United Academics

Greetings from the President's desk.

Congratulations to the members of United Academics for the completion of another Academic Year and a job well done. While there are times when it seems that no one appreciates our efforts at teaching, research and service, and the stress of promotion and tenure reviews are highest, we need to remember that faculty are the university, we keep it going. Without faculty doing research, teaching or both, the university would not be able to fulfill any part of its mission. It is United Academics’ task to, among other things, ensure that your academic freedom is not limited and your individual and group rights are not infringed upon as you perform your duties to your students, the university and the larger community. Members should be aware that the union is there to help when problems arise. If you do have a problem, call the UAF office (474-2461), the UAA office (786-6490) or your campus Vice-President for assistance and/or directions.

While much of what is done for faculty is not widely known because of the concern for individuals’ privacy, the 2006/2007 Academic Year has been a busy one and 2007/2008 promises to be even busier. Your representatives have addressed areas including but not limited to: Academic Freedom, the promotion/tenure/review process, non-retention attempts as well as some non-renewals. We have also dealt with issues involving Intellectual Property Rights of faculty, the use of Family Medical Leave by individual members, Workload construction and approval and conditions in the workplace.

United Academics, along with the Alaska Community College Federation of Teachers (ACCFT) and the Alaska Higher Education Crafts and Trades (Local 6070), are currently (April 2007) engaged in negotiating for new Health Benefits with the Administration. This is the only the second time joint negotiations with the three unions has been attempted. The major issue is the continuing increase in costs for medical care as well as for prescription drugs

United Academics begins negotiations with the administration of the University of Alaska on September 10th for the next contract. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) ends on December 31, 2007 and we hope to have agreement for a new CBA by that date. The United Academics team consists of Chief Negotiator John P. Riley with the Justice Center at UAA, Dan Walsh with the Institute of Northern Engineering at UAF, Clive Thomas with Political Science at UAS and a fourth team member yet to be named. United Academics members have received a survey designed to elicit information regarding issues that ought to be included in the bargaining process, the results of which will analyzed and passed along to the negotiating team. In addition, meetings will be held on the major campuses to provide individual faculty the opportunity to voice their concerns directly to members of the team.

United Academics was more involved in the 2006 elections than has been the case in the past, especially members of the Legislative Relations Committee and the United Academics Political Action Committee. The PAC was particularly insightful, having all the candidates it endorsed win in the general election with one exception. The Committee failed to endorse the eventual winner of the gubernatorial contest, Sarah Palin. Thanks for their efforts go to Mike Davis, Edgar Blatchford, Clive Thomas, Jonathan Rosenberg, Jerry McBeath and Charles Fedullo. This is an area in which unit members can become more involved by signing to have a small percentage of their dues to be dedicated to the PAC and used to support the efforts of union at the state and local government levels.

The Spring meeting of the Representative Assembly was held in February at the Baranof Hotel in Juneau. In addition to the regularly scheduled meeting activities, members of the Assembly were addressed by Pat Shaw of the American Association of University Professors on the collective bargaining process and the role that they can play in assisting the negotiating team. He also provided a day of training for the negotiating team in advance of the RA meeting. The Assembly was also addressed by Cindy Spanyers and Peggy Wilcox of the Alaska Public Employees Association (APEA), as well as Mike Davis, on the ways to approach (or not to approach) legislators and/or administrators when promoting or opposing a particular piece of legislation. Following these presentations, the Assembly members made their way to the Capitol Building to engage in some lobbying for faculty and university interests.

As stated earlier in this space, an active and informed membership is essential to the success of United Academics as a representative of faculty interests within the University. There are many opportunities for members to participate in United Academics, including, but not limited to, filling elective and appointed positions. Because David Porter announced earlier this year that he would resign, there will be a vacancy in the Organizational Vice-Presidency at UAF as of July1. It is possible that two seats on the RA will be vacant after June 30, one at UAF and one at UAA. Given the process for filling vacancies in elective offices, the replacements for the current incumbents will be nominated by an Ad Hoc Nominating Committee and appointed to the positions. Anyone interested in serving on the Nominating Committee should contact Cyndee West, Contract Manager for United Academics, in the union office. Individuals who are interested in being nominated for the position(s) should contact Ms. West to learn the appropriate procedures for being nominated. .

Please remember to become involved in the activities of United Academics. Just as the university is the faculty, not the administration, United Academics is its faculty, not a few individuals in visible positions.

Have an enjoyable and productive summer.


