Hundreds of University of Vermont employees voted for union representation last week, with 339 in favor and 278 opposed.
A runoff election is scheduled, however, since neither the University Staff Union, affiliated with the National Education Association, nor the local United Staff attracted a clear majority.
The pro-union vote represented 45 percent of all those who were eligible and a majority of those who turned out. USU-NEA received 183 votes, while 169 chose United Staff. Two hundred sixty employees chose “neither.”
As a result, the run off will determine whether a majority want to unionize with USU-NEA, or prefer “neither” and thus choose to wait at least a year for another opportunity.
“If you look at the votes, we clearly won,” said Michele Patenaude, a staff member at the Bailey-Howe Library who has led the union drive on behalf of USU-NEA. If everyone who voted yes to unionizing last week returns for the next vote, she noted, “we will have an overwhelming majority.”
The results become official at the end of month. The Vermont Labor Relations Board will schedule the runoff.
In May, VLRB decided that those holding 780 non-exempt administrative, technical and specialist jobs were eligible to participate. A separate vote for 800 remaining “professional” staff could be held next year. Three other UVM unions represent faculty, campus police, custodial and ground staff.
Richard Cate, UVM vice president for finance and administration, said, “We will continue to work effectively on behalf of our employees, through the collective bargaining process for those represented by unions, and through development and management of thoughtful policies, programs and procedures for those who choose not to be represented by a union.”
Prior to the vote Patenaude argued that, without a union employees “can be fired for any reason” and “budgets can be balanced on our backs.”
Reaction to the outcome was mixed from members of United Staff, which will not appear on the run off ballot. Some were grateful that USU-NEA organizers took the initiative to petition for the vote. But Zhanna Gordon, a library staff member and United Staff supporter, expressed some disappointment. “I’m very ambivalently confused,” she said.
