How do unions work in a higher education context?
Collective bargaining establishes faculty as legal equals with university administrators. It provides faculty the ability to collectively negotiate terms and conditions of their employment, such as raises, health benefits, retirement benefits, teaching load, family and sick leave, office/lab space and equipment, and job security. Having a contract secures faculty rights so that they cannot be unilaterally changed by the administration and, if necessary, can be enforced by a neutral third party through binding arbitration. In addition, AFMSU and MEA-MFT advocate for faculty and higher education issues with the State Legislature and the Board of Regents. The higher education division within the American Federation of Teachers also hosts yearly a professional issues conference for faculty across the country.
