Our Stories

"I believe in agency and self-governance. Currently, our rights and duties are determined by people who are not directly impacted by those decisions. I'd like us to make them ourselves, which unionizing would allow. Staff unionizing aligns with Alaskan values of freedom, sovereignty, and independence by giving us - not others - the power to determine our compensation, working conditions, and so much more. We can do better together!"

"I support UA staff unionizing because I support equity in the workplace, legal protections against unnecessary restructuring and unfair workloads, and UA staff having a unified voice regarding decisions that directly impact them."

"I will be signing a card to form a UA staff union so we can finally join our colleagues—the organized faculty, adjuncts, and graduate student workers—that are so vital to our mission at UA. As a collective voice, we will have so much more power to advocate for better benefits and compensation. It's disheartening to watch my colleagues be overworked, under compensated, and under appreciated across community campuses. I am supportive of staff organizing so that myself and my coworkers can continue to do the good work we do in Alaska, while being able to afford to live and thrive in Alaska.."

"Higher education is a heavily exploited field and UA is no different. By unionizing, we are collectively confirming our worth as the foundation of university operations and standing up for higher pay and better working conditions."

"Anything can change. You may feel entirely happy in your current position, but leadership/new-leadership decisions can severely impact your job, without warning. I support a staff union so we workers can have a voice in higher decision making.

I'm happy to be working where I am now, but my previous experience has taught me of the inequality and inconsistencies that exist in the UA system."

"UA staff is the last major group in the UA system excluding undergraduates to not be represented by a union. The formation of a union will give staff the power to negotiate for changes to our pay structure and benefits."

"I support a staff union because we need a way to ensure our hard work is recognized, appreciated, and awarded. Everyone in my department does 2-3 people's worth of jobs, and we never get any sort of acknowledgement for it. We should have adequate compensation, better benefits, and clear tracks to promotion and career development – or else, why are we working so hard for a school that won't appreciate us?"

"Bargaining collectively and negotiating a contract and work conditions, this is a basic right, and it's ours if we want it. For me, the question comes down to "Will this improve my life in terms of finances and quality of life?" Seeing how represented workers far exceed the compensation and work conditions of their non-represented peers give me the answer: Hell Yeah! Sign me up!

In addition to all of that, I care deeply about the University. Having all staff being in unions with contract costs will actually help the university plan costs and give our Legislature something predictable to budget. Good for us, Good for the University, Good for the State."

"I support the UA staff forming a union because we need to protect our rights during these uncertain times. I would also like to unionize so that we can fight for higher wages that match the living costs in Alaska."

"The formation of a staff union at UA/UAA will ensure that we have the ability to attract and retain high quality applicants to our staff jobs. This in turn will also help us to reduce the number of hires we have to do from turnover and increase the institutional knowledge we have been bleeding out."

"Unionizing gives staff a firm footing when it comes to advocating for and protecting ourselves. We are underrepresented and our voices are largely ignored when it comes to policy and budgetary decision-making. It does not serve our best interest as a university system - and by extension those we serve - to perpetually leave us underpaid and understaffed. To build a strong university system, we need to cultivate an empowered and properly compensated foundation of staff."

"A union allows us have a collective voice in negotiations. A single employee alone doesn't have the resources or time to advocate for themselves against a large university system. If we organize, then we can have a real say when it comes to our pay, benefits, job security, and treatment in the work place."

"UAS is long overdue for a union! 

I care deeply about this institution and the impact it has on our lives and our communities. Forming a union is our strongest collective voice toward equal opportunities, more equitable pay, affordable benefits, and better working conditions. 

Please support UAS staff in their pursuit of equal representation."

"I represent a higher education system, I help guide individuals through the challenging process of becoming a student at this institution. I am the face, I am a gate keeper, I support the University and advocate for student enrollment. I work hard to represent and stand up for my staff for little reward or recognition. It is hard to be a leader and a friendly face when there are so many outside battles that constantly consume me. Unionization would help us have a voice and stand together and fight for better living wages and conditions."

"Together staff, faculty, and students make the university what it is. I believe that we as the staff of UAF should be standing alongside our colleagues and that a unified voice, in the form of a union, is the most effective way to make that happen."

"Gathering together to speak our values and needs as one group makes us strong. As staff, our knowledge, efforts and quality are worth standing up for."

"A university cannot function with faculty alone. It takes an army of staff members from admissions, to registration, to lab assistants, to education specialists, to advisors, to librarians, and many more to ensure our students receive a well rounded education from their first day to graduation. Staff are the backbone of the university and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our right to unionize for benefits and working conditions we all deserve."

"Every year our budget is cut, every year we bleed staff, every year we are paid less, every year we are asked to do even more with less, which hurts our students. Organizing a union seems to be the only logical action in the face of these grievances."