St. John’s University announced it will no longer recognize two longstanding faculty unions, a move administrators said was intended to restore institutional flexibility tied to the university’s Catholic mission. University leaders, including President Brian J. Shanley and Provost Simon Geir Møller, said the decision followed protracted contract negotiations and came after the previous agreement expired. Union leaders called the action unlawful and pledged legal challenges; faculty presidents described the move as a direct attack on collective bargaining rights at a private Catholic institution. The university said it will honor the last offer made to the unions but will not continue collective‑bargaining negotiations. Why it matters: the decision could spark litigation, provoke broader faculty unrest at religiously affiliated institutions, and reshape governance conversations about bargaining rights, academic freedom, and how mission claims are used to justify governance changes.