Unionization FAQ

This FAQ is updated regularly to address what we see as the most prominent concerns of Oregon Tech faculty with regard to Oregon Tech AAUP and the unionization process. If your question is not addressed here, please contact us at unite@oregontechaaup.org.

 

What is AAUP?

The mission of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is to advance academic freedom and shared governance; to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education; to promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, post‐doctoral fellows, and all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education; to help the higher education community organize to make our goals a reality; and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good. Founded in 1915, the AAUP has helped to shape American higher education by developing the standards and procedures that maintain quality in education and academic freedom in this country’s colleges and universities. The AAUP Collective Bargaining Congress (AAUP CBC) was formed in 1976 to support faculty organizing for collective bargaining. In Oregon, AAUP CBC represents faculty at Portland State University, and–jointly with the American Federation of Teachers–the faculty at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University the graduate employees of PSU. The AAUP also advocates for members at many of Oregon’s public and private universities.

 

How will Oregon Tech AAUP benefit Oregon Tech students?

Students learn better from instructors with manageable teaching loads
Students will benefit from instructors having more time to focus on advising, individual consultation, and other student support activities
Students learn better from instructors with greater job security
Once Faculty Senate time is freed up to focus more on academic quality, students will benefit from the increased attention to curriculum, quality, and other academic issues.

 

How will Oregon Tech AAUP benefit Oregon Tech faculty?

Our faculty union will provide:

Compensation standards that are fair, equitable, and legally binding
Legally binding workload protections
Greater shared governance and transparency
Better long-term planning for budgets since our collective bargaining agreements will contain provisions for multiple years
Collective voice at the state level to advocate for greater funding and make Oregon Tech more competitive
Data,legal advice, and expertise to support our faculty initiatives
How do we decide what is addressed in our union contract?

The bargaining team will circulate a survey to identify those items that the faculty would like to see addressed in negotiations. Additionally, we will invite faculty to participate in issue-specific work groups to dig into the larger issue areas. Our union will continue to engage in conversations around refining our priorities throughout negotiations.
How much are union dues?

Dues for AAUP chapters generally fall between 1% and 1.5% of annual salary. Chapter dues are determined at the chapter level, and then affiliation dues are paid to the state and national AAUP. Dues provide funding for bargaining and enforcement of the collective bargaining agreement, staff support, legal fees, and many other resources that members and the chapter can access when needed. We will establish our dues when we approve our constitution and bylaws. Dues payments will not begin until after we’ve ratified our first contract.

 

Will my union dues be used to support political candidates?

AAUP does not maintain a PAC nationally or in Oregon. The decision to establish a voluntary political action fund rests with members, and to this point, AAUP’s members have not engaged in funding political campaigns.