April 2023 Newsletter

Dear faculty,

Several unions representing employees at UVM are experiencing ongoing bad-faith bargaining from the administration. The good news: we are working to build our collective power across unions.

Last month we reached impasse with the administration in our efforts to impact bargain the transition to Brightspace (which the administration expected faculty to do uncompensated and/or by individually negotiating the time to do that work, contradicting the principle of union collective bargaining).

The administration countered by withdrawing completely from impact bargaining with us, even though they had already agreed to continue to bargain and had even suggested a mediator. Unfortunately, these are the drag-it-out, change-the-rules tactics we’ve come to expect. We’re preparing to take action, potentially through grievances and an Unfair Labor Practice. And in the meantime, we put out some guidance earlier this week for faculty related to workload adjustments and requests for summer per diem pay.

Our colleagues on UVM Staff United, who’ve faced similar maneuvers since they organized last year, took the lead in inviting all campus unions to meet and endorse an open letter to this administration.

This is an exciting and powerful development, for as we know, we’re stronger together. Our unions will continue to meet regularly and share our experiences. This initial show of solidarity signals thousands of UVM employees have had enough. It’s time to stop the games and bargain fairly.

Read and sign the letter here.

In solidarity,

Ellie and Katlyn

Ellie Miller, President | Katlyn Morris, Executive Director

Spring Events

Antiracism in our Union Work:

Earlier this week, our entire Executive Council plus several other union leaders participated in an inspiring workshop with Charles Toombs on Centering Antiracism, Social Justice, and Inclusion in Union Work. We learned a variety of specific practices developed by the union in the California state university system, especially their explicit policy for interrupting manifestations of white supremacist thinking that may emerge in the course of their faculty experiences.

We believe this event represented an important affirmation of the commitment of UA leadership to do more consistent anti-racist work in our own organization and begin to more thoroughly walk the walk. EC members and others are excited and determined to move forward with steps to change the culture on campus and directly address existing shortcomings. Our union and our entire campus have much work to do, and your United Academics leadership is enthusiastically embracing this work. Please join us in this ongoing conversation and action.

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We have a lot going on this spring! All events are posted on the UA calendar on our website: unitedacademics.org.

Deadlines:

• Students’ UA scholarship applications are due by April 14. Remember: New this year, Graduate students are now eligible for the Shiman awared.

• Nominations for United Academics delegates are due by April 18 (coinciding with the Spring Members Meeting). Please step up to serve! Email info@unitedacademics.org and Charles-Louis Morand Metivier.

Upcoming Events:

Grievance hearing at the Vermont Labor Relations Board
April 13 and 14 at the VLRB in Montpelier.

Our Contract Administration Committee plus several other UA leaders have been working on this grievance for over a year; the VLRB hearing is the final stage. This is a public hearing. If any UA members would like to attend the hearing in Montpelier, or potentially virtually, please let us know: info@unitedacademics.org

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April Delegates Assembly Meeting
April 14, 3-4:30pm on Zoom. All members are welcome to attend. Meeting link.

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United Academics Spring Membership meeting
Tuesday, April 18, 3:30-5:30 on Zoom. Open to all UA members. Click here to register.

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AAUP Summer Institute will be held at UVM this July 6-9!
This is a fantastic opportunity for UA members and leaders to participate in union trainings and workshops, and to connect with higher ed unions from around the country. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

Solidarity with Goddard Staff Union

As you probably know, the workers at Goddard College have been on strike for several weeks, and the Goddard administration is now taking a page from The New School's playbook and is threatening to cut off their healthcare. The union rejected the administration's last offer because it tied a guaranteed $20 minimum wage to enrollment, over which workers have no control. The administration also has not agreed to provide the 3% retro pay that was budgeted for the past year.

The union has established a strike fund, which United Academics has contributed to. Click here to make a personal donation to Goddard College Staff Union’s hardship fund.
Several of us in UA headed to Plainfield last week to walk the picket line in solidarity. We encourage UA members to show solidarity with our union siblings through donations and joining them on the picket line.

Join UA’s COTS Walk Team

Join UA’s team on the first Sunday of May (May 7, 2pm) for the COTS’ annual family- friendly walking fundraiser to support Burlington’s unhoused residents.

We are raising funds to support COTS, Vermont's largest provider of services for Vermonters who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or marginally housed. The focus at COTS is on finding solutions to END homelessness – not simply creating shelters for people who are experiencing homelessness.

We had a wonderful time at the COTS walk last year, and we made a difference in our community with the funds we raised. Here is the page to sign up as a team member and/or to donate to our team:

http://give.cotsonline.org/site/TR/Walk/General?pg=team&fr_id=1100&team_id=2130

And learn more about the COTS walk here!

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