To:      University of Vermont Community

From:  Richard H. Cate, Vice President for Finance & Administration

Re:       Unionization Voting Results in Runoff Election

As you know, an election was held for eligible UVM staff members to vote this past Tuesday and Wednesday on the question of staff unionization. In short, none of the three choices on the ballot received more than fifty percent of the votes, so another election must be held in approximately two months. The scheduling of the next election will occur after the Vermont Labor Relations Board certifies the outcome of this week’s vote. Voters will be choosing between: (1) being represented by University Staff Union – NEA, or (2) not being represented by a union.

What follows is a summary of the results of this week’s election.

• 777 people were eligible to vote and 618 (79.5%) voted.

• Question 1: Do you want to be represented by a union? YES – 339 (55%); NO – 278 (45%); 1 invalid ballot

• Question 2: Do you want to be represented by

• NEA – 183 (30%)
• United Staff – 168 (27%)
• Neither – 260 (42%)
• Invalid – 7 (1%)

The fact that nearly 80% of eligible staff voted in this election is noteworthy, and it will be just as important for all eligible voters to participate in the next election.