Adjunct Unionization on Catholic Campuses: Solidarity, Theology, and Mission
The issue of adjunct faculty is of particular concern on Catholic campuses because of the commitment of Catholic institutions to the norms of solidarity and justice embodied in Catholic social teaching. This paper seeks to explore why, in clear contradiction to Catholic social teaching, Catholic uni...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Journal of Moral Theology, Inc.
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Moral Theology |
| Online Access: | https://jmt.scholasticahq.com/article/11460-adjunct-unionization-on-catholic-campuses-solidarity-theology-and-mission |
| Summary: | The issue of adjunct faculty is of particular concern on Catholic campuses because of the commitment of Catholic institutions to the norms of solidarity and justice embodied in Catholic social teaching. This paper seeks to explore why, in clear contradiction to Catholic social teaching, Catholic universities have not only come to rely on adjunct labor, but have also opposed adjunct unionization. Through an examination of several recent cases, this essay argues that while financial pressures may have caused the adjunct crisis on Catholic campuses, claims about mission are behind current opposition to adjunct unions. I draw on Catholic reflections about the idea and purpose of the university to show that this opposition is not just ethically suspect but missionally unsound. At the same time, outside pressures and the wider landscape of higher education make resolving this tension challenging even for well-intentioned administrators. I conclude the essay by offering suggestions for addressing the ethical challenges posed by the unjust and unfair treatment of adjunct faculty in ways that are consistent with the values and mission of a Catholic university. |
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| ISSN: | 2166-2851 2166-2118 |