This post is about an historic union victory and the upcoming memoir that celebrates it.
In 1992, a small, sinister no doubt, group of adjunct faculty members at Eastern Michigan University—known euphemistically as part-timers even though some taught up to eight classes a semester, on three campuses throughout southeast Michigan to make ends meet—came together and made a vow: that they would create one bargaining unit for all adjunct faculty members, both part-timers and full-timers.
It was a gutsy move. In all of Michigan history, no such bargaining unit—for adjunct faculty exclusively—had ever existed. In addition, they faced a hostile administration. By the end of that first meeting, they had formed themselves into EMULOC: Eastern Michigan University Lecturers Organizing Committee (later Congress).
They began their first card campaign the next day.
But it took thirty years!
In Thumbs Up: Memoir of a Joyful Organizer, I share my story of that historic campaign for the first time.
In these dark times, we have to remember: When we organize—we win!
But sometimes it takes a long time. Think thirty years.
Thumbs Up launches on July 14 with a party at Third Mind Bookstore, 118 East Washington, in downtown Ann Arbor. But it is available now at a special preorder purchase price. Consider it the family rate. You can preorder your softcover and ebook versions here.
To learn more about Thumbs Up and to see what others are saying about it, visit my book page.
And if you’re so inspired, please place an honest review on whatever platform you used to purchase it.
Be well and keep laughing. They hate that.
Peace.
Ken
