Vermont Business Magazine Ballots from 435 Community College of Vermont (CCV) faculty were counted Thursday at the Vermont Labor Relations Board. CCV faculty voted by mail on the question of whether to join the AFT Vermont union.300 CCV faculty voted yes to join AFT Vermont (70% of ballots cast) in order to negotiate for an improved CCV for faculty and students. The final tally was 300 voting for the union, 131 opposed, and 4 spoiled ballots.
"This is a very exciting moment for faculty," said Emily Casey a CCV Faculty member from the Winooski Campus. "We have been organizing our union for many years, and this vote validates what we already know: CCV faculty want a seat at the table in decisions that affect students and teachers. We look forward to working in a collaborative relationship with CCV administration to make the institution an even better place for faculty and students."
CCV Faculty and VSC Faculty Federation members, left to Right:Jenn Turchi,Lisa Clein,Howard Kaplan,Claude Lehman,Emily Casey,Linda Olson,Kathleen Moore.
"This is a huge step forward for the 539adjunct faculty, who are seeking fairness and higher quality working conditions so that they can provide the best educational experience they can for their students," said Deb Snell, president, AFT Vermont.
CCV President Joyce Judy issued this statement following the vote: "One of CCV’s goals in this election was for the majority of our faculty to participate, and we are pleased that 81% of eligible faculty voted. We respect their decision to unionize. Throughout the College’s 47-year history, we have valued and appreciated our working relationship with faculty. We will remain committed to this relationship while continuing to focus on student access and success. We look forward to negotiating a contract that is effective for both parties and that enhances opportunities for our students."
AFT Vermont represents all of the other public faculty in Vermont including the faculty at UVM and the Vermont State Colleges.
On June 30, 2017, CCV Faculty filed a petition, signed by a majority of faculty, with the Vermont Labor Relations Board to request a union election. CCV Faculty have chosen to join the Vermont State Colleges Faculty Federation, AFT Local 3180, AFT Vermont. The election was held over a three-week period, September 15th - October 6th, conducted by mail ballot to accommodate the faculty who work at 13 campuses throughout the state of Vermont and online.
CCV is Vermont’s second largest college, serving over 7,000 students each semester. With 12 locations and extensive online learning options, students don’t have to travel far from their communities to access degree and certificate programs, workforce, secondary and continuing education opportunities, and academic and veterans support services. www.ccv.edu
The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do. In Vermont, American Federation of Teachers represents professionals in health care and higher education. vt.aft.org
Source:MONTPELIER, VT -- American Federation of Teachers 10.12.2017