YOU are! UTSF is not a third party – the union is made up of the faculty it represents. We are the union and the union is us. Together, we are building the foundation of the first tenure system faculty union at MSU, designed to fit our unique needs. All tenure system faculty, whether a member or not, will be covered by the protections of our first collective bargaining agreement.

Members will decide. While issues such as academic freedom and the impact of budget cuts are widely shared concerns, official priorities will be shaped collectively. Some existing policies may simply need to be secured in a binding contract, while others may require significant change. As we build the structure of our union and prepare for bargaining, faculty will have the opportunity to voice their priorities at meetings and through surveys.

Our elected leadership team will determine how the bargaining team is empaneled – whether through election, appointment, or a combination.

This is a marathon, not a sprint. Our collective bargaining agreement will impact every member of the bargaining unit and it’s important that we get this right. When ready, we will issue a “demand to bargain.” Both UTSF and administration must then agree on bargaining dates before negotiations begin.

Once we are at the table with administration, the exact timeline can vary. First contracts at other universities have taken a year or more to finalize. After a tentative agreement is reached, all UTSF members will have the opportunity to review and vote on the contract before it is ratified.

The Organizing Committee (OC), which functions democratically without a designated chair, continues to meet regularly to ensure a smooth transition as union officers are elected. We anticipate officers and other elected representatives will take office prior to the conclusion of the Spring 2026 term.

The OC, along with other volunteer committees (Elections Committee, Membership Action Team, Communications Committee, etc) are currently responsible for carrying out vital union functions and building the groundwork for successful bargaining.

Member: Tenure system faculty who complete a membership application to join the union become a UTSF member. Members are eligible to vote in elections, serve on committees or in leadership roles, attend membership meetings, and access additional benefits such as legal support. Members will begin paying dues after contract ratification.

Bargaining Unit Member: Tenure system faculty who have not submitted a membership application are not members of the union, but they are still Bargaining Unit Members. While all tenure system faculty, including non-members, will be covered by the contract we negotiate, non-members will not pay dues and cannot vote, serve, or access the full rights and benefits of union membership.

Our power at the bargaining table comes from solidarity. The more members we have, the stronger our position will be in negotiations.

As a UTSF member, you’ll have a direct voice in shaping our union: electing leaders, setting priorities, and guiding the bargaining process. Membership also provides individual protections, including full representation should you face adverse employment action and coverage through NEA’s Educators Employment Liability Program, which offers liability insurance against employment-related lawsuits.

Union membership has countless practical benefits, but being a founding member of UTSF will be part of your legacy! By joining today, you won’t just gain protections and a voice, you will be part of history as we build the very foundation of the first tenure system faculty union at MSU. Founding members will…

●        Elect our first leaders

●        Help set our priorities

●        Empanel a bargaining team to negotiate our first contract

●        Decide our local dues structure and budget

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help shape UTSF and the future of faculty power at MSU. Don’t wait and let others decide what your union will look like, join today and we’ll chart our course together.

No. Faculty only become members of UTSF if they actively choose to join by completing a membership application. However, all tenure system faculty will be covered by the collective bargaining agreement once it is in place, whether or not they are members.

UTSF members will pay zero dues until after our first contract is ratified. Members and our newly elected leaders will decide together on a fair local dues structure to be implemented after contract ratification. 

State and national dues are decided by member delegates to the respective governing bodies. UTSF will have member representatives for each of those bodies.

The majority of our dues will support professional staffing for our union. The remainder of the dues will contribute to member and public communication, including member legal services, member information systems, lobbying elected leaders to support public education, and other operational and administrative costs. UTSF membership will have complete autonomy in decision regarding our local budget and expenses necessary to operate the governing of our union.

UTSF is an inclusive and democratic union formed and led by tenure system faculty at MSU. Our union is affiliated with the Michigan Education Association (MEA) and the National Education Association (NEA) - the largest unions in the state and country, respectively. As a member of UTSF, you also automatically gain the benefits of MEA/NEA membership.