Category: News

News for FIU, Florida and Unions across the nation.

CBA Ratification

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Collective Bargaining Agreement 2015-2018 Overwhelmingly Ratified The UFF-FIU overwhelmingly ratified (131-8) the proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on February 3 and 4, 2016. The FIU Board of Trustees unanimously ratified the same proposed agreement on February 10, 2016. We now have a new CBA! For a draft of the proposal, 2015-2018_UFF_CBA_FINAL.pdf We extend our gratitude to Alan Gumerson, chair of the UFF-FIU bargaining team, and Meredith Newman, chair of the FIU Administration team, and their… Continue reading

Election Result

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Election Results The chapter elections and membership meeting were held on On February 24, 2016. The following officers and senators were elected for the term of office starting April 1, 2016 and ending March 32, 2017. Officers President – Eric Dwyer (Note: As President, is also a UFF-FIU Senator) Vice President, MMC – April Merleaux Vice President, BBC – Moses Shumow Treasurer – Alan Gummerson Secretary – Kathy Lineberger Senators Ronald Baier Joan Baker Tovah… Continue reading

FEA Action Center Alert

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Your retirement under attack yet again The Florida Retirement System (FRS) was the hot topic this week as it came under attack yet again by House Republican leaders. In what seems to be an ugly tradition, Republicans are continuing to fight to weaken the FRS. Florida currently has a very healthy retirement system, funded at 86.6 percent, which is well above what is considered to be a healthy pension system. It could be even higher,… Continue reading

Koch Brothers

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February 25: UnKoch Our Campus / Student Debt Crisis. The corporatization of the university means much higher tuition rates, a shift in conceptualizing education from being a public resource to being an opportunity for private gain, decreasing commitment of public resources to education, massive student debt, a shift from full-time to part time “adjunct” professors, and increasing corporate dictation of university curriculum and priorities. Continue reading

UnKoch My Campus

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  In Granny D’s Footsteps UnKoch My Campus / Student Debt Crisis Project Rhana Bazinni, at the age of 82, walked from Sarasota to Tallahassee in an effort to educate the public and elected officials about the need for a Constitutional Amendment to take control of the nation away from multi-national corporations. A number of national activist groups advocating for a constitutional amendment supported her journey. Rae Claire Johnson of Pinellas County Move to Amend… Continue reading

Higher Education

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  Invest in Higher Education: Talking Points for Legislators Investing in higher education is the fastest and strongest way to leave a recession. When people are unemployed, they need access to higher education to upgrade credentials and expand skills. When they enroll in academic or vocational programs, they use their time constructively during a recession, generate revenue for the state through federal student loans and work-study jobs, and are ready for a better job when… Continue reading

Florida Legislature

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  Knowledge Based Economy Find Your Legislators It is important that our legislators hear from all of us. Use the following links to find your senators and representative. Senators Representatives Talking Points Call them or send them an email. Include a short message about supporting a knowledge based economy in Florida. Here are some thoughts that you might include in your message. Investing in higher education is the fastest and strongest way to leave a… Continue reading

FIU’S FIRST LOCAL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH FACULTY AND LIBRARIANS

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FIU’S FIRST LOCAL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH FACULTY AND LIBRARIANS __________________   HOW UFF’S PROPOSALS COMPARE WITH PRESIDENT MAIDIQUE’S PROPOSALS _____________________    Over the past year, UFF and the FIU administration have proposed very different visions of our first local collective bargaining agreement.   UFF believes a university runs best on principles of democracy and shared governance.   We have developed our contract proposals after extensive consultation with the members of our bargaining unit.  We have… Continue reading