American Association of University Professors claims reorganization is ‘demeaning’
By Peter Fiorilla, Staff Writer
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Citing changes in school policy put in place since 2009, a report published by the American Association of University Professors alleges that Union County College has bulldozed faculty rights by taking advantage of a state labor law, resulting in “demeaning” treatment of faculty and an inferior educational product.
The report, released in late November, illustrates a deteriorating relationship between administration and faculty at Union County College, which hosts more than 11,000 students at campuses in Cranford and Elizabeth.
In the report, the president of the campus chapter of AAUP, for example, said that there’s “a growing sense of fear, intimidation, and retaliation,” and that faculty members who publicly criticize administrative actions have been told continuing to do so may result in “adverse personnel actions.”
[…]According to information obtained from sources weeks ago, William Lipkin has been an adjunct president since 2004 and has been in an ongoing conflict with the school over claims of insubordination and unfair labor practices that many have alleged is just a form of retaliation by the school.
When reached on Tuesday, Lipkin declined to comment on the ongoing conflict for legal reasons. He did, however, express similar concerns to that of Damerow.
“It appears that the adjunct union leadership is being retaliated against by not being offered their normal schedules for the spring semester,” Lipkin said before ending the conversation.
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