Archive: Mar 2016

1. A win for workers

   March 30, 2016 11:53 am Comments Off on A win for workers

   Dear AAUP Member:

   Today the Supreme Court rejected attempts by anti-union forces to render agency fee unconstitutional in the public sector in the case Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. The Court upheld an appellate court decision that found agency fee constitutional, stating in full, “The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court.” Thus, the law remains as it has for over forty years. This is good news for AAUP unions and for our brothers and sisters throughout working America.

   However, the attacks on agency fee and collective bargaining are far from over. Efforts to eliminate agency fee and otherwise weaken unions are multiplying at the state level and more challenges may be heard by the Supreme Court.

   As always, our best preparation for these challenges is to build a strong union with an active, mobilized membership. We’re proud of the organizing work we have all done this year and look forward to continuing to build the kind of strong, active membership that enables our union to win strong contracts, represent our members, and assure the future of higher education.

   See more information about the Friedrichs case and the AAUP’s legal work on this issue at http://www.aaup.org/friedrichs.

2. Deficit compromise hits UConn with $6.5 million in state funding cuts

   11:52 am Comments Off on Deficit compromise hits UConn with $6.5 million in state funding cuts

   Legislators reached a bipartisan compromise Tuesday to close a $220 million gap in the state’s budget for the current fiscal year, but brought more cuts to the University of Connecticut in the process.

3. Court Considers Case of Pot-Smoking State Employee

   March 28, 2016 11:46 am Comments Off on Court Considers Case of Pot-Smoking State Employee

   The Connecticut Supreme Court will soon decide whether UConn was justified in firing an employee found getting high on marijuana while on the job, a case the state argues could have broad implications.