UNF CHAPTER
The UNF Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida represents all UNF tenure-line faculty, Instructors & Lecturers, and Visiting Professors on all labor-related contract negotiations (roughly 600 full-time faculty). With the exception of faculty currently holding administrative posts and adjuncts, all UNF faculty are considered “in unit” and are covered under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiated by our chapter and university administration. Only active members of the union, however, have access to the resources noted above or receive additional union-related benefits (including union representation in the grievance/arbitration processes).
The UNF Chapter is guided by its Constitution. It has four officers, a grievance officer, and senators who represent the university’s colleges. All major labor issues requiring action are discussed by the Chapter’s officers and senators with input from invited faculty (all in-unit faculty are welcome at all UNF Chapter Council meetings). Major decisions are debated and voted upon at these meetings.
The President of the Council–elected each Spring for a one-year term–appoints union members to serve on the chapter’s standing committees. She/he also appoints faculty to serve on the Bargaining Team (the individuals who research and advocate for changes to the collective bargaining agreement and who negotiate with their counterparts in administration).* The union also solicits nominations and conducts elections for membership on various university faculty committees; the most important of these are the university-level Promotion and Tenure Committee and the Sabbatical Committee. Officers in the chapter also work directly with the Office of the President and Academic Affairs (namely with the Provost) to resolve current or potentially problematic issues.
* The collective bargaining agreement must be ratified by faculty vote (all in-unit faculty may vote upon the contract).
United Faculty of Florida
The United Faculty of Florida (UFF) is our parent organization. It represents faculty at eleven of the Florida public state universities, at eleven of the Florida state colleges, at three independent Florida universities, and it represents graduate students at four of the state universities. The statewide organization provides its chapters with myriad resources including:
- Chapter Liaisons (specialists from the state organization who work with chapters)
- Legal advice and assistance with grievances and arbitration
- Legal representation for members requiring judicial remedies
- Political advice & lobbying (state and national levels)
- Direct access to our collective national organizations (see below)
The United Faculty of Florida is a part of The Florida Education Association (FEA), The National Education Association (NEA), The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
