The undersigned members of Lecturers’ Employee Organization (LEO)- AFT MI Local 6244, AFL-CIO at the University of Michigan, have presented a bargaining platform to Administration developed with the guiding principles of dignity, parity, and respect for all lecturers. As hard-working professionals, we expect Administration to recognize our contributions to UM through adhering to the same following principles:

Dignity: Our working conditions are students’ learning conditions. Lecturers deserve increased job security, better support for international lecturers, and improved access to funds for Professional Development. Having stable, diverse, and highly trained faculty will benefit all.

Parity: We are all ONE University of Michigan, whose faculty and students all deserve the same level of resources. We demand starting salaries for lecturers at Flint and Dearborn be equal to Ann Arbor, and all campuses be funded sufficiently.

Respect: We strongly believe that granting a title that accurately reflects the merit of our work is not an unreasonable request. Additionally, we hold that our experiences and insights have value and should be elevated. We demand that lecturers have access to the title of Teaching Professor, and share in the decision-making that affects us and our students.

The collective bargaining process provides ample opportunity for Administration to demonstrate their commitment to these principles to LEO and the greater university community. We implore you to consider the implications of willfully allowing the disparities outlined above to remain unaddressed.