Collective Bargaining Principles
The University’s principles and goals for collective bargaining will support our mission as a comprehensive higher education system serving èßäÊÓƵ through instruction, research, and public service. In all our collective bargaining relationships, we will focus on achieving our mission by emphasizing the importance of:
- Quality
- Individual and institutional accountability
- Efficiency
- Flexibility
- Unity and diversity
- Our work environments.
We recognize that all our collective bargaining activities must occur within the constraints of our fiscal resources.
Attention:
The US Supreme Court decision regarding Janus v AFSCME Local Council 31 determined that it is unconstitutional to require employees who chose not to become dues-paying union members to instead pay an Agency Fee. The University is in compliance with this court ruling.
Under the law in effect prior to this decision, bargaining unit members could be required to pay Agency Fees to their union in support of the administration of their collective bargaining agreement if they did not join their union and pay Membership Dues.
The Supreme Court’s decision will only affect our employees who are members of a bargaining unit.
- The University will no longer be able to enforce Union Security provisions in our contracts. Thus effective with this court ruling, you are no longer required to either join a union or pay Agency Fees.
- The University will no longer require or deduct Agency Fees, and will refund to employees Agency Fees not already transmitted to the union.
- The University will continue to deduct membership dues unless an employee revokes his/her payroll deduction.
The University will still continue to work with our union partners in negotiating and administering our collective bargaining agreements.
Agency Fee Memo to Provosts & VCAS for distribution to departments
The United States Supreme Court recently decided the case Mark Janus v. American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees, Council 31, et al. on the constitutionality of Agency Fee. On June 27 the Supreme Court determined that it is unconstitutional to require public sector employees who chose not to become dues-paying union members to instead pay an Agency Fee.
The Supreme Court’s decision will only affect University of èßäÊÓƵ (University) employees who are included in a collective bargaining unit. Effective with this court ruling, employees who are members of a bargaining unit are no longer required to either join a union or pay Agency Fees as a condition of employment. If you have a question about whether or not you are a member of a bargaining unit please contact your union representatives, or the UA Human Resources Office.
As of May 2018, the University of èßäÊÓƵ employed 6,274 non-student employees. Of those employees, 2,716 will be impacted by this decision.
Those University of èßäÊÓƵ employees who are currently included in a bargaining unit will continue to be represented by a union.
Agency Fee is an amount in lieu of union membership dues to compensate unions for the cost of representation of non-members. Under prior federal law and the èßäÊÓƵ Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) public employers may agree in bargaining with a union to require all employees in a bargaining unit to either join the union or pay Agency Fees as a condition of employment. People who pay Agency Fees are usually referred to as Agency Fee Payers.
To become a fee payer you would have signed a deduction form, and the deduction will appear on your pay stubs. If you have a question about whether or not you are a member of a bargaining unit please contact your union representatives, or the UA Human Resources Office.
Effective with this court ruling, the University will no longer require that you either join the union or pay agency fees, will not deduct Agency Fees, and will refund to you any withheld Agency Fees not already transmitted the union.
Effective the first full pay period after the University receives a signed Union Dues Revocation Form, University will no longer deduct union dues from your paycheck and remit those deductions to the union. This form does not revoke union membership. Please contact your union representatives if you have questions about other effects this decision may have regarding your union membership
The University cannot respond to that question.
This decision will not impact your base pay, or other forms of compensation. However, if you are an agency fee payer that deduction will no longer be withheld.
All other terms and conditions of employment not determined to be unconstitutional are still binding. If you have specific questions, please contact your union representatives.
The University does not anticipate any additional costs to departments or the University as a whole.
èßäÊÓƵ Statute AS 23.40.080 provides that all public employee have the right to be a member of a union.
The University of èßäÊÓƵ does not determine the dues rate for union membership. Please contact your union representatives regarding any questions about union membership dues.
Please find the contact information for all unions that represented University of èßäÊÓƵ employees below:
United Academics, Local 4996, AAUP/AFT
Fairbanks
489 Duckering
University of èßäÊÓƵ Fairbanks
PO Box 755895
Fairbanks, AK 99775-5895
Phone: (907)-799-5031 or (503)-489-5582
Email: membership@unac4996ak.com
Local 6070/APEA/AFT
Fairbanks
825 College Road
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907) 456-5412
(800) 478-9993
(907) | 456-7478 (fax)
Anchorage
3310 Arctic Blvd, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 274-1688
(800) 478-9992
(907-277-4588 (fax)
Juneau
151 Third Street
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 586-2334
(800) 478-9991
(907) 463-4980 (fax)
United Academic - Adjuncts, Local 6054
Fairbanks
825 College Road
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907) 456-5412
(800) 478-9993
(907) | 456-7478 (fax)
Anchorage
3310 Arctic Blvd, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 274-1688
(800) 478-9992
(907-277-4588 (fax)
Juneau
151 Third Street
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 586-2334
(800) 478-9991
(907) 463-4980 (fax)
Fairbanks Fire fighters Union, Local 1324, IAFF
Fairbanks
PO Box 71739
Fairbanks, AK 99707
(907) 750-1053
- Governance and Union-Related Activity from General Counsel (updtd 11/14/17)
- èßäÊÓƵ Graduate Workers Association/AGWA/UAW Labor Organization Representation Petition (12/9/22)
- èßäÊÓƵ Graduate Workers Association/AGWA/UAW Labor Organization Representation Petition (2/22/23)
Other Resources
- (ALRA)