The NYU Faculty Strike and the Politics of Workers’ Rights

Image by Richard Lu.

Just days ago, NYU faced an imminent faculty strike of nearly 1,000 non-tenure track faculty as questions about labor conditions and university governance come into focus. In this exclusive interview for CounterPunch, Professor Rebecca Karl, a historian specializing in Modern Chinese History, provides insight into the political factors fueling the dispute. The university’s shift toward contract and adjunct faculty is raising concerns over job security and academic freedom.