Dear President Spencer and Trustees of Bates College,

We are writing as tenured and tenure-track faculty to ask that you not interfere with our non-tenure track and staff colleagues as they decide whether to form a union.

Over the weekend, a strong majority of contingent faculty signed union authorization cards indicating their interest in forming the Bates Educators & Staff Organization (BESO). However, union authorization cards continue to be signed; we understand that there has been interest and participation from colleagues across all offices and departments at the college. As you know, the process of forming a union requires several formal steps, each of which entails opportunities for eligible employees to discuss and decide for themselves -- both individually and collectively -- whether to come together formally as a union. It is up to each individual whether to sign a union authorization card, and whether and how to vote in an NLRB-sponsored union election. If a majority of votes support unionization and a first contract is reached through collective bargaining with the Bates administration, each individual can decide whether to officially join the union as a dues-paying member.

We believe it is vitally important that our colleagues’ autonomy be respected as they deliberately and democratically navigate each of these decisions, and that the Bates administration refrain from any attempts to influence our colleagues’ choices. Specifically, we call upon you to:

1. Commit to neutrality as our colleagues continue to exercise their right to talk to their coworkers about forming their union, and as they move toward a formal election;

2. Not spend any college funds to engage in anti-union activities designed to mislead, dissuade, coerce, or otherwise influence our colleagues, as the Bates administration did in 1999 when 75 dining workers attempted to unionize (bit.ly/1999story); and

3. Officially recognize their union should the National Labor Relations Board certify that a majority of our union-eligible colleagues have chosen accordingly.

In the coming days, BESO will deliver a formal neutrality agreement for your signature. We, the undersigned tenured and tenure-track faculty, request your commitment to the word and spirit of that agreement: to respect employees’ right to unionize without disruption or interference by or at the behest of management.

Sincerely,

Anelise Hanson Shrout
Andrew Baker
Lisa Gilson
Asha Tamirisa
Michelle R. Greene
Brian J Evans
Erica Rand
Mark Lewis Tizzoni
Katie Adkison
Geneviève Robert
Rebecca Herzig
Tyler Harper
Dale Chapman
Jakub Kazecki
Francisca López
Caroline Shaw
Seulgie Lim
Erik Bernardino
Emily W. Kane
Meredith Greer
Lauren Ashwell
Joe Hall
Andrew J Kennedy
Yun Garrison
Cynthia M. Baker
Stephanie Pridgeon
Laurie O’Higgins
Lisa Maurizio
Carolina González Valencia
Paul Schofield
Adriana Salerno
James RIchter
Kirk Read
Marcelle Medford
Mike Dacey
Colleen O'Loughlin
Justine Wiesinger
Mara Casey Tieken
Sonja Pieck
Karen Melvin
Wesley Chaney
Clarisa Perez-Armendariz
Elizabeth A Eames
Susan Stark
Carrie Diaz Eaton
Carla Essenberg
Myron Beasley
Patricia Buck
Jay Hartshorn
Darby Ray
Andrew Mountcastle
Eden Osucha
Cliff Odle
Geneva Laurita
Tim Dugan
Loring M. Danforth
William Wallace
Patrick W. Otim
Claudia Aburto Guzmán
John Smedley
Charles I. Nero
Baltasar Fra-Molinero
Therí Alyce Pickens
Senem Aslan
Peter Casares
Heidi Lynn Taylor
Pamela Johnson
Hiroya Miura
Alexandre Dauge-Roth
Peter Jonathan Lasagna
Michael Reidy
Ian-Khara Ellasante
Sue E Houchins

For more information:

BESO's Faculty FAQ bit.ly/besofacultyfaq
BESO's Mission Statement bit.ly/besomission