Lesley University faculty strike for higher wages, fair workloads
Source: Mass Live
Updated: Apr. 28, 2026, 11:42 a.m.|Published: Apr. 28, 2026, 11:04 a.m.
By Juliet Schulman-Hall
Faculty at Lesley University will launch a two-day strike beginning Tuesday afternoon over livable wages, manageable workloads and the ability to continue their union if the college merges with another institution.
“We love our jobs, but every day, we’re being asked to do more with less under conditions that are simply not sustainable,” said Catalina Tang, an assistant professor in counseling and psychology, said in a statement. “When faculty lose their voice in the workplace, students lose the quality of their education. This action is about restoring learning back to the center of the university.”
Eighty-two core faculty belong to the Service Employees International Union, also known as SEIU 509. The union has filed five unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board for issues related to their workload and compensation.
The university in Cambridge has been in a difficult financial position over the years that has led to program cuts and layoffs of dozens of professors and three votes of no confidence in President Janet Steinmayer, who recently announced she was stepping down on June 30.
Read more: https://www.masslive.com/education/2026/04/lesley-university-faculty-strike-for-higher-wages-fair-workloads.html