• Q: Do you really think a union can change anything? answer
• Q: Isn't a union at UT illegal? answer
• Q: What if my boss finds out I'm a member - can I be fired? answer
• Q: Isn't the union just for hourly staff like housekeepers and custodians? answer
• Q: If I join will I be part of a national union? answer
• Q: If I join will I have to pay dues? answer
• Q: Does joining the union mean I'll have to go on strike? answer
• Q: How is UCW different from the Employee Relations Advisory Organizations (the "ERC")? answer
  

Q: Do you really think a union can change anything?
A: YES! Since we first started getting together in 2000, we have won some major victories, including winning unjustly fired staff their jobs back, better overtime rules in Housing, Hepatitis B vaccinations for plumbers and custodians, a transfer period for van drivers, securing back pay for furloughed employees, more than 20% increase total in base pay for UT employees, preventing the implementation of a Christmas holiday furlough, and more. We have rallied and petitioned the administration and state legislature for fair raises and we've won - which goes to show that our influence on the University and state's budget matters is increasing as we grow as an organization.

There is no limit to what we can accomplish when we join together and fight for our rights. Over the years, workers organized into unions have won countless improvements in the lives of working people, including the 8 hour day, the 40 hour week, child labor laws, overtime pay, the minimum wage, workers' compensation, health and safety regulations - even the weekend itself. Together we can make UT and the state of Tennessee a much better place to work.

Q: Isn't a union at UT illegal?
A: No. You have the constitutional right to join a union:

"Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the goverment for redress of grievances." (U.S. Constitution, Amendment I)

"... the citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances,... " (Tennessee Constitution, Art. I, Sec. 23)

While it is perfectly legal for us to have our own union, Tennessee, unlike many states, currently denies most public employees the right to bargain collectively. Collective bargaining is when workers formed into unions can negotiate binding contracts with their bosses to determine things like wages and working conditions. We are working to change the law and regain that right for all state employees.

Q: What if my boss finds out I'm a member - can I be fired?
A: No. Your boss is violating your Constitutional rights if s/he even threatens any disciplinary action for off-the-clock union activity. Now we all know that many of our bosses and even co-workers are more than willing to violate our rights, but UT administrators have assured us that there will be NO RETALIATION OR INTIMIDATION against union members:

"UT will not tolerate intimidation or retaliation directed at employees on this campus who support a living wage... any such intimidation and retaliation would be absurd and unacceptable at UTK... The University has a firm policy and practice of freedom of speech and inquiry, and dialogue and debate around controversial issues of social policy and social justice are not only tolerated but appropriate and welcome on the University campus." (Vice-Chancellor Phil Scheurer, Friday, March 3, 2000)

We are currently working towards implementing an official non-retaliation policy at UT. We have gained Student Senate support for this policy - check out the Beacon article on the Student Senate resolution here.

Q: Isn't the union just for hourly staff like housekeepers and custodians?
A: No. The union is open to all workers employed on any Tennessee higher education campus or facility or in any public service department in the state - hourly and salaried staff, part-time workers and temps, employees of contractors like Aramark and Service Solutions, student and graduate employees, faculty, and more! If you work on campus or in some other public service job in the state, UCW-CWA is YOUR union! Check here for more information on membership eligibility and Local 3865's jurisdiction.

Q: If I join will I be part of a national union?
A: Yes. Our local union is affiliated with the Communications Workers of America - a 700,000-member international union. CWA membership means we have access to full-time organizing help, training, and CWA's national and regional research and legal departments. Through our affiliation, we are also part of the AFL-CIO.

Q: If I join will I have to pay dues?
A: Yes. We have to fund our own organization with our own money. And it does take money to pay for things like postage, copies, phone calls, and office space, and to save for future expenses such as training, travel, and legal fees. We voted to set dues at $11 per month ($5.50 for part-timers, retirees and spouses/partners). As an organizing local, we currently keep all of our dues money locally, which is used according to membership vote. Eventually, we will be required to submit a percentage of our local dues to the CWA international to help pay for their organizing, research and legal assistance. Although many of us are struggling to get by, we believe that $11 a month is a small price to pay for everything we have to gain.

Q: Does joining the union mean I'll have to go on strike?
A: No. While work stoppages have always been a powerful way to force administrators to do the right thing, it is not always necessary or desirable to strike. Tennessee state law also "forbids" state employees from striking. However, there are many other ways to organize and win improvements in the workplace while staying on the job. And remember, the union is a DEMOCRATIC organization - we don't do anything without a vote of the membership.

Q: How is UCW different from the Employee Relations Advisory Organizations (the "ERC")?
A: The ERC (or ERAO as it called now), was set up in the 1970s during a previous union drive on campus. Administrators created the ERC because they were afraid of campus staff having a real voice in what goes on at the University. There are plenty of good people on the ERC (including union members), but because it's controlled by the administration it can never have any power - it will never be more than a Q&A session with administrators.

The union, on the other hand, is an independent campus workers' group open to all staff. It is run and controlled by UT employees. This independence means that WE decide what we want. The more workers that participate in the union, the more power we have to make administrators do the right thing. In other words, a union means REAL democracy on campus. An "employee relations organization" or "staff senate" just means business as usual.

Please contact us if you have any further questions.