Information Update - March 8, 2006

Below is a list of questions asked by UMC faculty regarding the Crookston faculty decertification process.

Questions and Answers

Question: What is decertification?
Answer: Decertification is the process, outlined by the Public-Employee Labor Relations Act (PELRA), through which employees may elect to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative. The process begins with a petition, which must be signed by a minimum of 30 percent of the employees in the unit and submitted to the Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS). If PELRA requirements are met, the BMS will conduct a decertification election.
Question: What is the status of the Crookston decertification election?
Answer: In February, 2006, a number of members of UEA Unit 9 filed a petition with the BMS to conduct a decertification election. The BMS has requested more information from UEA and the University before determining if a decertification election will take place. Information is due on March 10, 2006.
Question: How would decertification impact terms and conditions of employment?
Answer: As the sole bargaining agent for UMC faculty, only UEA may bring issues to the bargaining table. The University is prohibited from dealing directly with individual faculty members regarding terms and conditions of employment. If the union is decertified, faculty would regain the ability to work directly with the University on terms and conditions of employment such as hours of work, benefits, pay, and vacation.
Question: How would decertification impact service on governance committees?
Answer: Because the University may not negotiate directly with an individual faculty member regarding terms and conditions of employment, Crookston faculty members are not eligible to serve on University governance committees. If the union is decertified, faculty members would regain the ability to serve on University governance committees that have decision-making power on such issues.
Question: Who is eligible to vote in the decertification election?
Answer: The BMS has not yet provided an answer to this question. If a decertification election is held, the BMS will determine whether just Crookston faculty or both Crookston and Duluth faculty are eligible to vote.
Question: Do I need to vote?
Answer: Those who vote will determine the future of all Crookston faculty members. If a majority of those casting ballots vote to continue representation by UEA, all eligible Crookston faculty members will remain in the union. If a majority of those casting ballots vote to decertify UEA, all eligible Crookston faculty members will regain the ability to deal directly with University administration and the Board of Regents regarding terms and conditions of employment. Consequently, it is critical that all eligible voters cast a ballot so that their voice in the future of Crookston faculty is heard.
Question: Will the University or the union know how I vote?
Answer: No. The election is conducted by a secret mail ballot. The ballots are mailed and returned directly to the BMS where they are recorded. Neither the University nor the union will know how you vote. You are not obligated to tell anyone how you voted.
Question: What protections are in place to prevent intimidation from union advocates?
Answer: The BMS prohibits either party from interfering, restraining, threatening, or coercing employees with the intent to influence an eligible voters’ choice. If you have any concerns about this, please bring them to Les Johnson, Human Resources Director for the Crookston campus.
Question: Does the decertification election impact negotiations in Duluth?
Answer: Although both the Duluth and Crookston faculty may fall under one contract if an agreement were reached, terms and conditions of employment would be negotiated separately -- meaning that terms for the Crookston faculty may look very different than those that currently exist for Duluth faculty. Consequently, negotiations in Duluth are moving forward as usual.
Question: How would decertification impact union dues?
Answer: If the union is decertified, union dues would cease immediately.

The University of Minnesota , Crookston (UMC) is one of four campuses in the University of Minnesota land grant system.  UMC is a coordinate campus that provides a unique approach through applied and polytechnic baccalaureate education, research, and service.

UMC is an equal opportunity educator and employer