College is eager to take that step and calls on WOAW-UAW to join us,” said the College.

Talks falling apart

This announcement follows the 24th bargaining session between the Union and the College held earlier this afternoon. The session included WOAW’s presentation of a comprehensive package of all current proposals and discussions with the College on these high-priority issues. 

WOAW proposed to meet for an additional bargaining session tomorrow to avert a strike, but the College declined to meet before Thursday. While a strike has not been officially announced, WOAW members expressed in statements to the News that one is likely to follow. 

The College’s latest proposal for starting salary stands at $68,000 for Visiting Lecturers and $72K for lecturers, while WOAW’s latest proposal stands at $88,000 for Visiting and “Tier 1” lecturers. 

 The College’s offer also includes an “additional $10,000 increase over two years” for the new five-course workload standard, an across-the-board wage increase of 2.75% and an additional 1.5% increase for each year at the College for newly hired employees.

In an email statement to The News, the College described this offer as “a bold new package proposal” that included “unprecedented increases in compensation for union agreement on a five course annual teaching load for all unit members.”

 The College also stated that it made “serious movement” toward the Union’s proposal on discrimination and harassment, such as by adding stand-alone protections from bullying for the first time. 

According to an email statement from Erin Battat, Senior Lecturer in the Writing Program and a member of the bargaining committee, the College proposed a five-course workload with a $10,000 increase to the base salary during today’s bargaining session. This is equivalent to what non-tenure track professors currently receive when electing to teach a fifth course.

“The College’s proposal makes working overtime the new, required norm,” Battat wrote. “We had hoped that Wellesley was serious about their claims to care about averting a strike, but their actions at the bargaining prove otherwise.”

A spokesperson for the College told The News that a campus-wide announcement will also be sent out on Wednesday morning regarding the state of bargaining and the possible strike. Members of the bargaining units may choose whether to strike. 

“We would rather be teaching, but the College’s conduct has left us with no choice. We are prepared to join the picket lines on Thursday morning,” said Battat.

During the strike, Union members will receive $500 a week in strike assistance from the UAW if they picket for at least 20 hours.

During today’s bargaining session, the Union took a two-hour break and compiled a 95-page comprehensive package, which the College described as reiterating positions from months ago. 

 The College said it was “very disappointed” at the Union’s “outright” rejection of the offers without presenting alternatives “that could narrow, rather than expand, our differences.” 

Timeline of strike announcements

The News previously reported that the WOAW union’s strike authorization vote passed by 93% on February 24. However, in subsequent bargaining sessions, WOAW and Wellesley were not able to reach agreements on compensation, workload, and discrimination and harassment procedures. On March 10, WOAW held a rally to advocate for progress in the negotiations. 

Last Tuesday, March 18, WOAW announced March 27 as the strike date.

  The College responded to the strike announcement in a campus-wide email sent on March 24 by Provost Courtney Coile and Carolyn Slaboden, Chief Human Resources Officer. The email stated that the College did not feel that parties were at an “impasse” and “sincerely [hoped] that WOAW-UAW does not decide to strike,” as well as that bargaining sessions have been scheduled for the next several weeks. More information on negotiation status is available on the College’s dedicated website. 

According to the WOAW Instagram, WOAW has offered to participate in additional bargaining sessions every day since March 18, but the College declined. 

What students should know

Wellesley College’s unionization FAQ page states that affected class department chairs will notify students directly. In some departments, these notifications have already been sent out to students. 

According to a post on WOAW’s Instagram on March 24, “Over 70% of tenure-track faculty have pledged not to teach struck classes taught by WOAW members.”

In departments including Biology, Chemistry, Women’s and Gender Studies and Anthropology, classes taught by non-tenure track faculty who choose to strike will not be filled by tenure-track faculty. The Economics department has informed students that classes with striking faculty will be filled by tenure-track faculty. 

On the FAQ page for students, WOAW has asked students to demonstrate solidarity with the union by refraining from attending courses taught by those on strike, showing support at picket locations and emailing campus administration in support of the union.

