LIUFF History

• 1967 – Board of Trustees announces plans to sell the real estate of the Brooklyn Campus.  Faculty demonstrations block the Brooklyn Bridge.  New York State and New York City step in to end strike, the real estate deal is killed
• 1971 – LIUFF Established by secret ballot under the supervision of the NLRB
• 1972 – First Collective Bargaining Agreement signed
  • First collectively bargained contract for faculty in a private university in the nation
  • Defined tenure as being held in the University, still unique and beyond AAUP requirements that tenure is held only in a department.
• June 1, 1974 – Paul Siegel assumes duties as President of the LIUFF
• August 8, 1974 – President Nixon Resigns
• June, 1975-Municipal Assistance Corporation (MAC) created to help NYC avoid Bankruptcy
• October, 1975-President Ford refuses to provide Federal assistance to the City
• June, 1977, New York City Blackout-widespread looting and arson in Brooklyn and the rest of New York City
• November, 1977 – Edward Koch elected mayor of New York City
• June 1, 1978 – George Small assumes duties as President of the LIUFF
• September 1979 – October , 1979 – Faculty, almost all tenured at the time, put their jobs on the line  strike for 4 weeks to lift the multi-year freeze on tenures in Brooklyn.Tenures were still being granted at Post and at Southhampton. As a result:
  • Brooklyn faculty positively recommended  for tenure would no longer be terminated after their seventh year.
  • Such faculty would be granted “continuing contractual employment (CCE)
  • They would then be granted tenure at such a time when Brooklyn enrollment improved
  • Eighteen people’s jobs are saved
• November, 1980 – Ronald Reagan Elected President
• August, 1981 – President Reagan fires striking air traffic controllers
• September 1982 – October 1982 – Six week strike for wage parity with the CW Post Campus
  • NYSUT arranges meetings with Mayor Koch and other politicians
  • A Federal mediator is appointed
  • Parity is won, to be achieved in three annual steps
  • Parity is permanently enshrined in the the contract
  • Mayor Koch declares LIU, Junior’s Restaurant and A&S (now Macy’s) to be essential for the rebirth of downtown Brooklyn
• September, 1985 -Three week strike over the availability of tenure
  • Tenured positions at Brooklyn must be replaced if enrollments do not decline
  • The Village Voice dubs LIU “Strike U” and advises parents not to send their children there.
• 1986 – Middle States, after a 2 year limited extension of accreditation, asks the Board whether they are sure they have the right person heading the University.  CEO Albert Bush-Brown is fired by the Board by only one vote, but with a golden parachute of about $1.8 million.
• 1986 – David Steinberg appointed President of LIU.
• June 1, 1986 – Andreas Zavitsas assumes duties as President of the LIUFF
• 1987- University declares enrollment decline in Brooklyn and refuses to award tenures
  • Arbitration is filed for and won
  • Arbitrator finds that University enrollment records were not being maintained in keeping with the contract
  • As a result, the last person on CCE is finally awarded tenure
• June 1, 1988 – Dennis Curley assumes duties as President of the LIUFF
• September 1, 1988.  1988-1991 CBA ratified.  Provides annual salary increases of 8%, 7% and 6%
• 1989 – Metrotech Business Improvement District formed, leading to regeneration of Downtown Brooklyn
• September 1, 1994-September 12 1994 – Faculty strike for better wages
  • University enrollment has grown, but wages still meager as result of 1980’s downturn
  • Three-year contract gave raises of 6%, 5%, 5%
• September 1, 1997 – 1997-2000 CBA goes into effect
• June 1, 1998 – Rhiannon Allen assumes duties as President of the LIUFF
• September 1, 2000 – 2000-2003 CBA goes into effect
• September 11, 2001 – World Trade Center destroyed in terrorist attack
• June 1, 2002 – Jordan Kaplan assumes duties as President of the LIUFF
• September 1, 2003 – September 9, 2003 – Faculty strike for preservation of healthcare insurance
  • Administration wishes to shift 25% of burden to faculty
  • New hires would pay 100% of family and spousal coverage
  • Current faculty settle for 15% payment of insurance premiums in exchange for 5% raises in each of 3 years
  • Newly hired faculty would pay 50% of family and spousal coverage, with full reimbursement by Union Fund.
  • Adjunct Benefits Trust Fund Established- Funded by the University and administered by the Union, fund provides money for health insurance premium payments for uninsured adjunct faculty.
  • 2003-2006 CBA goes into effect
• November, 2003 – Jordan Kaplan resigns as LIUFF President, Rhiannon Allen, as Vice President assumes duties
• June 1, 2004 – Edward Donahue assumes duties as President of the LIUFF
• September 1, 2006 – 2006-2011 CBA goes into effect
• September 15, 2008 – Lehman Brothers brokerage house announced bankruptcy, LIU seeks to abrogate 2006 CBA, LIUFF refuses.
• September 1, 2011 – September 5, 2011 – Faculty strike over wages and benefits
  • Administration proposed 5 year wage freeze and 33% faculty contribution to health insurance premiums
  • Faculty recognizing the financial status of the University, agree to a one-year wage freeze and guaranteed raises in each of the subsequent 4 years, with revenue sharing provisions
  • Healthcare contributions range from 18% to 25% depending upon level of coverage
  • Research release time re-instituted for probationary faculty
  • Full dental coverage gained as a new benefit
  • Adjunct longevity payments gained
  • 2011-2016 CBA goes into effect
• June 1, 2013 – David Steinberg retires and Kimberly Cline assumes duties as the President of LIU.
• September 2016 - Kimberly Cline locks out the LIUFF.
• May 2017 - LIUFF ratifies a new contract.