Ohio University Faculty Weigh In: Union Election Results Shape Future – Athens County Independent

In Athens, Ohio, faculty at Ohio University are casting their votes on whether to form a union. This follows a wave of last-minute anti-union messages from the university’s administration.

The voting started last week after faculty received their ballots on February 12. The election period runs until March 4, which is the deadline for ballots to be postmarked.

Both the university and the organizers of the proposed union, United Academics of Ohio University (UAOU), are actively promoting their viewpoints. Julie White, a political science professor and UAOU organizer, expressed excitement about the vote, noting it represents four years of dedicated organizing. She highlighted the enthusiasm among faculty from various departments for this movement.

Key issues driving the unionization effort include pay, staffing challenges, heavy workloads, and a lack of faculty involvement in important decisions that affect them. White pointed to Ohio Senate Bill 1 as a catalyst for urgency in the unionization effort. This bill aims to change public universities in Ohio by restricting diversity programs and limiting faculty rights, including their ability to strike.

White emphasized the importance of a collective voice for faculty. “We can represent faculty concerns not only within the university, but also to the larger community and state,” she said. “To shape the future of higher education in Ohio, we need to be organized.” The proposed union will partner with the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors.

OU’s administration has been communicating its stance on the union, emphasizing its preference for direct communication with faculty rather than involving a third party. They maintain that they accept the faculty’s decision but argue against the need for a union.

In response, White criticized the characterization of the union as a “third party.” She stated that faculty will be directly involved in the bargaining process. She also addressed concerns raised by the university about faculty losing the ability to negotiate directly with their departments, insisting that many negotiations would still take place at the department level.

As the election progresses, both sides are encouraging participation. OU’s administration, represented by Senior Director of Communications Daniel Pittman, stated that every eligible faculty member’s voice is important in this decision and assured respect for the election’s outcome.

White is hopeful that many faculty members who have expressed support for the union will return their ballots promptly. The votes will be counted on March 17, with the outcome determined by a simple majority of the votes cast.

Eligible faculty members for the election include full-time, non-supervisory staff, excluding certain departments, like the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Over the course of the unionization debate, Ohio University has spent around $125,000 on legal fees related to the issue, including disputes about the bargaining unit’s composition.