Dear colleagues,
My name is Eli Ronick and I’ve been honored to hold the position of Chair of Membership over the last 2+ years. I’ve enjoyed getting to know a lot of you through membership drives and general membership meetings. I may have even signed you up! As I noted at the Winter GMM, I will be stepping down from the position after the Spring term. I’m writing this letter to you to share a bit about my experience in a leadership role within PSUFA as well as discuss moving forward together and how we can continue to build power.
I first became regularly involved with PSUFA in Fall of 2018. While working for our union, I often walked around buildings I’d never set foot in and talked to adjuncts in departments I hadn’t known existed at PSU. Up to that point, being an adjunct had been a fulfilling but often isolating experience. I loved working with university students but I missed the interaction with co-workers that I’d been a part of in other teaching work. Working with our union allowed me to see the diversity of knowledge and background of each of my adjunct colleagues and to feel, for the first time, a part of a community. It was this experience that led me to run for the executive council.
During my time as Chair of Membership, I’ve been grateful to connect with scores of adjuncts in departments all over campus. The conversations that most stuck with me were those in which adjuncts opened up to me about their financial hardships. Often, I was able to direct them to a variety of monetary and wellness-based support systems that they were pleased to learn were available to them. This meaningful work has often helped sustain me emotionally and spiritually. With the help of member organizers and other PSUFA volunteers, we’ve helped to sign up over 200 new members over the last two years. My department alone, World Languages & Literatures, has increased dues-paying members over 30%. This added revenue has helped directly fund the work of our executive council and the tireless effort of our bargaining team, who have brought you tangible gains like significant salary increases, new and strengthened benefit funds, and guaranteed annual orientation for new hires.
This is the part of the letter where I ask you to consider stepping up and running for office this Spring. Our union runs and functions only because people like you make it so. Don’t worry—we’ll definitely be around to help new council members learn the ropes, but these positions, especially the Chair of Membership, are vital for the continued power and growth of our union. Leaving it vacant would not put us at full strength. The bargaining team can only do so much. We need you to step up and do more. You can apply and read more at psufa.org/elections.
In solidarity,
Eli