If you have a question, concern, or issue you don’t see below, contact USU-NEA here. You can read about general benefits of a union here.
Why do we need a union for UVM Staff?
How would a union make things different?
Are other Vermont higher education staff in unions?
Why is University Staff Union-NEA working with Vermont-NEA, and how can they help?
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Who would be in the union?
What are the benefits of becoming a member?
How much would union dues cost?
What are the next steps?
Any more questions?
Why do we need a union for UVM Staff?
Without a union, UVM staff don’t have any job protection or a binding voice in decision-making about our jobs. The University administration decides without your input how our jobs are classified, what we will be paid, how many hours we work, and what our benefits will be. UVM can fire us or change compensation or position without cause. If we don’t like it, our only choice is to leave. A union gives us a voice in all these decisions, and it gives us someone on your side if we run into trouble. There is great power in coming together as a staff union.
How would a union make things different?
With a union, we would negotiate a contract that is legally binding. Everything about our jobs – the wages, benefits, working conditions, tuition reimbursement, job security, evaluation, time off, leaves and so on – would be bargained between our local union and the University administration. When an item is in the contract, the University must legally abide by that contract. Plus, the union gives us rights and is in our corner if there is a dispute or violation of the contract. Bottom line, with a union, we would have a strong collective voice and arguably gain an equal place at the table with faculty and other existing unionized University workers.
Are other Vermont higher education staff in unions?
Yes! In Vermont, all the staff at the Vermont State Colleges are unionized. Here at UVM, the USU-NEA effort is connected to the NEA, the Vermont-NEA national affiliate, which represents University staff nation-wide and in every state in New England except Vermont – this includes the UMass system (professional and administrative staff) and UMaine system. Nationally, the NEA represents over 200,000 higher education staff across the country and has a wealth of resources for our use. A staff union at UVM is long overdue—we are one of the last to organize!
Why is University Staff Union-NEA working with Vermont-NEA, and how can they help?
USU-NEA realizes that a union organizing drive and the management of a union after we win is complex and time consuming. Aligning with an existing union sets USU-NEA up for a maintaining a strong, sustainable union. We are being supported in our organizing by professionals who make sure we are doing this legally and in a smart way. With Vermont-NEA support, we are also financially able to create a USU-NEA organization, which allows us to expand our outreach, draw staff together at events, and support an infrastructure that is critical to an union effort.
As a future Vermont-NEA local, USU-NEA can count on the support of 12,000 other Vermont-NEA union members across the state, and the resources of the state Association for support in all we do. If you had a problem as an individual member of the union, you would have support and free legal representation from the 20+ Vermont-NEA staff in Montpelier. The union also advocates for good education policy in Vermont and nationally, including higher education issues that benefit college and university employees and students.
Who would be in the union?
University Staff Union-NEA’s vision is for UVM staff to be represented together in one local, democratic, member-run association. Bottom line, if you are an unrepresented staff member on the UVM payroll and don’t have full-time staff management duties, you would potentially be eligible to join.
Within the union, there will be two separate bargaining units with separate contracts: one unit made up of members with non-exempt positions (this unit ultimately voted against unionizing in November, but can vote again after a one-year moratorium), and the other of members with exempt positions. These bargaining units were determined by the Vermont Labor Relations Board, which determines whether staff share enough common workplace needs and interests to form a union. This model is much like the UVM’s faculty union model of full-time and part-time faculty bargaining separate contracts within one union.
What are the benefits of becoming a member?
Joining USU-NEA will be completely voluntary once an election is complete and a union is established for staff. There are many benefits to membership! As a member, you get to participate in your union’s democratic process for electing local leaders and negotiators, deciding bargaining priorities, and voting on your contract. Most importantly, we are the union. Our membership size equals our strength at the bargaining table. With a sizeable membership, management will know we represent the vast majority of staff when we bargain and defend our contract.
How much would union dues cost?
We propose that they be about 1% of salary. This covers local, state and national dues in total. This is the same as what UVM’s faculty union, United Academics, pays and less than what the Service and Maintenance union pays. Dues would most likely be collected through payroll deductions, so only a small amount would be deducted each month, unless a member wanted to pay the dues all in one sum.
Union dues ensure that our local union will have the financial resources to represent us strongly and sustainably, from contract negotiations to grievances and beyond. Our USU-NEA dues will cover our local association’s expenses, including easily accessible general and specialized assistance from Vermont-NEA in all our union affairs. Vermont-NEA’s 22 staff members, based in Montpelier, are experienced union advocates with expertise in collective bargaining, grievance advocacy, organizing, health insurance, health care, retirement benefits, professional development, and communications. Vermont-NEA also has three labor lawyers on staff to advise and represent local associations and their members when needed. These benefits are only available to members.
What are the next steps?
Check out this chart illustrating the organizing process. We are currently building support for unionization among exempt staff members. Get visible, get involved, talk with your colleagues and staff union leaders–it starts with you!
Any more questions?
If you have any more questions send us an email at info@ustaffu.org.