Financial future

The College currently projects over $8 million in budget deficit for the fiscal year 2026, in a statement sent to faculty and staff by Provost Courtney Coile and Piper Orton, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, seen by The News.  

In a separate statement reviewed by The News, this included a projected 30% increase in total compensation over the four-year contract for WOAW.

While the College often comes to a balanced budget, this year’s $8 million would require “significant action,” according to Coile. The email also stated that the College is considering a hiring freeze and a food and travel cut for faculty and staff. 

This comes amid uncertainties around “ongoing conversations about the possible cost to the College to the WOAW-UAW contract” and federal policy changes targeting higher education institutions. 

Wellesley, among other higher education institutions, is facing increasing pressure from the Trump administration, including a potential endowment tax hike and threats of cutting federal funding and grants. 

“With the Union having apparently decided to strike on Thursday and disrupt campus life for our students, the College will now consider what is the best pathway to reach an agreement,” the College wrote.

Still, union members remain confident in their bargaining demands.

“We are fighting the good fights. We are willing to fight for the contract we deserve,” said Jacqueline Woodford, lecturer in chemistry.

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Sazma Sarwar and India Lacey

Updated on March 26th to reflect corrections to department announcements.

Community members wore red in solidarity with WOAW, circulating signs, chant scripts and a student pledge. Attendees remained on the sidewalk for the duration of the rally to avoid gathering on the private property of the College. Speakers included union members, students, tenured faculty and Independent Maintenance and Service Employees Unions of America (IMSEUA) members.

Attendees walked from the Central Street vehicle entrance to the College pedestrian entrance at the corner of Central Street and Weston Road. People chanted “Hey hey, ho ho!/Wellesley greed has got to go,” “When I say Union, You Say Power” and “Wellesley, step off it!/Put people over profit.” Cars driving by honked in solidarity with the rally participants.

WOAW faculty expressed excitement over the student and union member turnout at the event. 

“I always knew our students were smart enough to not buy the College’s narrative that you know what they’re proposing is totally fine for students, but to actually see it in action was really moving,” said Professor Deb Bauer.

WOAW faculty were also grateful for the amount of union members who came to the rally.

“I was really heartened to see how many unit members showed up … To see the community coming together in a moment like this to really show the College the solidarity of the unit, it was really impressive to me,” said Professor Paul Martorelli.

Professors are hopeful that this rally will encourage progress in the bargaining with the College.

“I hope they realize that the things that we have been proposing are not unreasonable and that the changes that the College is proposing would hurt the entire community,” said Professor Christa Skow.

Current State of Bargaining

This demonstration occurred following the Strike Authorization Vote, which 93% of voting members approved earlier this month. Bargaining issues that led to the vote include compensation and workplace protections.

The WOAW Instagram page stated that the College emailed several departments offering $250 per class to tenure-track faculty who remain working in the case of a strike. In a statement to The News, a spokesperson for the College said, “If there is a work stoppage, the College’s top priority will be the academic experience of our students.”

According to the College’s available union website, Wellesley is developing contingency plans to mitigate possible strike-related disruptions to academics, campus safety and other programs. The College told The News that they will share details of the plans “if and when they are needed.”

In addition to the rally, the WOAW union urged community members to email the College administration and the Board of Trustees in solidarity.

Students Pledge to Strike

In response to the ongoing back and forth between WOAW and the College surrounding the Strike Authorization Vote, students have started an independent student pledge through social media platforms and student body emails from the student Community Organizing and Inclusion Liaison. 

Students who sign the pledge agree to abstain from classes taught by non-tenure track faculty for the duration of the strike, even if, according to the pledge, “the College brings in scab labor to cover the course.” 

Alex Teasley ’27, one of the organizers of the pledge, described its purpose as a “deterrent” to a strike.

“The hope is that the school will see this and … just meet WOAW at the negotiating table,” said Teasley, “If that does happen, then I’m hopeful that WOAW will still know in the future that they have 400 students who are ready to strike with them.” 

