Western Michigan University relies on hundreds of adjunct faculty every year to fulfill its educational mission. Yet most of these instructors are paid poverty-level wages — less than $19,000 a year teaching a full-time course load. We have not seen an increase in our wages since Fall 2020. Further, with rampant inflation over the last three years, our “pay freeze” has effectively been a pay cut of nearly 19%! That means our already low pay of $1050 per credit hour is only worth $883.25 in 2020 dollars!

The Professional Instructors Organization (PIO Local No. 1903) are fighting for a living wage for all part-time faculty. We are highly qualified and deeply dedicated instructors who bring real value to the institution. Part-time faculty deserve a living wage. Tell Western Michigan University to stop paying poverty wages to the instructors who enrich their students’ experience — as well as enriching the university’s balance sheet.

Our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions. Help us in our fight for dignified wages and stand with our union.

In the "Affiliation" field, please let us know if/how you are affiliated with WMU, PIO, the community, or Unions in general. For example, you could use “WMU Student,” "WMU Faculty,” “Student Parent,” “Prospective Student,” ”Kalamazoo Resident,” or "Concerned Ally,” among others.

(The PIO is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, local #1903, AFL-CIO)