A unit of 325 faculty teaching at the University of West Florida has voted overwhelmingly to affirm union representation by the United Faculty of Florida/AFT/NEA. The vote was 199 for the UFF, which is affiliated with Florida Education Association, and 18 for no union.

The West Florida unit is one of 11 UFF chapters that must recertify representation because of a recent political reorganization of the public higher education system in Florida.  When the statewide UFF-bargained contract expired Jan. 7, the institutions took the position that they would no longer recognize UFF since the university system reorganization had changed who the faculty's employer was.

Foreseeing this posture, the UFF, which represents 10,000 faculty statewide, mounted a massive internal organizing campaign and filed 6,600 cards with the state labor board in December 2002.  Since January, seven of the 11 university boards have voluntarily recognized UFF as the bargaining agent.  The West Florida election brings the total number of institutions on board to eight.

The next election will take place at Florida International University.  In the UWF instance, says AFT national representative Norm Holsinger, the board and the president supported recognition for the union, but administrators insisted on an election. The support of the higher-ups, however, helped smooth the way for a speedy election and the positive outcome. [Barbara McKenna]

[June 9, 2003]