Efforts are underway to improve working conditions at Wisconsin colleges and universities. The American Federation of Teachers says a growing number of professors are being forced to take part-time work.
Joe Lowndes is the faculty union President at Madison Area Technical College. He says part-time faculty are hired at lower wages, get less hours, often don't have benefits, and lack the protections that are given to full-time staff members. Lowndes is part of an AFT effort to pass legislation that gives part-time professors parity with full-time faculty. Lowndes says that includes restoring the possibility of tenure to keep qualified professors on campuses.
AFT is pushing versions of the bill in Congress and in several states.