April 24, 2012
Dear colleagues,
The University of Oregon and United Academics of Oregon have reached an agreement regarding the appropriate make up of a faculty bargaining unit for our campus. While I initially urged two distinct units, one for tenured and tenure-related faculty and another unit of non-tenured faculty, that was not to be. In this process, it is ultimately up to the employees themselves and the Employment Relations Board (ERB) to determine the bargaining unit. The ERB will now need to confirm that a majority of the bargaining unit we have agreed upon have signed cards requesting union representation.
We have acknowledged from the beginning that our faculty has the right to organize. We did not oppose the organization effort nor did we support it. We simply recognized the rights of those who chose this route.
The organizers opted for the “card check” process rather than an election by the proposed bargaining unit members. That is their right. Within that process, we wanted to insure the proposed bargaining unit was appropriate. That is why we worked with the union leadership to make certain that the bargaining unit is defined early on. We now have certainty and we can move forward.
While the University of Oregon has a long history of working with collective bargaining units on our campus, a faculty union will present unique questions that must be addressed. This will be particularly true when we account for tenured and tenure-related faculty. For example, tenure-related issues typically involve peer review. The peer review process is an essential means by which universities have always assured the achievement of quality; it must remain central to how we evaluate faculty in the future, even with a union overlay.
Together we will make this work. We all need to stay focused on our mutual efforts to make certain that our students succeed; to secure institutional governance; and to provide faculty with the resources they need. These are my goals. I trust that the newly constituted faculty union shares these goals as well.
As we proceed, we must maintain a strong relationship with all those who contribute to the University’s mission of teaching, research and public service. Thank you for your continued dedication to the University of Oregon and all that this great institution stands for.
Best regards,
Bob Berdahl
Interim President
