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A new look for a new year $$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
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2020 was a profoundly challenging year for many of us, both personally and professionally. But as one of our members said recently, “I’m so glad to be part of a fighting union.” We did achieve some wins, and we’re proud of what our union worked together to accomplish: Bargaining: We began contract bargaining and proceeded through a whole year of remote contract bargaining, followed by mediation, fighting to hold back salary cuts, no retirement contribution for 2 years, cuts to sabbatical, parental leave, and sick leave, more draconian disciplinary procedures, removal of bargaining rights on Intellectual Property policy, and more. Our team continues to hold the line and work for the best possible contract for faculty. Contract enforcement: Our Contract Administration Committee fielded hundreds of inquiries from faculty members, filed multiple grievances, and filed an Unfair Labor Practice on Covid-related impacts which led to our Impact Bargaining process. Formal grievances and pressure from United Academics led to the restoration of sabbaticals for faculty who had been approved and then the administration announced deferrals, the restoration of work and pay for nearly all the Lecturers who had been cut back, and several Global Gateway program faculty having their promotions honored. Support for faculty: We organized a telephone town hall early in the pandemic to address immediate faculty questions and concerns, held a parent forum to discuss concerns around childcare and school closures and work at UVM, and recently organized an emergency member meeting on program reorganization, leading to ongoing subcommittee work on those issues. Impact Bargaining team: We secured payment and a workload adjustment provision for faculty for off-contract pandemic-related course preparation, automatic tenure clock extension for probationary tenure-track faculty, a clear process for faculty requesting course modality changes, and others. Community outreach: We gave our community in Burlington and nationally lots to read and think about. (See below and here.) We also solicited and received lots of support from national academic organizations, other universities, students, staff, alumni, and faculty. See support letters here. In the early months of Covid, United Academics contributed donations to local organizations providing community support, including United Way of Northwest Vermont, ANew Place, and the Peace and Justice Center. We were also pleased to give our annual student scholarships to several UVM students working on community service focused on environmental, social, and economic justice.
What will we look back on and call our wins at the end of 2021? We are well aware of the challenges ahead, but we’re glad to be fighting to keep UVM a place where students, faculty, staff, and community can thrive. In solidarity, Katlyn and Julie
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Katlyn Morris, Executive Director | Julie Roberts, President
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Major Fallout: UVM Scholars Argue That Cuts to the Humanities Would Imperil the University's Mission
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The myth of tough choices at UVM
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VT Digger commentary by Julie Roberts Read More
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‘They’re running it like a business’: As more cuts loom, UVM faculty debate the mission
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UVM’s sleight of hand on jobs
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VT Digger commentary by Phil Baruth Read More
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The Liberal Arts @ UVM: A Virtual Day-Long Teach-In
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Wednesday, February 3, 9 am-5 pm The day before UVM trustees convene to consider proposals to close three College of Arts and Sciences departments and cancel more than two dozen majors, minors, and graduate programs, UVM United Against the Cuts with the UVM Union of Students and United Academics will host a virtual teach-in spotlighting the centrality and vibrancy of the liberal arts at UVM. Read More
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Write a letter to the editor, commentary, or letter to the BOT
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How do cuts to CAS, incentive based budgeting, and other actions taken by this administration affect you, our students, our graduates, our community, and higher education in general? Copy info@unitedacademics.org on letters, and email or tag us with your published links. We will amplify your message on social media and on our website. Contact UVM Decision Makers
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