Dear UA-UNM Members,
Even though many are on summer break, your UA-UNM Bargaining Team has been working hard to improve our working conditions, and we are writing to share important updates on contract negotiations and arbitration.
Arbitration
We have been in contract negotiations with the UNM Administration since November 2024 for our Collective Bargaining Agreement that will be in effect through June 30, 2028. As you may recall, we agreed upon all articles in the Unit 1 contract except those on Union Rights and Reduction in Force. In the tentatively agreed upon articles, we won broad faculty input in workload policies, improved protections for academic freedom, and improved leave policies for lecturers, among other things. The remaining two articles address granting paid time for Union leaders to do Union work, and the creation of a reduction in force policy that sets guidelines for how and when broad layoffs can take place. After a grueling 11-hour arbitration session on June 9, we accomplished what we intended to accomplish in terms of making a strong case for our reasonable proposals, and now we have to wait until at least August for a decision from the arbitrator.
Compensation Negotiations
Also this month, your UA-UNM bargaining team participated in compensation negotiations for the upcoming academic year (2026-2027). We have agreed to a 1% raise across the board for Unit 1 and Unit 2, with a 2% raise for Unit 2 minimums.
We originally asked for 4% and 5% raises, for Unit 1 and Unit 2 respectively, and we have strong evidence that UNM has the money to spend. Unfortunately, Admin stated repeatedly that they could not use any money for compensation outside the legislative allocation and thus provided only a 1% counter-offer.
One of UA-UNM’s highest priorities was to alleviate the financial stress many faculty are feeling due to the 13.1% increase in healthcare premiums. UA-UNM’s counterproposals of a 2.5% raise for Unit 1 and 3% for Unit 2, and our final counterproposal of one-time payments for faculty affected by the premium increases were not accepted.
Administration did not provide any viable solutions for these members, and we are deeply disappointed that the administration has chosen not to act to alleviate the loss of income for over 250 faculty and their families because of the raise in healthcare premiums.
What YOU Can Do
Join us in enacting our escalation plan to build union power, so that we can win more at the bargaining table. We need YOU in order for this plan to be successful!
- Sign our Petition for an 80/20 healthcare split!
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-now-unm-faculty-demand-affordable-healthcare - Attend our General Membership Meeting this fall!
- Make sure you are a union member and ask your colleagues to join!
- Be a steward!
Email info@uaunm.org for more information!
In Solidarity,
United Academics of UNM
Union Quote of the Week
“I knew that I wanted to help other workers, and I found out that I could help them by joining with them and making the union strong and powerful enough to bring about change.”
– Addie L. Wyatt, ordained minister and activist for worker rights, civil rights, and women’s rights
