By Kristina Goetz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Full-time faculty at the University of Cincinnati have begun talks that could put them shoulder to shoulder with their part-time counterparts - and behind the American Federation of Teachers union.

Last week, a small group of faculty listened to AFT representatives and organizers from other universities that have already affiliated with the union, which represents more college and university faculty than any other nationwide.

About 1,976 full-time and part-time employees are eligible to be represented by UC's chapter of the American Association of University Professors, according to UC payroll numbers. About 700 are dues-paying members.

"The major reason (for calling the meeting) is that universities in Ohio are in financial crisis," said John Brackett, president of UC's chapter of the AAUP. "The resolution of that takes some political clout.

"AAUP, on its own, is small and it's not organized well enough on the state level."

In September, the non-represented part-time faculty - which number 1,495 - became the first in Ohio to launch a campaign for collective bargaining rights by pressuring the administration to voluntarily recognize them.

Because of state labor laws, certain part-time faculty members - those who teach the equivalent of fewer than four classes per quarter - are not allowed to join unions or create their own.

Though the genesis for collective bargaining affiliation under AFT began separately for the two groups, the same union might give them more lobbying power in Columbus, Mr. Brackett said.

"We both would be in a better situation," he said.

Richard Karp, chairman of UC's faculty senate, expects heated debate. The earliest date for a vote would be in the spring.

If the faculty vote for the initiative, they would be affiliated with both the AFT and the AAUP.

E-mail kgoetz@enquirer.com