SVA Faculty United - UAW

Protect international student rights and the quality of SVA! The US State Department is pausing visa interviews for international students. This decision could severely harm higher education, including at the School of Visual Arts. This is a direct attack on ...

You can use this sample letter to join us in writing to our elected officials in support of international students. The time is NOW to stand up for our community!
actionnetwork.org/letters/prot...

Protect international student rights and the quality of SVA!

AND ANOTHER article about our union victory last week, from Anni Irish at The Art Newspaper - www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/05/23/s...

Another article about our union victory! Thank you Rhea Nayyar and Hyperallergic!
hyperallergic.com/1014781/scho...

Great article about our recent union victory, up at Artforum!
www.artforum.com/news/faculty...

School of Visual Arts Faculty Are Officially Unionized Nearly 1,200 faculty members at the New York arts and design institution will be represented by the new union after a two-thirds vote in favor.

“We genuinely believe that teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions. The more security, stability, and voice we have collectively, the more we can help improve SVA and ensure its strength in the future.”

@svafac-uaw.bsky.social

hyperallergic.com/1014781/scho...

Faculty at New York’s School of Visual Arts form union The new union, formed under the United Auto Workers, will represent around 1,200 instructors at the school

“What these 2 life-altering years of organising taught me is that a union is not a magical solution that will resolve all work-related grievances but a link of solidarity that will reflect us and be as strong or fragile as we make it." @svafac-uaw.bsky.social

www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/05/23/s...

WE WON OUR UNION by 77% (568 - yes, 167 - no)!! Thanks and congratulations to everyone who made this happen. More on next steps soon!

"Asking for higher pay is an indication that we are serious career professionals who are aware of the real challenges of working artists." svafacultyunited.org/

"Advocating for better working conditions and compensation is a regular part of what we do as working artists. Art institutions--museums and academia alike--need to understand that artists must be paid properly for our creativity, time, energy, expertise, skills, experience, and wisdom.

More information at svafacultyunited.org/vote ! SVA FACULTY: Send your ballots back as soon as possible, to arrive by May 13th!

(source - www.kqed.org/arts/1387850... )

(source - www.phillymag.com/news/2024/08... )

(source - www.newschoolfreepress.com/2025/04/04/t... )

(source - www.insidehighered.com/news/institu... )

We’re wrapping up our LAST WEEK of voting for our union! We’re sure our colleagues can make an informed decision about their own experiences at SVA- so we’d like to share and encourage you to review the administration’s perspective, and our analysis and response.

"We must stand together to ensure that the faculty and staff who are the heart of this institution are treated with the dignity they deserve.” svafacultyunited.org/vote

"Despite our expertise and reputation in our field, we’re treated as replaceable. We deserve stability, respect, and a real voice in our work. I support SVA because collective bargaining is the only way to secure fair treatment and job security.

From Thomas Leeb, faculty member with Cal Arts Faculty United - UAW - “I’ve taught at CalArts since 2017, and I know how critical SVA’s efforts are. Every semester, faculty like me face weeks of anxiety waiting for contracts, where a few lost hours can mean financial hardship.

svafacultyunited.org/vote !!!

SVA FACULTY, this is our LAST WEEK to vote for our union!! Your ballots must be received by May 13, so send them back as soon as possible. More information at svafacultyunited.org/vote

svafacultyunited.org/vote

"I’m voting for a union because being part of an institution should mean having some way to seek redress when administrative mistakes affect my pay or benefits.” svafacultyunited.org/vote

"To make matters worse, the class I teach is very popular; I’ve already heard from former students whose friends are disappointed they couldn’t enroll. I’m fortunate that my role at SVA is a second job — but many of my colleagues aren’t in that position.

"There was no communication, no apology, and no acknowledgment from the office responsible for the mistake. This oversight impacts both my income and professional experience.

“I teach one class each semester at SVA, alongside my full-time job as Head of Learning at Codecademy. I recently learned that my class has been canceled for next semester, and possibly for the entire year, due to an administrative error by the Registrar.

“Forming a union is not just aligned with our values as artists, it’s an urgent necessity. As the pressure on academic workers grows, unionizing is a way to take immediate action to protect your work, your rights, and the future of arts education itself.”
svafacultyunited.org/vote

“Unionizing as academic workers is about more than just wages or benefits; it's about recognizing the essential role we play in shaping education, and fostering creativity.

“Whether you teach four classes, or one class like me, we are all lifting students up with our expertise every day, and we all deserve a voice in the decision making room at SVA.”
svafacultyunited.org/vote

“I’d like to negotiate for better pay and increased communication. If I knew I was teaching classes for the coming year further in advance, it would better help me balance my commitments. We shouldn't have to live with this total unpredictability when it comes to our appointments.