By Saturday March 15, the pledge received 506 responses. 

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Sazma Sarwar and Valida Pau

According to the bargaining update published on the WOAW website, the latest bargaining session led to a two-year Memorandum of Understanding between the College and the union regarding participation in the Albright Faculty Affiliates Program and the Hillary Rodham Clinton Center Faculty Research Initiative. The new memorandum allows union members to access these opportunities, as well as to be “included on all College-wide communications about all Wagner Centers Initiatives.”

Union members previously told The News that non-tenure track faculty were not allowed to apply for these initiatives on the grounds of being in active bargaining with the College. This new memorandum is a reversal of this policy.

According to bargaining updates published by both WOAW and the College, other proposals were discussed in sessions but have yet to be agreed upon. These include “Workspace and Materials,” “Privileges,” “Titles,” “Workload,” “Course Assignments,” “Wintersession,” “Employment Records” and “Evaluations and Performance Reviews.”

In September, the union created an open letter about discrimination and harassment policies on campus, which has reached over 620 signatures from college community members as of Oct. 16. No new updates in proposals or counter-proposals about this topic have occurred since September 24, according to WOAW’s proposal tracker.

Despite the signing of the memorandum, WOAW’s published bargaining update stated that the union “continue[s] to see an imbalance in the pace of bargaining.” The union also stated that the College is using “attrition oriented bargaining” where it is “moving slowly and hoping employees will become bored, frustrated, and discouraged.”

The College’s bargaining update stated, “The College hopes to continue to work to reach agreement on several other articles in the near future.”

WOAW’s next bargaining session is on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Updates about this bargaining session and future sessions can be found on the union’s bargaining hub. WOAW will also be holding a teach-in on Oct. 24 that community members can attend.

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Valida Pau, Sazma Sarwar and Lyanne Wang

The open letter directly addressed four senior College officials, including President Paula Johnson, Provost Courtney Coile, Dean of Faculty Affairs Megan Núñez and Chief Human Resource Officer Carolyn Slaboden. As of 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday, the letter has been signed by 67 WOAW faculty members, 49 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, four faculty emeriti, nine staff members, 29 current students and 20 alumni. 

This January, a group of non-tenured faculty voted to unionize as WOAW and the union is affiliated with United Auto Workers (UAW), one of the largest trade unions in the United States. The College has met with the union for nine bargaining sessions since May, according to the College’s website. 

Under their proposal, Wellesley’s unionized faculty could file a grievance in response to harassment or discrimination. Unionized faculty members, then, could receive immediate assistance — WOAW offers examples of schedule flexibility, mutual no-contact orders and office relocation — that can help them continue to work. 

The proposal comes in response to current College grievance procedures that exclude harassment and discrimination from the grounds for filing a grievance. Under this policy, a faculty member can only file for a Title IX investigation.  

Under the WOAW proposal, grievances concerning harassment and discrimination could be filed instead of or in addition to Title IX cases — WOAW says that the two processes, while separate, are complementary. 

WOAW said that their proposal is consistent with the Department of Education’s stance on the scope of Title IX. The Department’s regulations do not prevent someone from negotiating a grievance process, regardless of whether they file for a Title IX complaint. 

While the Union said the College has pushed back on its negotiating term, they said the proposal is consistent with Johnson’s own Congressional testimony in 2019 as co-chair of the Committee on the Impacts of Sexual Harassment in Academia.

In a June 12 testimony, Johnson noted that the “increased focus on symbolic compliance with Title IX and Title VII” did not necessarily lead to effective policies and procedures in preventing sexual harassment but instead protected the “liability of the institution.”

One of four recommendations was providing “support for the target,” including access to avenues that allow for less formal ways to report information about the incident, minimal fear of retaliation and the target’s reintegration into the work environment. 

