loyola Marymount University reverses Course on Faculty Unionization After Raises
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) has shifted its position regarding a faculty unionization effort, announcing it will voluntarily recognize the union after months of opposing the move. This reversal comes after the university implemented salary and merit wage increases for non-tenure-track faculty averaging 7.8%, retroactive to August.
LMU Provost Lynne Weaver stated the university is also “expanding full-time positions, strengthening contracts and promotion pathways,” and emphasized that respecting workers and their rights is compatible with the university’s governance.
The decision is notable given the complex relationship between Catholic universities and labor unions. While many Catholic institutions embrace the Church’s historical support for organized labor – exemplified by Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which defended workers’ rights and unions – others resist unionization efforts.
William A. Herbert, executive director of the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions at Hunter Collage, City University of New York, described LMU’s change of heart as “peculiar,” questioning the motivations behind the initial opposition. He suggested the university’s concerns may not stem from religious liberty, but rather a desire to avoid collective bargaining.
However, Joshua D. Nadreau, an attorney with Fisher phillips, cautioned that the underlying motivation may not be legally notable, citing recent NLRB decisions that have often favored universities in thes disputes.He expressed skepticism about the likelihood of triumphant legal challenges.
despite the historical support for unions within Catholic social teaching, a 1979 Supreme Court decision established a precedent for limiting the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) authority over religious institutions, citing potential First Amendment concerns regarding religious freedom.
Subsequent rulings have focused on defining the criteria for determining whether a school qualifies as a religious institution and whether the NLRB can intervene in cases involving employees not directly involved in the institution’s religious mission. Recent court decisions have further narrowed the NLRB’s reach.
In 2020, a U.S. Court of Appeals blocked the NLRB from requiring Duquesne University to recognize an adjunct faculty union, citing concerns about intrusive inquiries into the university’s religious practices. Similarly, in 2024, the NLRB sided with St. Leo University in Florida, allowing it to withdraw recognition from its 44-year-old faculty union.
According to a 2024 report by the Catholic Labor Network, approximately 600 Catholic institutions in the U.S., including universities and hospitals, currently have unionized workforces.