Dear UVM community,
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is working with a subset of our colleagues to consider organizing.
I want to be clear from the outset that I believe in collective bargaining as an option, and I support our colleagues in their right to consider organizing. As we move through the process, there may be areas of disagreement, but I am confident we can proceed with patience and respect for all.
The first issue we needed to resolve following receipt of the union petition was a determination of which positions are appropriate for the proposed bargaining unit. I am pleased that on Friday of last week, the university and AFT reached agreement on this issue.
Just as we came to agreement on the positions to be included in the proposed bargaining unit, I want the university to do all it can to maintain respectful interaction during the election campaign. To that end, I have asked our human resources team to prioritize direct and positive engagement with our employees, and communication that is clear and straightforward.
This process will be swift. The election should be concluded and preliminary results known in about a month. That means our colleagues will have only a matter of weeks to gather information, and make an informed decision.
To help with information sharing, a webpage is available to describe how the process works and to provide helpful information through a series of FAQs. We commit to sharing accurate and timely information. We will update this website as needed and share other information.
Finally, I want to underscore that I believe in a strong, positive and supportive work environment regardless of whether some coworkers are organized. We all share a responsibility for the community we are nurturing, and each one of us has a unique and essential role. Let’s commit to partnering with one another.
Thank you for all you do to make UVM such a special place.
Suresh Garimella
President
University of Vermont