Union Negotiations

For more than 50 years, The New School has worked closely and collaboratively with the nine unions that represent many of our staff and faculty. This page serves as the hub where you can easily access information and updates about current or upcoming contract negotiations.

Current and Upcoming Negotiations

The university is in discussions with the The New School Student Workers Organizing Committee (‘NewSWU’) regarding their request for union representation for eligible non-academic student employees.

The Latest from Labor Relations

Please check here for the latest news and negotiation developments. 

Quick Facts

• Teamsters Local 1205 Clerical (Clerical Employees): In February 2025, the university reached a successor contract with the union representing our Clerical Employees.
• SENS-UAW Local 7902 (Academic Student Workers): In March 2024, the university reached a successor contract with the union representing our Academic Student Workers.
• SHENS-UAW Local 7902 (Student Health Employees): In December 2023, the university reached a successor contract with the union representing our Student Health Employees.

Guiding Principles

Negotiations and other discussions with our unions are guided by clear, consistent principles, including:

Fairness and Transparency
We are open and honest in discussions with our labor groups, in the sharing of information and perspectives, and in related communications to the university community and other stakeholders.

Responsiveness
We are responsive to requests, questions, and concerns from our unionized workforce and are committed to timely resolution of issues raised.

Doing What Is Right for Students, Faculty, and Staff
We stay constantly focused on reaching outcomes that improve the education and support the success of all of our students and that benefit the full New School community.

Commitment to Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice
We are committed to ensuring an equitable, inclusive, and socially just environment for all students, staff, and faculty. 

Maintaining a Long-Term View
We seek to find the balance between near-term educational and operational priorities and the goal of strengthening the long-term interests of the university to ensure that The New School will be able to build on its legacy and serve students and its entire community for generations to come.

Respect for the Collective Bargaining Process
We respect the collective bargaining process and view the negotiating table as a safe space for the free and open exchange of ideas and proposals.

Unions at The New School

We currently have unions representing nine groups of faculty and staff on our campus, and we strive to have productive and collaborative relationships with each of them. Jointly reached contracts are in place (or collective bargaining is underway) with each of these unions, and we are proud to provide exceptional benefits to our employees.

Here’s a snapshot of all nine unions and the employees they represent. More information about each union can be found on the university’s Labor Relations page.

Academic Student Workers – SENS-UAW Local 7902
SENS-UAW Local 7902 has been on campus since 2017. This union represents approximately 1,000 Academic Student Workers, including teaching assistants, teaching fellows, research associates, research assistants, course assistants, and tutors.

Clerical Employees & Librarians – Teamsters Local 1205
Teamsters Local 1205 Clerical has been on campus since 1980. It represents 75 clerical employees including office assistants, secretaries, accounting clerks, library clerks, librarians, librarian's assistants, and mail/duplicating clerks.

Engineers – IUOE Local 94
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 94 has been on campus since 2013. It represents 10 engineering employees.

Maintenance – SEIU Local 32BJ
SEIU 32BJ Maintenance has been on campus since 1970. It represents 96 employees including staff working in facilities, maintenance, and cleaning services.

Part-Time Faculty – ACT-UAW Local 7902
ACT-UAW Local 7902 has been on campus since 2005. It represents 2,600 part-time faculty members (except those teaching at the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music).

Part-Time Jazz Faculty – AFM Local 802
American Federation of Musicians Local 802 has been on campus since 1998. It represents 130 part-time faculty members at the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music.

Professional Employees – Teamsters Local 1205 Professional
Teamsters Local 1205 Professional has been on campus since 2016. It represents 135 professional employees including audio-visual technicians, financial aid counselors, information technology technicians, program administrators, student accountant coordinators, student success advisors, Making Center technicians, international student advisors, senior student success advisors, student account coordinators, and student account specialists.

Security – SEIU 32BJ
SEIU 32BJ Security has been on campus since 1995. It represents 70 campus safety officers.

Student Health Employees – SHENS-UAW Local 7902
SHENS-UAW Local 7902 has been on campus since 2018. It represents 20 employees including therapists, counselors, nurses, social workers, physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurse managers, the director of wellness, and the director of community health.