Dear UA-UNM Colleagues,
Happy April! We have a lot of developments to share this week.
Constitutional Amendments
Thank you to members for voting on the proposed UA-UNM Constitutional changes. The Constitutional amendments were approved, which support important improvements to democratic processes within our union.
Contract Negotiations
We know that Unit 1 members are wondering about the status of our contract negotiations. We got the Administration’s last, best, and final offer at the end of last week, and unfortunately, it’s not substantially different from what we saw during mediation. Look for updates as we prepare for arbitration.
In better news, the Unit 2 Collective Bargaining Agreement is now active and published on the Provost’s website. Key wins include:
- All Unit 2 faculty teaching at 0.5 FTE or greater will be eligible for benefits.
- The process to apply for a Term Teacher Appointment has been improved. All Unit 2 faculty who have taught an average of 6 credit hours/semester for the last six semesters are eligible.
- Term Teachers must receive at least 10% above the minimum pay rates.
- An Evaluations Article provides procedural guidelines for the teaching evaluation process.
- Unit 2 faculty can receive extra compensation for professional development activities.
- Contracts start one week before the semester begins, with prorated compensation for course preparation prior to the start of classes.
- A course cancellation provision guarantees prorated compensation for any days worked while on contract, even if a course is cancelled.
- The Grievance Procedure includes clearer steps and greater flexibility for resolving grievances.
- Disciplinary Action is now defined more clearly and is more consistent with long-standing University practices.
- Academic Freedom is defined to include research, teaching, selection of library resources, and the freedom to speak as citizens.
The contract negotiations also included a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that has created a workgroup made up of equal numbers of Administration and Union representatives who will study the issue of offering long-standing members in temporary part-time appointments a career pathway to lecturer positions. This workgroup met for the first time this week and will make recommendations within one year to the Provost on steps to take to move toward this goal.
Organizing Academy
Speaking of union contracts, AFT NM’s Organizing Academy will hold a class on Saturday, April 25th, 1–4 pm at the AFT NM office (530 Jefferson St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108) focused on Know Your Contract, Enforce Your Power. Learn how to protect your rights, uphold your union’s gains, and ensure the contract is a living, enforceable agreement. You can sign up to attend here.
In Solidarity,
United Academics of UNM
Upcoming Events
Friday, April 3, 12:00–12:45 pm – Organizing Committee – all campuses on Zoom
Help strengthen our union by encouraging more of your colleagues to get involved.
Email organizing@uaunm.org for the Zoom link and password.
Saturday, April 25, 1:00–4:00 pm – Know Your Contract, Enforce Your Power Organizing Academy
AFT NM office (530 Jefferson St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108)
Sign up to attend here.
Friday, May 1 – May Day Rally and March
3 pm (youth events), 4 pm (rally), 5 pm (march), Civic Plaza
Union Quote of the Week
“We have the power to speak out for good wages, great benefits, fair scheduling and equal pay for equal work.”
— Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO
