Welcome to FGCU!

We are delighted that you have joined our more than 300 colleagues and look forward to meeting you and getting to know you in the coming year. We would like to introduce you to FGCU's United Faculty of Florida Chapter and its benefits and reasons for joining.

Fast Facts about UFF-FGCU

• UFF works collaboratively with administration and other faculty governance structures like Senate to review new policies before implementation -- a strong participant faculty union strengthens the University and its position to recruit and retain qualified faculty
• While there are many employees and constituents of a University – the University IS the faculty; we are THE group that faculty have entrusted with representing their interests in working conditions and salary/benefits 
• Salary, benefits, leaves, assignments, appointments
• Promotions, evaluations, discipline, layoff
• Academic freedom, non-discrimination, outside activity
• UFF is a professional guild like the AMA or Bar Association; we do more than bargain the CBA. We advocate and disseminate materials concerning teaching and research as well as other issues concerning faculty careers 
• Enforce that the Collective Bargaining Agreement is interpreted and followed as intended
• Representation for and through the Informal Resolution and Grievance Proces
• We provide fair representation to protect you
• The Senate is a strong faculty governance group on our campus but cannot negotiate on behalf of faculty nor can it advocate for individual or group faculty rights – we work together but have separate functions
• UFF represents you at the state level and national level and works to protect higher education interests, quality, funding, faculty rights, local decision-making, and academic freedom (e.g., defeat of Baxley Bill about Academic Freedom; lawsuit about the travel ban) before the Florida Legislature, the Florida Cabinet, the US Congress and other agencies. UFF draws additional political strength locally, statewide and nationally through its affiliation with the AFL-CIO, National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers.
• Unlike your subject area professional associations, UFF is the professional association on campus about teaching, research and scholarship
• Members are provided with services to guarantee legal representation in employment-related and private matters including an employment liability insurance protects members from personal financial liability up to $1 million per occurrence.  
• Advice and counsel to Provost, President, BOT; recognized voice, backed by law and contract
• Many who are now administrators on our campus were (OR STILL ARE) UFF members on this campus – as a small but growing University – everyone has a role to play in ensuring quality instruction and programs
• We have periodic member meetings to report our activities and discuss pertinent issues. Join us for our next one meeting planned for late September/early October – details will follow on email

Benefits of Union Membership

• Meet colleagues in other units
• Access to grievance process
• Liability coverage up to $1 million and access to attorney representation and advice
• Discounted member benefits (many of which can repay your dues in the first year) that include:
• Life and disability insurance
• Long-term care insurance
• Auto insurance
• Home owners insurance
• Investment accounts and credit cards
• Mortgage and line of credit programs
• Consumer discounts
• Provide a stronger voice on your own behalf

Highlights of our record in the state and locally

• Negotiated continuing contract system
• Added instructors and librarians to Market Adjustment process
• Collaborated to make instructor and advisor career ladders possible
• Excellent pay raises locally(as much as 11.1% for the first two years of first local three year contract – as well, many who were promoted earned total raises of 23% (12% for promotion to full professor up from 9%); currently still working on the salary section of the CBA for this year
• Keep faculty concerns in front of President and Provost all year
• Protect merit criteria
• Sabbaticals and professional development leaves
• Maintain equal pay for summer teaching
• Had initiated a sick leave pool in the state
• Strengthened intellectual property rules in state and local campus.
• Ensure a fair evaluation process
• Working on salary market adjustment studies
• Guaranteed state sick and annual leave accrual policies and payments
• Has grown to one of the higher percentages of membership of SUS institutions in the state; currently at approximately 36% with more than 100 members and growing.
• Successful political action (preserved faculty raises as part of state employee salary adjustments; defeat of anti-academic freedom legislation)

Check our websites

UFF-FGCU: http://www.fgcu.edu/uff/   
State UFF:  http://www.unitedfacultyofflorida.org/   

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