To: Wellesley College Community
From: Courtney Coile, Provost and Lia Gelin Poorvu ’56 Dean of the College, and Carolyn Slaboden, Chief Human Resources Officer
Re: College calls on UAW to make progress at bargaining table or choose mediation
Date: April 9, 2025
Over the three bargaining sessions with the WOAW-UAW, the union representing Wellesley’s non-tenure track (NTT) faculty, since the strike began, the College made significant new proposals that reflect compromise on workload, compensation, benefits, appointments/reappointments/titles, and promotions—all major issues on which the union and the College have had serious differences.
Instead of demonstrating a similar spirit of compromise, the WOAW-UAW (UAW) has refused to make significant moves or even consider new proposals on a range of issues until the parties reach agreement on the larger issues of workload and compensation.
Given this response, the College called on the UAW earlier today to commit to making progress at the bargaining table or to choose mediation. Negotiation is a process during which both sides must act in good faith. It requires compromise, and it requires considering each other’s proposals. The UAW is doing neither.
The UAW has every right to continue to strike in support of its positions. What remains remarkable is why, when the deadlock on major issues is apparent and the strike has gone on for two full weeks, the UAW continues to reject mediation.
The College’s position is clear: We stand ready to continue negotiating if and when the union shows willingness to take major steps forward. We believe holding bargaining sessions during which the College offers proposals that the UAW refuses to consider is fruitless and will not advance our shared goal of finalizing a contract. We once again call on the UAW to agree to mediation, a logical next step when two sides have exhausted their efforts to reach an agreement.
As always, additional information can be found at the College’s dedicated website.