Seattle University Adjunct Unionization Campaign with Larry Cushnie

Office Hours Higher Ed

In this episode we discuss an adjunct unionization campaign that took place at Seattle University, a private Jesuit college in Seattle. The campaign began in 2013 and won a majority vote to unionize with SEIU, but the Seattle U administration sued to stall the vote count. Then, when the votes finally got counted, the admin refused to recognize the union and threatened to take the case up to the Supreme Court. Facing an uphill battle in the courts and the incoming Trump administration’s hostility to labor rights, the union leadership decided to end the campaign. Today, Seattle University’s adjuncts remain without a union.

We talk with one of the key organizers in the campaign, a former Seattle University adjunct instructor named Larry Cushnie. Larry’s interview sheds light on the challenges that adjunct unionization drives face today and provides valuable lessons for organizers.

Larry's Bio:

Larry Cushnie is a parent and educator teaching politics and cannabis studies at South Seattle College. In between classes, you can find him wrangling twins, collecting music, and doing crossword puzzles.