First negotiation session: negotiations begin between faculty union, UA bosses )
2024-08-19, 10:00
UNAC 4996 (the UA full-time faculty union) and the University’s administration began contract negotiations on Zoom. UNAC revealed its total lack of militancy by describing “union power” as the “symbolism” of joining Zoom and watching.
UNAC invited its members–and nobody else–to watch on Zoom, where the only people who can talk or chat are the negotiators. (Reminder: you can talk with your fellow workers!) This is the disgusting way unions operate in capitalism’s decadent phase: foster passivity and never extend the struggle.
If you want a 2% raise, let UNAC play its game. If you want more, break out of the union ghetto, extend the struggle to all UA workers (and beyond!), and take any action that gets the goods!
2024-08-19, 10:50
Negotiations began after an hour’s delay. Those languishing in the waiting room often timed out and had to reconnect. Before joining, they had to pass the union cops’ identity checks. (Remember, as a mere peddler of labor power rather than a fighting organization of the class, the union only cares about its “bargaining unit members.”) Once in, viewers had to affirm to the University bosses that they were alone in their room.
The goal – futile – was to avoid a leak. But see below. We got you a recording. Our militants aren’t bound by any truce between capitalist and proletarian!
2024-08-19, 11:30
We have analyzed UNAC 4996’s proposal and the slideshow they presented during yesterday’s negotiations. (So much for telling us to not record, you administration pricks!)
Their only demand is 5% raises during each of the next three years. (For bargaining unit members only, of course.)
This, even though UNAC insists that the Alaska legislature has never refused to appropriate money for a union-negotiated salary increase for public employees.
This, even though three consecutive 5% raises would still amount to only a 15.76% raise.
This, even though the five most recent Alaska public sector contracts resulted in an average 26.5% raise.
This, even though a 15.76% raise would amount to a projected -2.5% loss in purchasing power from 2018 to 2028.
The demand for 5% - 5% - 5% is in fact surrender and prostration! Workers, reject yet another slave contract!
Other interesting facts from their presentation:
50% of UAF new hires and 67.5% of UAS new hires have requested “higher market wages.” A figure has not been released for UAA.
A precise figure of “UNAC raises” (9.6%) versus “Alaska urban consumer price index” changes (21.9%) from 2018 to 2025. This represents a 12% loss in purchasing power.
The main concerns of faculty are salary compression/inequity, unfair and unequal treatment and working conditions, and integrity and cost of healthcare plan (no stop loss coverage for catastrophic claims). The union’s opening proposal addresses only salary, leaving these other pressing concerns off the table.