Frustrated by 14 months of fruitless negotiations and four months of working without a contract, University of Alaska faculty have told management: Give us a contract or we'll strike. The unit of 312 faculty represented by the Alaska Community Colleges' Federation of Teachers voted two to one (202 yes to 44 opposed) to authorize the strike.

The vote, held through a mail ballot and counted by an independent auditing firm on Oct. 28, was sent to the far-flung membership working at the three main campuses of the university and 11 other campuses around the state. (The United Academic/AFT represents another group of faculty at the university system.)

The union also filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the Alaska Labor Relations Agency in the same week. The 27-page complaint charges the university with bad faith bargaining and cites numerous problems, including the university's insistence on including a clause that actually violates state labor law. The union also charged that the university put a "last best offer" on the table in August that took back provisions agreed to earlier.

The university's union-busting tactics appear to be designed to intimidate other, younger unions on campus, says ACCFT, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The university is attempting to revoke dues check-off, weaken the grievance procedure and cut release time for union officials.

"We're holding out for best practices and a student-friendly contract," says Bob Congdon, president of the ACCFT. "They're looking for a management-friendly contract." AFT officers have sent a letter of support to the union, and Congdon says the union would be grateful for other letters of support to be sent to ayaccft@uaa.alaska.edu or via the Web site, http://www.accft.org. [Barbara McKenna]

[October 30, 2003]