After over two months since St. John’s administration’s decision to no longer recognize the unions during the collective bargaining agreement negotiation process, they have decided to take legal action.

The St. John’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Faculty Association (FA) went to the New York State’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to file unfair labor practice offenses against University President Rev. Brian J. Shanley and the Board of Trustees. 

The unions have played a role in the St. John’s community for 56 years, but their involvement has been challenged during the most recent negotiations that have left faculty and staff working without a contract for almost 300 days. 

They argue that Shanley’s dismissal of union recognition and decision to end negotiations with them is not only unlawful but also goes against the University’s mission. 

“Father Shanley has torn up our union contract, attacked the rights of our faculty, and unlawfully abandoned our negotiations despite fifty-six years as the state-certified and university-recognized faculty unions at SJU,”  SJU-AAUP Acting President & SJU Professor, Sophie Bell, said. “SJU is abandoning the very values our university was founded on, and our faculty impart to students every single day,” she added.

Union members also accuse the University administration of aggressively threatening and targeting faculty who attended AAUP-hosted demonstrations in response to the Board of Trustees’ initial decision. 

Apart from this alleged violation of labor rights, they also call into question the creation and recruitment of a working group to unilaterally change University employment without negotiation, while bypassing the unions. 

The AAUP and FA argue that President Rev. Brian J. Shanley and his administration’s overhaul of staff terms and conditions is a violation of faculty rights and fundamental labor law. 

“Let us be clear, we will not allow Father Shanley, Provost Simon Mølller, and an out-of-touch Board of Trustees to act like kings above the law and simply sweep away our decades-old faculty union. A union, we must remember, that was born from a faculty strike at St. John’s University in 1966-67,” Gary Mongiovi, SJU-AAUP Executive Council Member & SJU Professor, said. 

“Together – with thousands of faculty, students, and union allies across New York – we will not stop until Father Shanley and his administration follow the law, recognize our certified unions, and come back to the bargaining table. Until then, we say: No Faculty Unions, No Peace,” he concluded.

Due to the open nature of this lawsuit, St. John’s University was unable to provide a full response, as University Spokesperson Brian Browne issued the following statement to The Torch: “Because this matter is the subject of pending litigation, the University is unable to comment at this time.”