December 2023

Our letter includes a selection from Suzy’s comments from last month’s Members Meeting:

United Academics’ collective vision, our commitment to working toward equity and inclusion, our willingness to continuously stand together to safeguard the rights and dignity of our members and our students, strengthens the entire campus. This work makes a difference. There is lots of room for new voices, new ideas, and new members. We invite you to join us in taking an active role in your union.

Here in our own university, we have witnessed a lack of truth in our dealings with this administration. They have a demonstrated pattern of skirting or simply end running or outright not abiding by the CBA. Instead of bargaining for its wants, they simply make new policies to achieve their goals. They obscure what should be public information about the institution’s real financial situation to keep raises and benefits as small as possible.

We anticipate collective bargaining this spring will be very challenging.

We are fortunate to have an exceptional bargaining team replete with returning Veterans of Bargaining past, led by Jane Knodell and including Joe Kudrle, Yolanda Flores, Louis deRossett, and Joel Goldberg. But what we propose at the bargaining table is only one part of the process. What it takes to win a strong contract will be demonstrations of our collective power. The more members who show up to observe every bargaining session, the better. When it’s time to rally and take action, plan to be there. And we will need support from our community of students, staff, local community and fellow unions. We will need your active participation, and involvement by all our members, to win the contract faculty deserve.

In solidarity,

Suzy and Kate

A Note and a Wish

We intended to send this message a week ago. We didn’t, because our attention turned to the tragic shooting of the young Palestinian-American students visiting our community. We grieve with their families and our community. Our hearts and energy are with all those who work for peace and justice, everywhere.

Bargaining Survey

UA Members, check your email for the Bargaining Survey sent last week. The survey solicits detailed input that will help shape our contract proposals around salary, benefits, workload, and other aspects of faculty working conditions. 

Please complete the survey by this Thursday, 12/7. Thank you!

Tell A Friend About UA

As we build our contract campaign, we want to include community members in what our faculty union is doing. Now anyone interested in United Academics can subscribe to this newsletter!

You can use or adapt the text below to post on social media, in your email signature, or to send to folks who may want updates on our work:

Stay up to date with United Academics, the faculty union of the University of Vermont. Subscribe for UA bargaining updates and actions in solidarity with our fellow unions and union organizers on campus. Visit unitedacademics.org and enter your email under “Subscribe to UA.”

UA is now on Instagram! Follow us @UVMUnitedAcademics.
We are winding down our presence on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter.) Look to our Instagram account for quick news and updates going forward (and let us know if you’re interested in helping with UA social media!).

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, December 5, 6pm: Labor For Palestine
Pickering Room, Fletcher Free Library, 235 College Street, Burlington
Contact: TempestVermont@gmail.com

A Tempest Collective Forum panel discussion about the importance of the labor movement in the fight for Palestinian liberation. Panelists are
*Helen: Professor of English at UVM and United Academics member
*Nolan: Vice-President of Howard Center union, AFSCME 1674, and member of Tempest Collective.
*Mal: Graduate student at UVM, part of the organizing committee of UVMGSU (UAW 2322), and an organizer with JVP VT-NH.
*Rebeka: Co-founder/organizer of a local union, and now working as a professional labor organizer for VT and NY

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Friday, December 8, 2:30-4pm: Delegates Assembly (DA) meeting, on Zoom. All members are invited to attend this and all monthly DA meetings; Delegates and Reps are especially encouraged to attend.

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Bargaining platform presentation

Friday, December 15, 1pm, John Dewey Lounge: UA members in the full-time faculty unit are asked to attend this presentation of our bargaining platform.

Negotiations for a new contract for full time faculty begins in the Spring 2024 semester.

The bargaining platform will be developed from member input received during our Contract Bargaining Priorities meetings all around campus this semester as well as our bargaining survey (members: remember to complete the survey by 12/7)

Have a priority you haven’t yet shared? Contact us.

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Save the date:

January 14, 1-2:30pm: New faculty Meetup with UA leaders and department reps on hand to check in, answer questions, discuss the bargaining process. John Dewey Lounge.

For a full list of UA meetings and events, as well as meetings and events held by other unions and endorsed by UA, visit our calendar.

What we’re reading

Concert Benefits an Endangered UVM Classics Program
Mary Ann Lickteig | Seven Days | November 29

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Students, faculty and staff of Vermont State University urge board to reconsider cuts
AP | vermontpublic.org | November 14

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At Vermont Labor Relations Board, UVM and grad student union trade legal blows
Peter D’Auria | vtdigger.org | November 14

“In a filing with the labor relations board, UVM said “none of the petitioned individuals have the right to unionize.” An attorney for the union said UVM was defying legal precedent.”

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University of Vermont grad students discuss ongoing campaign to unionize
Vermont Edition | vermontpublic.org | November 13

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Sanders stands with UVM graduate student workers moving to unionize
Media release | Vermont Business Magazine | November 9

“In the letter, [Sen. Bernie] Sanders requested that President Garimella remain neutral throughout the bargaining process and ensure that these workers, who dedicate each day to the mission of the University, are able organize together free of any attempts to disrupt, delay, discourage, or otherwise hinder the election process.”

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University of Vermont graduate student workers push for union with supermajority support
April Fisher | Burlington Free Press | November 8

“The letter has "a lot of union busting language, trying to pit us against each other," Brewer said. "We are the union, we represent the union, we organize the union, we run the union, and we love the union."

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As grad students work to unionize, UVM tries to dissuade them
Peter D’Auria | vtdigger.org | November 6

“UVM graduate students are mounting a union drive. University officials have ‘serious concerns.’”

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Stay up to date with UVM Grad Students United - UAW

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