September 2022 Newsletter

Dear faculty,

Welcome back, faculty members! And welcome, new faculty! With approximately 70 new full-time and part-time faculty on campus, we’re busy inviting folks to learn about and join United Academics. Fellow members, delegates, and reps: please help by reaching out and welcoming new faculty, talking about UA, and offering to field questions.

Over the summer, part-time faculty continued bargaining for a new contract. We have been ‘at the table’ since January. Please show solidarity by signing this petition asking the administration to settle a Fair Contract Now with livable wages and benefits for UVM part-time faculty.

Our Contract Administration Committee continued supporting faculty through the summer and just published our CAC Summary Report from the 2021-22 academic year. Of note: we fielded 150+ inquiries and filed 17 formal grievances this last year. In the past, it was typical to file 3-6 grievances per academic year. The sharp rise is due to so many violations and the difficulty working through informal resolution with this administration.

See more updates below. Looking ahead: in 2022-2023 we will hold UA officer elections for next year and begin to assemble our full-time bargaining team for winter 2023/24 negotiations. We’re refreshed, prepared, focused, and ready for the year.

In solidarity,

Ellie and Katlyn

Ellie Miller, President | Katlyn Morris, Executive Director

Update: CAC Report

Over the past academic year, the CAC fielded approximately 150 inquiries and filed 17 formal grievances.

See the 2021-2022 CAC Summary Report on our website.

Who are the members of the CAC, responding to your inquiries, filing and following through on grievances, and ensuring our contract is upheld?

Wade Carson (UA Grievance Officer, Biomedical and Health Sciences), Dan DeSanto (Library), Ellie Miller (UA President, Sociology), Katlyn Morris (UA Director), Ingrid Nelson (Geography and Geosciences), Deb Noel (English), Jeanne Shea (Anthropology), and Koela Ray (Biomedical and Health Sciences). Big thanks to John Forbes (Theatre), former UA President and longtime CAC member, who retired in 2022.

Please visit our page to learn more about the CAC, our work, the grievance process, and your rights and responsibilities under our Collective Bargaining Agreement. To contact your CAC: contract@unitedacademics.org

UA at Vermont Green

United Academics took the field during the Vermont Green Football Club’s inaugural season. We were proud to stand side by side with fellow local unions during the club’s Labor Night on July 13 — and to cheer for Vermont’s new mission-driven local soccer club.

More updates

• PART-TIME BARGAINING: Part-time faculty continued bargaining through the summer and are now entering another academic year without a new contract. See the most recent bargaining reports here (password protected). And please SIGN OUR PETITION calling for livable wages and benefits for UVM part-time faculty.

• UA REPRESENTATION: UA was represented at the AAUP Biennial meeting in Virginia, and sent voting delegates to the AFT National Convention in Boston and Vermont’s AFL-CIO meeting in Barre. UA leaders have also recently participated in union organizing and bargaining workshops through the AAUP and Labor Notes.

• BERNIE’S OFFICE: This summer, UA Executive Director Katlyn Morris and UA President Ellie Miller met with the staff of Sen. Bernie Sanders, strengthening our relationship with his Vermont office.

• UNIONS UNITED: The leadership of UVM Staff United and United Academics started a pattern of meeting regularly. It’s exciting to support a sibling union as they develop, and our partnership builds the channels for communication and resource sharing we will need in the long term.

Upcoming events

• Part-time Faculty Bargaining Session: Friday, Sept. 2, 12-2pm. All members are encouraged to attend via Zoom to support part-time faculty negotations.

• Delegates Assembly meeting: Friday, Sept. 9, 3-4:30pm on Zoom. All members are welcome. Delegates and Reps, please plan to attend!

Quick links

Visit our website

Calendar of events

Contract questions

Find your Department Rep and College Delegate

Join the UA Member Chat listserv