UFF-FGCU: About Us

Fast Facts about UFF-FGCU

UFF works collaboratively with administration and other faculty governance structures like Senate to review new policies before implementation -- a strong participant faculty union strengthens the University and its position to recruit and retain qualified faculty

The Senate is a strong and important faculty governance group on our campus. However, it cannot negotiate on behalf of faculty, nor can it advocate for individual or group faculty rights as related to salary, benefits, and conditions of employment—as is our charge. We work with the Senate, but have separate functions.

While there are many employees and constituents of a University, UFF is the legally defined group that faculty have entrusted with representing their interests in salary, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment, such as:

Salary, benefits, assignments, appointments, leaves, sabbaticals
Promotions, evaluations, discipline, contract renewal, layoff
Academic freedom, non-discrimination, outside activity

UFF negotiates the entire Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) at the local level every three years and negotiates selected topics every year. UFF also:

Enforces that the CBA is interpreted and followed as intended
Represents members for and through the Informal Resolution and Grievance Process
Provides fair representation to protect you and your concerns.
Speaks up for your interests at the table, on committees, and to administration
Provides advice and counsel to Provost, President, BOT; we are a recognized voice, backed by law and contract

Many who are now administrators on our campus were (or still are) UFF members on this campus, As a small but growing University everyone has a role to play in ensuring quality instruction and programs
UFF represents you at the state level and national level and works to protect higher education interests, quality, funding, faculty rights, local decision-making, and academic freedom (e.g., defeat of Baxley Bill about Academic Freedom; lawsuit about the travel ban) before the Florida Legislature, the Florida Cabinet, the US Congress and other agencies. UFF draws additional political strength locally, statewide and nationally through its affiliation with the AFL-CIO, National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers.
UFF is a professional guild like the AMA or Bar Association. In addition to negotiating and enforcing the CBA, we advocate and disseminate materials concerning teaching and research as well as other issues concerning faculty careers.
Members are provided with services to guarantee legal representation in employment-related and private matters including an employment-liability insurance policy that protects members from personal financial liability up to $1 million per occurrence.
We have periodic member meetings to report our activities and discuss pertinent issues, as well as socials to enhance fellowship. Join us for our next function!

Benefits of Union Membership

Provide a stronger voice on your own behalf; we are stronger together than alone.
Access to and support throughout the grievance process
Liability coverage up to $1 million and access to attorney representation and advice
Discounted member benefits (many of which can repay your dues in the first year) that include access to:

Life and disability insurance
Long-term care insurance
Auto insurance
Homeowners insurance
Investment accounts and credit cards
Mortgage and line of credit programs
Consumer discounts

Meet colleagues in other units, fellowship of other academics with your same issues.

Highlights of our record in the state and locally

Some significant changes to in our local CBA over time:

(NB: There are many others. Both faculty and administration agreed on changes)

· Established and maintained cooperative negotiations with administration

· Negotiated better salary raises than any other university in the Florida system

o 2004 = 5%, + promotions

o 2005 = 5% + promotions

o 2006 = ~5% + promotions

o 2007 = 1% + $1,000 + promotions

o 2008 = 1% + $1,000 + promotions

o 2009 – Still negotiating!

· 12% salary increase to Professor

· Maintained summer salary level

· Added that there would be a written response highlighting criteria to faculty when they

o apply for promotion (supervisor, peer review committee, dean)

o plan to apply for promotion (peer review committee and supervisor)

· Clarified that there must be specific written criteria for evaluation and promotion determined by faculty at the unit level

· Added that promotion reviewers can ask for clarification of materials in the file

· Established market study and internal salary study

· Clarified ownership of teaching materials

· Established default payment schedule for inventions

· Added non-discrimination based on sexual orientation

· Established local grievance procedure, informal resolution,

· Established labor-management committee

· Instructor and academic advisor ladders and payment

· Percentage of effort on FARs (re: FTE’s and workweek)

· More consultation with faculty before assignments are made

· Annual evaluations for all faculty, sustained review for tenured faculty only

· Improved statement on Academic Freedom

In addition:

Negotiated the continuing contract system
Keep faculty concerns in front of President and Provost all year
Added instructors and librarians to Market Adjustment process
Protect merit criteria
Had initiated a sick leave pool in the state
Strengthened intellectual property rules in state and local campus.
Ensure a fair evaluation process
Guaranteed state sick and annual leave accrual policies and payments
Has grown to one of the higher percentages of membership of SUS institutions in the state.
Successful political action (preserved faculty raises as part of state employee salary adjustments; defeat of anti-academic freedom legislation)

Membership Form

FGCU's UFF chapter has earned excellent contracts through local negotiation, e.g.:

2007-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement [.pdf - 525 kb]
2008-2009 Supplement to the 2007-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement
2006-2007 Supplement to the 2004-2007 Collective Bargaining Agreement [.pdf - 68 kb]
2004-2007 Collective Bargaining Agreement [.pdf - 3.2 mb]
Market and Internal Salary Studies

Our ability to continue to do this is influenced by your membership, input, and collegial leadership. PLEASE JOIN and become an active member.

We have combined the FGCU payroll deduction form with the UFF membership form in one file for your convenience. Download the UFF Membership Form (.doc - 40 KB).