Many academics—especially adjuncts—wish they had more voice in terms of negotiating salary and benefits. For the 20,000 or so academics in the University of Wisconsin system, this became a reality last month when the state’s budget was signed into a law. The budget includes a collective bargaining provision encompassing all levels of academia—from adjuncts to tenured professors (full disclosure: I am an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee’s department of journalism and mass communication).

This is especially important for adjuncts, who have shown signs of getting organized at other universities, because the ranks of adjuncts have grown faster than permanent positions. This trend has meant that many professors who want to emphasize teaching (or can’t land a full-time gig in a down economy) have to string together multiple adjunct positions that pay a fraction of tenure track salary, provide little or no benefits, and offer no long-term security. The growing ranks of these ‘taxi cab teachers’ will likely be watching Wisconsin—and holding their collective breath.