🎓 The Announcement Shakes Up Long-Standing Labor Relations
On February 19, 2026, St. John's University in Queens, New York, sent a pivotal email to its faculty members. President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., and Provost Simon Moller announced that the institution would no longer recognize the two unions that have represented its approximately 1,300 full-time and part-time faculty for over 56 years. These unions—the St. John's University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (SJU-AAUP) and the Faculty Association of St. John's University (FASJU)—have been integral to campus labor dynamics since 1970.
This decision comes at a time when the most recent collective bargaining agreement expired in June 2025, after roughly a year of negotiations focused on salaries, health insurance premiums, and other benefits. The university has committed to honoring its final offer, which includes a 3% salary increase for the current academic year and 3.25% raises for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. However, the move has ignited immediate backlash, with faculty leaders viewing it as a sudden rupture in decades of collaborative history.
St. John's, a private Catholic institution founded in 1870 by Vincentian priests, emphasizes its religious mission in higher education. This context is central to understanding the shift, as the university argues that union obligations have increasingly hindered its ability to adapt swiftly to evolving challenges in the sector.
University's Rationale: Flexibility for Mission and Innovation
The administration's email outlined a clear rationale: the need for greater operational flexibility to fulfill the university's Catholic-centered mission. 'In recent years, it has become clear that the university does not have the flexibility required to fulfill its Catholic-centered mission while its core academic decisions are entangled in a collective bargaining relationship,' the leaders wrote. They stressed that this step enables innovation while maintaining support for faculty and prioritizing student outcomes.
Spokesperson Brian Browne echoed this in subsequent statements, noting the profound transformation in higher education. Enrollment declines, shifting student demands, and labor market changes have prompted a comprehensive program review, potentially affecting around 20 undergraduate and graduate programs. No final terminations have been decided, pending Board of Trustees approval, but the university positions derecognition as essential for agility.
This approach aligns with broader trends where institutions seek streamlined decision-making. For faculty considering their next steps, exploring opportunities on platforms like higher-ed-jobs can provide insights into competitive positions that value union-free environments or offer alternative protections.
Union and Faculty Perspectives: A Betrayal of Values?
Union leaders have responded with sharp criticism, framing the decision as inconsistent with Catholic social teachings that champion workers' rights to organize. SJU-AAUP's lead bargainer Fred Cocozzelli expressed disappointment, stating the university disregarded over 50 years of constructive engagement and remains open to bargaining. National AAUP President Todd Wolfson called it a 'shameful attack' that betrays the institution's Catholic values.
Faculty Association President Christopher Denny labeled it 'Cafeteria Catholicism,' selectively applying doctrine while ignoring Pope Francis's 2022 remark: 'There are no free workers without a union.' Denny questioned why unions were unproblematic for 56 years, suggesting the timing coincides with stalled talks rather than a sudden doctrinal shift.
Associate Professor Granville Ganter highlighted an October 2025 unfair labor practice charge over health insurance data, where the university's response hinted at non-recognition. Faculty worry about job security, working conditions, and influence over academic governance amid potential program cuts.
Historical Context: 56 Years of Union Presence at SJU
Faculty unionization at St. John's began in 1970, coinciding with a wave of academic labor organizing in the U.S. The SJU-AAUP and FASJU negotiated multiple contracts, addressing pay equity, benefits, and professional development. This era fostered stability but also tensions during economic pressures.
Recent negotiations stalled over wage hikes amid rising costs and enrollment dips common in urban private universities. Nationally, faculty unions have grown, with over 100,000 members in AAUP chapters alone, but religious exemptions have carved out exceptions.
📜 The Role of Religious Exemption in Higher Education Labor Law
Central to St. John's decision is the 2020 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling in the Bethany College case (NLRB Bethany Decision), which declined jurisdiction over faculty at religious institutions. This stems from the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), exempting employers with a substantial religious character where collective bargaining might infringe on doctrinal control.
Previously, cases like Duquesne University (2012) tested boundaries, but Bethany solidified the exemption. New York state law recognizes public sector unions but treats private ones variably; unions argue SJU's move violates established relationships. Legal challenges could hinge on whether state protections override federal exemptions.
Other Catholic institutions invoking this include Boston College, Marquette University, Loyola Marymount University, Saint Leo University, and Duquesne. For a deeper dive, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities outlines implications (NAICU Update).
Protests and Community Backlash
By February 26, over 200 faculty, students, and allies rallied on campus, chanting against the decision and highlighting threats to academic freedom. Social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), buzzed with posts from journalists like Katie Honan decrying the 'religious exemption' tactic, and union calls to 'Hands off St. John's Faculty Unions!' Supporters shared petitions urging President Shanley to reconsider.
Student involvement underscores concerns over program cuts impacting course offerings. Broader labor groups, including NYC Central Labor Council, voiced solidarity, amplifying the narrative of an attack on workers' rights.
Impacts on Faculty Careers and Job Market
- Potential for unilateral changes in pay, benefits, and workload without bargaining.
- Increased administrative control over hiring, promotions, and program decisions.
- Opportunities for non-union perks like performance-based incentives.
For adjuncts and full-timers eyeing mobility, this signals a shifting landscape. Platforms like adjunct-professor-jobs list openings at unionized and non-unionized schools. Faculty can leverage skills via rate-my-professor profiles to build reputations attracting recruiters.
Statistics show unionized faculty often earn 10-20% more, per AAUP data, but non-union settings may offer faster career ladders. Aspiring professors should research institutional cultures thoroughly.
Broader Implications for Catholic Higher Education
This case exemplifies tensions between religious identity and modern labor norms. Catholic universities, numbering over 200 in the U.S., educate 1 million+ students yearly. While some embrace unions aligning with social justice, others prioritize mission autonomy.
Enrollment pressures—SJU's dipped amid demographic shifts—affect all privates. Non-union flexibility aids responses like hybrid learning or AI integration, but risks faculty morale dips, per studies.
Photo by Uliana Sova on Unsplash
Future Outlook and Actionable Advice
Unions plan legal fights, potentially restoring recognition if NY courts intervene. Meanwhile, faculty can:
- Document grievances for potential NLRB or state filings.
- Network via professional associations.
- Explore professor-jobs and higher-ed-career-advice for transitions.
Administrators elsewhere watch closely; balanced approaches blending voice mechanisms without formal unions may emerge. Share your experiences in the comments below—your insights help the community navigate these changes. Check university-jobs for stable opportunities.