The St John’s chapters of the American Association of University Professors and the Faculty Association hold a rally outside Madison Square Garden, calling on the university to resume collective bargaining. Photo courtesy of SJU-AAUP
By Noah Powelson
Two Queens congressmembers joined the growing calls against St. John’s University to reverse their controversial decision to cut ties with their long-time faculty unions.
Reps. Grace Meng and Gregory Meeks wrote a letter to SJU President Reverend Brian Shanley, calling on the university to resume contract negotiations with their union chapters of the American Association of University Professors and the Faculty Association. Both representatives expressed their disappointment with SJU in the letter, stating the two unions were critical for SJU staff to continue to bargain in good faith.
“This move by the SJU administration is deeply concerning and should not have happened,” Meng said in a statement. “It is an attack on workers’ rights, and I stand with the unions during this challenging and unfortunate time. I continue to support their efforts to negotiate a fair contract and I’ll continue calling for this decision to be reversed.”
The unions’ labor contracts with SJU first expired in June 2024. After months of negotiations, SJU announced they were no longer recognizing their faculty unions last February after collective bargaining sessions, ending a 56-year relationship.
The move drew widespread condemnation from labor advocate groups and elected officials, including former City Comptroller Brad Lander. On March 11, faculty, students, and community members and SJU-AAUP rallied outside of Madison Square Garden while SJU’s basketball team played in the Big East Tournament.
City Council candidate Lindsey Boylan and State Senate Candidate Yuh-Line Niou also decried SJU’s decision, alongside Lander, Meng and Meeks.
“I’m disappointed that SJU has chosen not to recognize the American Association of University Professors and the Faculty Association as bargaining representatives for university staff,” Meeks said in a statement. “Educators deserve a meaningful voice in the decisions that shape their classrooms and students. I hope SJU will reconsider their decision and engage in a constructive dialogue moving forward.”
SJU previously said it viewed the collective bargaining model as outdated, and that it interfered with the university’s ability to coordinate with faculty. As a religious institution, SJU is exempted from many legal requirements when it comes to recognizing collective bargaining agreements.
In a statement to the Eagle, SJU spokesperson Brian Browne said they would not be rolling back the decision.
“We appreciate the outreach from Representatives Meng and Meeks and have been in touch with their offices throughout this process to educate them about why this step is so key to ensure student success,” Browne said in a statement. “The negotiation process with the faculty union has ended. St. John’s is now working directly with our faculty, adopting the direct-engagement model that is the standard for the overwhelming majority of universities nationwide.”
