The University of Akron S taff U nion

1. The University of Akron Staff Union ONE VOICE UNITED FOR RESPECT, OPPORTUNITY AND SECURITY

2. RESPECTTo secure a voice on our health care, working conditions, pensions, enrollment bonuses, classification and wages. OPPORTUNITYTo advocate for opportunities for advancement, longevity pay, career development & transferring without losing wages. UA Staff Union Mission Statement: SECURITYTo defend against threats to our benefits and job security. Read more about why we are supporting a UA staff union. uastaffunion.org

3. The University of Akron works because we do! • Staff are crucial to the success of our university. • The University of Akron works because we do. • Our crucial work is often unseen or taken for granted. • Our important contribution is why we deserve respect, opportunity and security! University staff discovers E=mc2 .

4. UA Staffgetting squeezed? • Health coverage costs rising • Enrollment and workloads rising • Wages not keeping up with cost of living • Inequity rising - top 10 UA ft employees’ wages = wages of least paid 110 UA ft staff • Low wages for many - more than 150 UA staff make less than $12 per hour

5. The time is now! • This is the time.We are one of the few groups of employees on campus not represented by a union. • Faculty have won big by forming a union. Are staff receiving enrollment bonuses, market value wage adjustments, or any path for advancement? NO. We cannot afford to wait any longer to get a seat at the negotiating table. • Unprecedented support of public sector unions and collective bargaining through repeal of Senate Bill 5. • Unprecedented attacks on public workers,national economic insecurity, threats to pensions, health insurance, job security. • We no longer have Civil Service protection. We need the benefit of power in numbers and a legally binding contract.

6. Having a union works! The University of Akron Around Ohio • 1,000 UA employees are • in four campus unions: • Faculty (AAUP) • Trades & service workers (CWA) • Campus police (FOP) • EJ Thomas Workers (IATSE) • 18,000+ OH union public higher-ed workers • 350,000+ OH union public employees • Higher-ed union office staff at: Central State University (AFSCME) Cleveland State University (CWA) Medical University of Ohio (AFSCME) Shawnee State University (CWA) The University of Cincinnati (SEIU) The University of Toledo (CWA) Youngstown State University (OEA) Right now staff are left out of regular union negotiations on conditions, benefits & wages. We need to be at the table. Source: State Employment Relations Board. All public sector union contracts are available at www.serb.state.oh.us

7. What can a union mean for us? union mean • Respect, opportunity and security • A real voice for staff • Workplace representation • Unity- acting as a group • Collective bargaining • Timely updates and info • Political or legislative action • Large network of public higher education unions United we stand and divided we fall.

8. The Union Difference Every union contract is different, with specific priorities set by the employees on each campus. Contract language is reached by bargaining between employees and management on that campus. No union can make any guarantees or promises that staff will get specific raises, benefits or protections from a union contract; no union contract has everything. This list provides the facts about what other public higher education employees have negotiated in their CWA contracts. Don’t take our word for it: read the contracts and see for yourself. All public higher education contracts are available at www.serb.state.oh.us .

9. Average Wages (per hour) Union vs. Non-union UNION! UNION! UNION! NON-UNION Source: 2011 staff wage data from UA, CSU, SSU, & UT. Simple average taken of current workers, not controlled for years of service. All public higher education staff wage info is available by name and university at buckeyeinstitute.org. NOTE: No union can promise specific raises. Union wages are negotiated between union members and that university. This info demonstrates what unionized staff have won elsewhere.

10. Why we choose CWA: • Already on campus - combined we would become the largest bargaining unit on campus. • Union for higher-ed staff in Ohio and nationally • Strong tradition of union democracy

11. Over 3200 Ohio public university employees are represented by CWA Cleveland State UniversityShawnee State UniversityThe Ohio State University The University of AkronThe University of Toledo

12. The Next Steps • Fill in your card to help call an election • Secret ballot election by mail • UA staff committee negotiates first contract • Contract approved by majority vote of staff • No dues paid until first contract passed, no initiation fees • Dues are 1.3% of base wages or approx. 2¼ times your hourly wage (ex. $16/hr wage earner pays $36/month dues) We need your participation. Have you had an opportunity to sign your union authorization card yet?

13. Being Pro-union • Being pro-union is pro-University. We share the same goal – to make UA the best university it can be. • Being pro-union is reasonable. We want the same representation that other employees on campus already have. We need to speak up for ourselves as a group. • Being pro-union is proactive. We are putting OUR future in OUR hands by having a say in what goes on at UA.

14. Get informed! Get involved! • Speak to one of the advocates for the UA Staff Union • Facebook.com/theuniversityofakronstaffunion • Ask us questions, get informed, and get involved uastaffunion.org One voice united for respect, opportunity and security!