Gem City Democratic Socialists of America
Create Your First Project
Start adding your projects to your portfolio. Click on "Manage Projects" to get started
2019 Wright State Strike
The 2019 Wright State University faculty strike was one of the longest higher-education faculty strikes in U.S. history, lasting 20 days from January 22 to February 11, 2019. Faculty members, represented by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)-Wright State University chapter, went on strike in response to significant disputes with the university administration over issues related to their collective bargaining agreement.
Key Issues Behind the Strike
1. Contract Disputes:
• The administration attempted to impose a contract that eliminated key provisions related to health care, workload, and job security.
• Faculty members argued this violated their right to fair collective bargaining and would undermine their working conditions.
2. Health Care Costs:
• The administration proposed shifting faculty to a university-controlled health care plan with fewer protections and higher costs for employees.
3. Workload and Job Security:
• Changes were proposed to teaching loads, which faculty feared would negatively impact education quality and research opportunities.
• Concerns about job security and protections for tenure were also significant.
4. Budget Mismanagement:
• Faculty pointed to years of financial mismanagement by the university’s administration, including failed investments and overspending on initiatives like an ill-fated attempt to host a presidential debate in 2016, which contributed to the university’s financial troubles.
The Strike Itself
• Nearly 90% of unionized faculty participated, and picket lines were highly visible on campus despite freezing weather.
• Many students supported the strike, staging their own protests and expressing concerns over the university’s handling of faculty contracts.
• The strike led to significant disruptions to classes, as the university struggled to replace faculty with substitutes and non-unionized staff.
Resolution
After three weeks, the strike ended with a compromise agreement:
• Faculty agreed to a new contract, which included some concessions on health care but preserved protections for workload and job security.
• The administration ultimately made changes to their earlier proposals, and faculty returned to work on February 11, 2019.
Legacy and Impact
• The strike highlighted broader issues in higher education, such as administrative bloat, financial mismanagement, and the erosion of faculty rights.
• It galvanized support for organized labor and collective bargaining in academia.
• Wright State’s reputation took a hit due to the prolonged nature of the strike and its underlying financial struggles.
For the Dayton community, the strike underscored the importance of public universities and the challenges they face in balancing finances with the needs of faculty and students.









































