UFF-FSU is a professional organization of, by, and for the FSU faculty. We are a democratic, member-supported, volunteer-powered voice for higher education faculty at FSU and statewide. It is our mission to advocate for the best possible working conditions for FSU's faculty. A union gives us a powerful voice with which to meet the administration on equal footing.
In particular, we are active in three areas:
Collective Bargaining
UFF-FSU serves as the bargaining agent that negotiates the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA, or "contract") that governs, among other things, salary, benefits, academic freedom, tenure, assignments, evaluations, and job security. Collective bargaining is led by a faculty team, with assistance from professional legal staff in the state office and expert legal counsel when necessary.
Contract Enforcement
Whether intentionally or not, administrators sometimes violate conditions of the CBA. The CBA includes a provision for faculty who believe that their rights have been violated to file grievances which, if not resolved, can proceed to arbitration. UFF volunteers (and, if necessary, staff from the statewide office and outside legal counsel) support members in these proceedings at no cost.
Political Action
UFF-FSU works with its state and national affiliates to educate the public and policy makers on the importance of higher education to Florida's future and the importance of faculty to the future of FSU. At times, these efforts are made in coordination with other groups to multiply our voice -- e.g. the Administration, the Board of Trustees, the Board of Governors, student organizations, parents' organizations, organized labor -- but UFF-FSU is first and foremost the independent voice of FSU faculty.