RAs: Message to Faculty from Chancellor Martin

Dear Faculty,

As you know, the governor has now signed the state budget. I encourage you to visit the budget site, linked from our home page, for highlights and analysis. In this message, I wish to call a particular measure to your attention, one that became part of the process relatively recently. The state budget bill signed by the governor gives University of Wisconsin–Madison research assistants the right to unionize through a card-authorization process.

I have urged research assistants to seek information and take the time to understand all sides of the issue before deciding whether to sign an authorization card.

As I noted in a message to the entire campus, the bill signed by the governor does not include the usual two-step process: the signing of an authorization card, followed by the opportunity to cast a vote anonymously.

In this case, the signing of authorization cards will constitute the equivalent of a vote. This has the potential to abbreviate the period of time for discussion and informed debate. For that reason, I have written to our graduate students to explain the one-step process and to promote discussion among them.

As faculty, you need to be aware that state collective-bargaining laws place restrictions on the employer during an organizing effort. As faculty, you are considered representatives of the employer.

Under state law, UW–Madison faculty members and administrators may not “interfere with, restrain or coerce,” which means that you may not threaten or make promises to students in exchange for their support for, or opposition to, unionization.

The choice about whether to form a union is up to our students. However, you are free, as faculty members, to express your opinions about the unionization of research assistants. I encourage you to engage students in educational discussions about the issues associated with their choice. The university administration is committed to encouraging full and open discussion and to sharing timely and accurate information.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Biddy Martin

Chancellor