Transforming Higher Education

Movement Milestones and Victories

We’re working to improve learning and teaching conditions and access to higher education, while standing up to end the trend toward a low-road, corporate-business model for education. More than 50,000 faculty and graduate workers are already united through SEIU Faculty Forward. Every day more educators, students and community members across the country are joining our fight to transform higher education. Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished together so far.

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

In landmark union election, Occidental College faculty vote to join SEIU Local 721

Over 100 non-tenure track faculty at Occidental College voted to join SEIU Local 721. Tuesday’s landmark yes vote comes after a months-long organizing drive that saw scores of faculty and students working together to raise standards and improve working conditions for faculty at the nationally renowned liberal arts college.

“We're heartened by the strong showing of support in today's vote by Occidental's faculty,” said Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Brian Clearwater. “This puts us in a solid position to obtain a contract that reflects the excellent teaching and service that Occidental's non-tenure track faculty do.”

Occidental College faculty are the latest in the growing, nationwide movement of faculty and graduate students taking action to address the crisis of corporatization in higher education. Their victory marks the fifth successful Los Angeles election through SEIU’s Faculty Forward initiative.

“My Occidental colleagues are an inspiration,” said Desiree Zamorano, a non-tenure track professor of education. “May we together inspire faculty and graduate students organizing at other campuses across the country.”

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