Become a Member

How to Join

The whole process takes just a few minutes.

1

Membership Authorization Form (MAF)

Fill out the Membership Authorization Form. This is the first and most important step.

Fill Out MAF →

2

FEA Membership Application

Complete the FEA Membership Application through our parent union.

This link appears after you complete the MAF in Step 1.

3

Set Up Dues Deduction

Set up your dues deduction in the FEA Membership Portal.

You'll be automatically logged in after completing Step 2.

Quick Tips

Use a non-FIU email — state law prohibits the union from sending certain communications to university email.
Dues are 1% of base salary, deducted automatically from the bank account you provide.
No commas or decimals in the salary field.
Processing takes about one week after completing all three steps.
If you have any questions or issues, contact

Payment Schedule

Option	Description
Bank ACH – 18	18 payments over 9 months (9-month contracts)
Bank ACH – 21	21 payments over 10 months (10-month contracts)
Bank ACH – 26	26 payments over 12 months (12-month contracts)
Payroll Deduction	Note: Banned effective July 1, 2023. Do NOT select this.

* Any schedule works regardless of contract type. Total dues always equal 1% of base salary.

Full Membership Policy Resignation Form (PDF)

Value of Unionization vs. Costs of Decertification

Under SB 256, if UFF does not meet 60% membership, we would have 30 days to reauthorize. Here's what's at stake.

✓ Protected

With UFF

Collective Bargaining Agreement+

This is a legally binding contract between UFF and FIU. Think of it like a lease — it guarantees specific rights (salary minimums, evaluation procedures, workload limits) and both parties must follow them. Without it, terms of employment could be changed without faculty input.

Board of Trustees Negotiations+

Every few years, UFF sits across the table from FIU's Board of Trustees to negotiate your pay raises, benefits, and working conditions. In 2024-25, this resulted in a 1.5% retention increase and merit bonuses up to $2,000. Without the union, these decisions would be made without faculty input.

Legislative Awareness+

UFF monitors legislative developments that affect faculty — such as SB 256 and post-tenure review changes — and advocates for policies that support higher education. Collective representation gives faculty a voice in these conversations that individuals would not have on their own.

Disciplinary Meeting Representation+

If you're called into a meeting that could lead to discipline, you have the legal right to have a union representative present (called Weingarten Rights). Your rep ensures the process is fair and your rights aren't violated. Without UFF, you would not have a representative present.

$1M Liability Insurance+

Protects members from personal financial liability arising from service on peer review committees, accidents, or other events occurring in the course of employment. Includes an attorney at no cost and up to $1 million in coverage per occurrence. Purchasing this on your own would cost far more than annual dues.

⚠ At Risk

Without UFF

No enforceable contract+

Without a CBA, there's no legal document guaranteeing your salary, benefits, or evaluation procedures. Workload expectations, evaluation criteria, and benefits would not be governed by a binding agreement.

No legal right to negotiate+

Without the union, you can't negotiate as a group. You'd have to individually ask for raises or push back on workload — and the university has no obligation to engage. Collectively, faculty have a much stronger voice than any one person could have alone.

No enforceable faculty rights+

Tenure protections, evaluation fairness, non-reappointment procedures — all of these exist because of the CBA. Without it, changes to tenure, promotion, and departmental structure could occur without a formal process for faculty input.

No due process protections+

If you're accused of misconduct or face discipline, the CBA guarantees specific steps: written notice, a hearing, the right to respond. Without it, you could be suspended or terminated without a transparent investigation process.

No binding arbitration+

Arbitration means a neutral third party reviews your case if the university violates the contract. Without it, disputes are resolved through internal university processes only. Filing a lawsuit independently would cost $20,000+ in legal fees out of pocket.

What the CBA Protects

Tenure Due Process Intellectual Property Academic Freedom Binding Arbitration Fair Evaluations Family Leave Layoff Rules Sabbatical A Voice

UFF dues: just 1% of your base salary — a small investment for enforceable protections.

Member Benefits

Here's what you receive as a union member.

Collective Bargaining

UFF negotiates the CBA that determines your salary, benefits, and terms of employment — giving it the force of law.

$1M Liability Insurance

Protects you from personal financial liability in the course of employment — including peer review service and workplace accidents — with an attorney at no cost and up to $1 million in coverage per occurrence.

Grievance Protection

Full legal representation for issues like academic freedom, tenure, discrimination, or discipline — at no cost to you.

Post-Tenure Review Protection

Negotiated post-tenure review procedures with clear development plans — not unilateral administration-imposed reviews.

Sabbatical Leave

Eligibility for paid sabbatical to pursue research, writing, and professional development with continued salary support.

Intellectual Property

CBA protects your ownership of scholarly works, course materials, and inventions developed using your own resources.

Multi-Year Contract Protections

Negotiated provisions for multi-year appointments and reappointment expectations for non-tenure-track faculty.

Promotion Pathways

The CBA defines clear promotion criteria and pathways for NTT faculty, including lecturer-to-senior-lecturer advancement.

Workload Protections

Maximum course load limits and written annual assignments ensure fair workload distribution for NTT faculty.

Shared Governance

We advocate for shared governance — ensuring faculty have a meaningful role in university decision-making.

Legal Consultation

Free attorney consultation on non-employment issues, plus reduced attorney charges for personal matters.

Exclusive Discounts

Save hundreds yearly on travel, entertainment, auto and home insurance through NEA and AFT affiliate programs.

Learn more: UFF Benefits · NEA Benefits