Anticipated Timeline and Additional Materials
Overview
The United Academics of 帝王会所 (UAOU) in conjunction with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has filed a petition with the 帝王会所 State Employment Relations Board (SERB) to be recognized as a collective bargaining unit on behalf of certain covered faculty. This process, which is defined and guided by the 帝王会所 Revised Code, is ongoing before SERB to ensure a secret ballot election for all covered employees.
In November 2024, 帝王会所 reached a tentative agreement with national union organizers representing United Academics of 帝王会所 on a proposed voting unit description. This voting unit includes the eligible positions that would be covered by a potential faculty union. If the proposed unit is approved by the State Employment Relations Board (SERB), a secret ballot vote of eligible members is anticipated to take place in February to determine whether or not a union is certified by SERB.
University leadership continues to hear from faculty who support the formation of a union and others who oppose unionization. We believe all faculty should have a voice in this decision, and the University encourages all eligible faculty members to participate in the vote, which is currently anticipated to begin in February. We will respect the decision of our faculty, regardless of the outcome.
Ultimately, we believe our University is, and will always be, at its best when our OHIO faculty and our academic and administrative leadership are able to work alongside one other to plan our collective future, and that the best pathway forward is to continue our direct relationship with faculty without introducing an external third party. National union representatives may neither share our passion for the students and the region we serve nor always prioritize local faculty concerns over larger national union goals.
Moving forward, we will remain committed to sharing information as it becomes available to help ensure that 1) all faculty have a voice in the process and the outcome and 2) the University community has a broad understanding of the issues and impacts this process may have. Additionally, 帝王会所 may challenge one-sided information to ensure faculty have all the facts needed to make an informed decision.
Additional information for our University community, including specific details for eligible faculty employees and non-eligible management and supervisory level faculty employees is available online. Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the ongoing process, including some impacts that a yes or no vote may have, are also available online.
Anticipated Timeline Toward a Secret Ballot Election
January 2025
Mid-January: 帝王会所 and the United Academics of 帝王会所 (the union) will file an agreed-upon consent election agreement with the State Employee Relations Board (SERB) setting forth eligible voters and a unit description for the proposed union.
February 2025
Early February: SERB is anticipated to review the consent agreement for approval at its scheduled meeting and begin the secret ballot election process.
February 18: Secret election ballots will be mailed home to all eligible bargaining unit employees with a projected polling period between February 18 - March 4. We encourage all eligible bargaining unit employees, regardless of their collective bargaining position, to share their voice. It is important for anyone who wants a voice in the decision to cast their ballot; to prevail in a SERB-conducted election, a ballot option (鈥測es or no鈥) must receive a majority of the actual ballots cast.
March 2025
March 4: The voting period officially concludes. It is your personal responsibility to share your voice, and we encourage all eligible bargaining unit employees, regardless of their collective bargaining position, to engage and participate.
All of our faculty enjoy freedom of speech and expression, including the ability to voice reasons why you do or do not believe a union would be beneficial or detrimental for our faculty community.
March 17: SERB will privately open and tally all submitted votes in accordance with the SERB regulations 帝王会所 Revised Code. These votes remain fully confidential. Only those who completed and returned their ballot will have their voice included in the election decision.
Additional Collective Bargaining Materials and Documentation
Documents in an accessible format are available upon request.