More than 1800 student services and instructional services staff, working across all three campuses of the University of Michigan, have gained official recognition to become unionized with University Staff United, AFT Local 284, AFL-CIO. The union’s majority support was verified by a neutral third party under the University of Michigan Board of Regents cooperative framework for union organizing.
“Today is an amazing day to be a U-M staff member,” said Rita Kwan-Hang Lee, University of Michigan admissions officer and USU president, “because today we, over a thousand signed USU members, organizers, and supporters, won recognition for University Staff United! Through USU we will finally push forward and implement the ideas we know will protect ourselves and the U-M community we foster against greedflation and political abuse.”
The new union members were welcomed by the labor community at the University of Michigan and across the state. “UMMAP is ecstatic to celebrate the recognition of our sibling union, University Staff United (USU). We welcome you to the labor movement, as we unite in the fight for fair representation and workers rights at the University of Michigan,” said Penni Toney, president of United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals, AFT Local 6739. AFT Michigan president Terrence Martin said, “AFT Michigan proudly welcomes USU to our family, celebrating their hard-earned union recognition as a testament to their commitment to educational excellence at U of M. Together, we will champion the rights of workers and enhance the quality of education for all students.”
The newly organized staff work in a wide variety of roles including academic advising, academic program administration, teaching labs and studios, instructional design, admissions, financial aid, career services, housing, libraries, museums, student affairs and activities, academic records, classroom technology, continuing education, disability services, international education, and the arts.
The group recognized this week will be the first in a multi-bargaining unit union of staff. Workers in many other classifications, including in administration, research, communications, IT and other roles, are already contributing to the combined effort to organize 15,000 as-yet-unrepresented professional staff across the University of Michigan, including all three campuses and Michigan Medicine. USU members look forward to the accomplishments of Student & Instructional Services staff and the inspirational example being set for thousands of others.
