Academic staff create committee to oppose unit clarification

Academic staff members are needed on a committee leading efforts against unit clarification.

The Academic Staff Executive Committee (ASEC) approved a new ad hoc committee to develop strategies to prevent assignment of academic staff to existing bargaining units. It will present those strategies to ASEC for its approval and implementation.

The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission ruled in November that academic staff at some UW System campuses could be assigned to state employee unions without voting on whether to be included. They argue that academic staff positions at six UW campuses don’t meet the statutory definition of academic staff and should be converted to classified staff positions.

Although UW–Madison is not among the campuses affected by the unit clarification petitions, the unions have announced plans to file similar claims regarding UW–Madison academic staff.

David Ahrens will chair the committee.

Those interested in serving on this committee should e-mail their name, title, school/college, as well as a short paragraph indicating why they’re interested in serving and what perspectives and viewpoints they could contribute to the committee to acstaff@bascom.wisc.edu. 

Statements should be received no later than Monday, Jan. 3.  Questions may be directed to Donna Silver, secretary of the academic staff at dlsilver@wisc.edu or Heather Daniels, chair of the Academic Staff Executive Committee, hdaniels@grad.wisc.edu.