In November 2001, the University of Vermont United Academics launched its first contract negotiations with the university administration, seeking agreement on salaries and working conditions for 600 professors. The union said the talks would explore changes in the University of Vermont’s (UVM) governance and the university’s allocation of resources. The UVM United Academics (UA) chapter was organized in April 2001 after a victorious campaign launched by UVM/AFT and the AAUP to organize full-time faculty. It was the largest union victory in Vermont in recent history. Newly elected president of UVM United Academics, political science professor Peter Stavrakis said, "We were fortunate to have organizing assistance from the United Professions of Vermont/AFT (UPV) and the AAUP in our union campaign. We now look forward to their support, and the support of other UPV members in Vermont as we negotiate our first contract."

Since the spring 2001 victory, UA has been working hard on developing its organizational structure. "This isn’t the old model of unionization--highly antagonistic to management, highly politicized--it’s something different," said President Stavrakis. The result could be a revitalized university more confident of its mission, more appealing to prospective students and more connected to the people of Vermont. It is a huge challenge, and one that the union is ready to take.

Improved salaries and benefits are central to the faculty union’s agenda, but members are also deeply concerned about the university’s general well-being. The union wants a more equal standing with administrators in charting the school’s future. Vermont’s flagship university has been plagued by controversy and division for much of the past decade--faculty salaries were below those of peer universities, mistrust among UVM’s various constituencies was widespread, state financial support for UVM lagged, and high tuition costs discouraged students from attending.

Noting that UVM has a new faculty union, a newly revamped faculty senate and the prospect of a new president taking office during 2002, Stavrakis said that if "all the new players do their jobs, we can make this a much, much better university."

For additional information about UVM United Academics visit its Web site http://unitedacademics.org [posted 3/25/02]