	Greetings from the President's desk. Congratulations to the members of United Academics for the completion of another Academic Year and a job well done. While there are times when it seems that no one appreciates our efforts at teaching, research and service, and the stress of promotion and tenure reviews are highest, we need to remember that faculty are the university, we keep it going. Without faculty doing research, teaching or both, the university would not be able to fulfill any part of its mission. It is United Academics’ task to, among other things, ensure that your academic freedom is not limited and your individual and group rights are not infringed upon as you perform your duties to your students, the university and the larger community. Members should be aware that the union is there to help when problems arise. If you do have a problem, call the UAF office (474-2461), the UAA office (786-6490) or your campus Vice-President for assistance and/or directions. While much of what is done for faculty is not widely known because of the concern for individuals’ privacy, the 2006/2007 Academic Year has been a busy one and 2007/2008 promises to be even busier. Your representatives have addressed areas including but not limited to: Academic Freedom, the promotion/tenure/review process, non-retention attempts as well as some non-renewals. We have also dealt with issues involving Intellectual Property Rights of faculty, the use of Family Medical Leave by individual members, Workload construction and approval and conditions in the workplace. United Academics, along with the Alaska Community College Federation of Teachers (ACCFT) and the Alaska Higher Education Crafts and Trades (Local 6070), are currently (April 2007) engaged in negotiating for new Health Benefits with the Administration. This is the only the second time joint negotiations with the three unions has been attempted. The major issue is the continuing increase in costs for medical care as well as for prescription drugs United Academics begins negotiations with the administration of the University of Alaska on September 10th for the next contract. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) ends on December 31, 2007 and we hope to have agreement for a new CBA by that date. The United Academics team consists of Chief Negotiator John P. Riley with the Justice Center at UAA, Dan Walsh with the Institute of Northern Engineering at UAF, Clive Thomas with Political Science at UAS and a fourth team member yet to be named. United Academics members have received a survey designed to elicit information regarding issues that ought to be included in the bargaining process, the results of which will analyzed and passed along to the negotiating team. In addition, meetings will be held on the major campuses to provide individual faculty the opportunity to voice their concerns directly to members of the team. United Academics was more involved in the 2006 elections than has been the case in the past, especially members of the Legislative Relations Committee and the United Academics Political Action Committee. The PAC was particularly insightful, having all the candidates it endorsed win in the general election with one exception. The Committee failed to endorse the eventual winner of the gubernatorial contest, Sarah Palin. Thanks for their efforts go to Mike Davis, Edgar Blatchford, Clive Thomas, Jonathan Rosenberg, Jerry McBeath and Charles Fedullo. This is an area in which unit members can become more involved by signing to have a small percentage of their dues to be dedicated to the PAC and used to support the efforts of union at the state and local government levels. The Spring meeting of the Representative Assembly was held in February at the Baranof Hotel in Juneau. In addition to the regularly scheduled meeting activities, members of the Assembly were addressed by Pat Shaw of the American Association of University Professors on the collective bargaining process and the role that they can play in assisting the negotiating team. He also provided a day of training for the negotiating team in advance of the RA meeting. The Assembly was also addressed by Cindy Spanyers and Peggy Wilcox of the Alaska Public Employees Association (APEA), as well as Mike Davis, on the ways to approach (or not to approach) legislators and/or administrators when promoting or opposing a particular piece of legislation. Following these presentations, the Assembly members made their way to the Capitol Building to engage in some lobbying for faculty and university interests. As stated earlier in this space, an active and informed membership is essential to the success of United Academics as a representative of faculty interests within the University. There are many opportunities for members to participate in United Academics, including, but not limited to, filling elective and appointed positions. Because David Porter announced earlier this year that he would resign, there will be a vacancy in the Organizational Vice-Presidency at UAF as of July1. It is possible that two seats on the RA will be vacant after June 30, one at UAF and one at UAA. Given the process for filling vacancies in elective offices, the replacements for the current incumbents will be nominated by an Ad Hoc Nominating Committee and appointed to the positions. Anyone interested in serving on the Nominating Committee should contact Cyndee West, Contract Manager for United Academics, in the union office. Individuals who are interested in being nominated for the position(s) should contact Ms. West to learn the appropriate procedures for being nominated. . Please remember to become involved in the activities of United Academics. Just as the university is the faculty, not the administration, United Academics is its faculty, not a few individuals in visible positions. Have an enjoyable and productive summer.