Why Join UFF?
The more members we have, the more effective our efforts are when it comes to bargaining, activism, or political lobbying. A union speaks as one voice for the workers it represents. Peer reviewed studies have shown a direct correlation between faculty union membership density and their ability to bring benefits to their members.
Under federal law, a union must represent all the workers eligible to join, even those who choose not to pay dues. The more who do commit to joining, however, the more credible our position and the louder our voice. Dues provide our only source of income, funding all the work that we do on your behalf. We can accomplish so much more when we work together.
Having a union provides us the collective power to negotiate on even terms with a multi-billion dollar educational and research institution. We are extremely fortunate to be in a position where we do not need to fight to obtain this power – we only need to maintain it! Without this power, the university administration would be able to set policy with no faculty input. While the administration does not have bad intentions, there are inevitably going to be areas where the interests of the university and the faculty are at odds. The faculty will always benefit from having a seat at the table so we can negotiate fairer, more equitable terms of employment. See the graphic below for an example of how UFF has been able to negotiate for higher salaries.
We Could Lose the Power to Negotiate
Florida legislation that went into effect on July 1, 2023 requires that almost all public sector unions have membership densities of at least 60%. If UFF fails to reach this threshold, we would face decertification, which means we would lose the ability to represent our members and our Collective Bargaining Agreement would become invalid.
In the ’23-’24 academic year, UFF-FSU increased our membership from 43% to over 60%, but WE MUST REACH OVER 60% EVERY YEAR OR BE DECERTIFIED.. This means canvassing for new faculty to sign up, ensuring members continue paying on time, and meeting any new requirements the state legislature passes.
Membership Protects You
Grievance protection and assistance is only available to members. The legal assistance we provide can run up to $20,000 - but members don't pay any of these costs directly.
The Benefits Really Add Up
- $1,000,000 professional liability insurance.
- $10,000 life insurance.
- $50,000 accidental death insurance.
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Two free, 30-minute, non-employment-related legal consultations. Tallahassee attorneys participating in this program are:
- Levine & Stivers (850-222-6580)
- Meyer & Brooks (850-878-5212)
- These consultations are for matters not related to your job (landlord disputes, wills, real estate, etc.).
- Discounts on home & auto insurance, and on publications.
- The opportunity to participate in UFF-PAC, whereby small individual contributions are pooled to help create an effective voice for faculty in political campaigns.