What is a union?

A union is a group of workers who come together to advocate for their interests in the workplace and beyond. By coming together as a union, workers gain power to improve workplace conditions including but not limited to wages, benefits, due process and many more.

Is it legal to join a union?

Yes! Workers have the right to organize themselves to support a union, sign union membership cards, file grievances, and speak up for workplace priorities.

What is collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining is the process by which union employees and their employer negotiate and agree upon a union contract. This is one of the ways that workers are able to win better working conditions.

How are unions and collective bargaining related?

A union may or may not have the right to collective bargaining, but collective bargaining is a goal of unionizing. Depending on the state, collective bargaining may be a legal right, a right granted by an employer, or something that is banned entirely. In Colorado, collective bargaining can be granted to K-12 and higher education teachers by their employers, but it is not legally guaranteed to workers at this time. In states or sectors where employers are not required to participate in collective bargaining, workers can still fight for improved working conditions through collective action.

Is it legal to speak with an organizer?

Employees have the legal right to speak with an organizer, although not during their work hours. For higher education, this is flexible; because faculty and instructors typically don’t clock in and out, as long as they are not speaking to an organizer during classes, meetings, or other job-related activities, employees are safe to speak with an organizer. Despite this, we still recommend written communication is done using personal email addresses.

Why are AAUP and AFT legitimate/credible?

AAUP and AFT have recently affiliated to become the largest representative body of higher education voices in the country. This means that in addition to having access to funds and resources, because both organizations are more than 100 years old, they carry credibility through their established reputation of advocacy, winning contracts and campaigns, legislative actions, and tireless work on behalf of teachers and students.

Is AAUP for faculty, instructors, or both? Why?

It is a union for and of all faculty. Full time and part time. It’s important to recognize the trend of adjunctification of the profession and the perils of the same. We need make sure that this trend slows down and we improve job security and benefits for all faculty. By raising the standards of both groups we raise the standards of the profession.

Why should you join a union?

The fundamental difference between unions and advocacy organizations or activist groups is that unions demand power. Workers having or lacking power to influence workplace conditions and improving them for all determines what ones workplace looks like. Having a union improves the balance of power.

What are key benefits (collective) of joining a union?

When you join your union, you are beginning to join forces with other employees. This joining builds and strengthens collective advocacy. Union membership has been historically proven to improve wages, benefits and workplace conditions.

Can you be fired for joining a union?

Your employer may not fire, threaten to fire, discriminate against, make changes to working conditions, or punish employees in any way for union organizing activities. Unfortunately, this does not mean retaliation does not happen. The best ways to safeguard against something like this are to make sure an employee [follows expectations… word this better] and to build a union with enough members to have the strength to protect one another.

What actions can we take?

While we don’t have the right to collective bargaining yet, we can conduct issue campaigns, engage in collective actions, support bills, engage in the legislative process, distribute petitions, and show solidarity in many other ways.