In the letter, WOAW said their proposal offered College employees “more options for speaking up” as they claimed many non-tenured faculty who had reported harassment outside the Title IX process never received a response from the College.

“To exclude these claims from the grievance procedure would be a step backward for Wellesley and a step backward for women in academia. We believe Wellesley College should offer more to its faculty than basic legal compliance,” said WOAW. 

In response to a request for comment to The Wellesley News, the College said that updates about the negotiation process are available on their website.

The College said they will review proposals and counterproposals and respond in future sessions, on a page providing an update on the September 5 WOAW negotiations. The College will meet the Union again on September 24 and October 8. 

The College also listed attorney Nick DiGiovanni of Morgan, Brown & Joy as a member of their bargaining team. The Bates Student reported that DiGiovanni successfully prevented unionization for full-time faculty members at Tufts University Medical School and Elmira College. Morgan, Brown & Joy LLP’s website notes that one of their areas of advisement is union avoidance strategy. 

Contact the editor responsible for this story: Valida Pau

“This historic union victory is an expression of our desire for a stronger, more connected community where everyone can thrive,” read an email from Erin Battat, Heather Bryant and Annie Brubaker on behalf of the WOAW-UAW organizing committee. 

Voting took place on Monday, Jan. 29, and Tuesday, Jan. 30 in the Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall. 92.8% of FIP faculty voted to unionize and be represented by the Wellesley Organized Academic Workers (WOAW), affiliated with the United Auto Workers (UAW). The term “FIP” is used by Wellesley College to refer to Faculty on Term Appointments and Instructors of Science Labs, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics.

According to Professor Annie Brubaker, senior lecturer in the Writing Program, the vote signifies strong solidarity among faculty members. 

“80% [of eligible faculty members] turned out, which is a really remarkable turnout rate. I think that’s terrific, because it really shows that people cared,” she said. “There’s no mystery now that this is what we want as a community.”

The necessity for this vote was tied to the College’s refusal to voluntarily recognize the WOAW Union. FIP faculty delivered a letter to President Johnson and Provost Shennan requesting recognition for their union in late November. President Johnson’s response letter on Nov. 28 declined to voluntarily recognize the union. The next day, WOAW-UAW filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Hannah Grimmett ’25, heavily involved in UNILAD, the union and labor task force in Wellesley Against Mass Incarceration has advocated for a faculty union for the past two years. She is hopeful the union’s newly won legal status will change the dynamic between faculty and the College.

“Now that this vote has passed, it means that the faculty have legal bargaining rights with the College. That means that the College, or legal representatives of the College, and the faculty will come together at the bargaining table and legally be on an even playing field. The two sides have to listen to each other, more importantly, the College now has to listen to the faculty and their demands,” she commented. 

WOAW faculty now move into the bargaining phase with the College. Visiting Lecturer in American Studies, Ian Alexander, spoke on what this process will look like.

“Now, much of the process is really about changing the dynamic [between faculty and the College] through contract negotiation in very specific material ways. So I wouldn’t say that anything immediately changes as a result of the vote except that now the union is legally recognized as representative of contract-faculty and everyone who is in the union to negotiate the terms of their employment going forward.”

Student response on campus has been supportive of the new union. “I’m very excited,” expressed Evelyn McLear ’25. “I’ve been aware of the unionization effort since the Fall, so I’ve been hearing about it gaining support but didn’t think it would happen so soon.” 

“Nothing is ever going to be 100%, but it’s telling that the vote passed at such a high number,” said Zeina Nassif ’26. 

On Jan. 31, the College issued a response to the results of the election. “The College looks forward to working productively with WOAW-UAW leadership and laying the groundwork for future cooperation,” the statement read. However, the timeline for the bargaining and negotiation phase remains unclear.  

“We need to do some work together as a community to understand what our priorities are and then we’ll begin a formal negotiation process,” Brubaker said. “It could take a while to reach an agreement. It depends on what we decide to prioritize and ask for and how the college responds to that. I think our hope would be that [change] could be before the start of the next academic year.”