Who are the United Academics of Ohio?
We are contingent faculty—fulltime and part-time – throughout Ohio, committed to winning job security, fair pay, benefits and a respected voice on campus, as well as creating a vibrate community of peers connected through the work of teaching, not bound by the institutions we may teach at this semester. We believe unionizing is the best way to achieve these goals
The contingent faculty workforce in Ohio is nearly 27,000 strong. Students rely on us to help them succeed but it’s tough to serve them well when we are underpaid, under-resourced and undervalued. By unionizing with the American Federation of Teachers we gain the tools to discover solutions to the staffing crisis in higher education.
Why should I join the United Academics of Ohio?
Community. Resources. Power. Organizing. UAO strengthens your voice by joining a community of contingent faculty state-wide who are committed to changing higher education. Contingent faculty are in the majority among higher education instructors in Ohio – UAO uses strength in numbers to develop our instructional skills, sharpen academic chops and together, work toward fairer working conditions and higher-quality education.
What can be accomplished by joining United Academics of Ohio?
As a group, we can reach beyond the status quo, proposing the changes we’d like to see and preserving policies that are already working. We can act collectively, building coalitions and fighting for our students.
What about collective bargaining?
Collective bargaining – the process of sitting at the table with administrators to hammer out a fair work contract – can be one goal of UAO. With the union behind us, we amplify our voices not only with college and university administration, but also in our community, and in our state, as Ohio develops education and labor policy that affects us all.
What does it mean to organize?
We organize to impact working conditions, improve student learning conditions, and ensure that faculty, who are closest to what actually happens in our classrooms, have a voice in shaping effective policy. UAO’s founding principle says it all: Together we can accomplish what we cannot achieve as individuals.
Why should I get involved with an adjunct union when I don’t know if I’ll be teaching here in a year?
If not you, then who? Your union work is likely to affect your own experience on campus, but it is certain to affect future adjuncts. Any improvements we can make will raise standards for contingent faculty across the state, and across the nation.
What are my rights if I’m interested in joining a union campaign?
You have the right to join in: It is illegal for an employer to discriminate or threaten an employee because of union activity. No one can withhold hiring agreements, fire you, or deny promotions because you are part of an organizing effort. If you feel this has occurred, please contact the office immediately.
What is the AFT and AFT Higher Education?
The American Federation of Teachers is the largest higher education union in the United States, with more than 200,000 higher education members, including 100,000 contingent faculty. With 1.6 million members overall, the AFT also represents professionals in health care, public employment and K-12 school districts across the country, connecting you to thousands of faculty, teachers, nurses and other professionals.
For more information on AFT Higher Education, check out www.reclaimhighered.org/ and www.aft.org
For more information about joining United Academics of Ohio, please contact us at info@unitedacademicsohio.edu.