The Associated Faculty of Montana State University is the union that represents approximately 200 adjunct faculty at Montana State University. We represent faculty on matters of salaries, benefits, terms and conditions of employment. Certified in April 2009, we have ratified a constitution, elected officers and have collectively bargained our first contract. We are affiliated with Montana Education Association – Montana Federation of Teachers (MEA-MFT), which represents faculty at all of the other four-year public institutions in the state of Montana.
Following the decertification election ballot count last Tuesday, April 16, 2013, AFMSU, MEA-MFT, AFT, and NEA state and national leaders have been deliberating and performing due diligence in reviewing of the decertification procedures. It is now determined there is no evidence to substantiate an objection and therefore the results of the decertification election will stand. As Tenure and Tenure Track faculty we lost our battle to retain our union contract and continue our union bargaining rights. The contract and all of its legally protected provisions no longer exists for Tenure and Tenure Track faculty. AFMSU will continue to operate and represent Non-Tenure Track faculty who are .5 FTE or greater and negotiations on a Non-Tenure Track successor contract are scheduled to commence in May.
Letter from AFMSU to all Tenure/TenureTrack Faculty April 25, 2013.
AFMSU is working with the Montana University System at legislature to encourage enactment of the MUS legislative agenda. See, for example, this article in the Chronicle
Committee on Political Education (COPE) works to inform members on voting, legislation, political activity. COPE subcommittees evaluate legislative candidates for the Bozeman area and for state offices. Dues money is not used to fund COPE, but members can help pay for this important work by voluntarily contributing to the COPE fund.
Collective Bargaining Agreements
The bargaining teams are pleased to present the fruits of 19 months of intense labor:
Tenure Track Collective Bargaining Agreement As of April 30, 2013, this is no longer in effect.
Non-Tenure Track Collective Bargaining Agreement
Both were passed by faculty vote on October 26th and were ratified by the Board of Regents at their November meeting.
While celebrating this milestone, we recognize that more work remains to be done. We invite all faculty, even those who are not currently members, to participate as we implement the contract and begin to confront the challenges facing us at the state legislature.
Principles
If you have questions, please contact your department representative or Kari Cargill – Non Tenure Track President at Kari.Cargill@gmail.com or Eric Austin – Tenure Track President at eaustin.afmsu@gmail.com.