Local 965 of the University of Arkansas began in the early 1960s, and we were formally chartered Jan. 1, 1966. Now, June 30, 2021, is a good time to honor that longevity.
We have outlasted a baker’s dozen of chancellors and presidents in our 55.5 years:
- June 22, 2021 – current — William Reid Kincaid, acting chancellor
- 2011 – current — Donald Bobbitt/p
- 2016-2021 — Joseph E. Steinmetz/c
- 2008- 2015 — G. David Gearhart/c
- 1997- 2008 —John A. White/c
- 1990-2011 — B. Alan Sugg/p
- 1986-97 — Daniel Ferritor/c
- 1984-90 — Ray Thornton/p
- 1984-85 — Willard Gatewood/c
- 1982-83 — B.A. Nugent/c
- 1980-84 — James E. Martin/p
- 1974-80 — Charles E. Bishop/p
- 1960-74 — David Wiley Mullins/p
(President since the early 1980s refers to leading the overall U of A System. Chancellorship of the Fayetteville campus began with Nugent in 1982. The campus chief executive before that was president, not counting Frank Broyles, hired as football coach in 1958.)
Nationally and over a number of years, union membership has been declining for a complexity of reasons. In the last years of the last century, notably, Local 965 led successful opposition to a UA administration move to turn some of the work of the buildings and grounds staff over to private contractors. Our membership surged. Then in early 2017, Local 965 began a resurgence. In January 2020, it joined the National Education Association, the union whose higher education division most closely aligns with the needs and interests of our membership. Our fiscal year ending June 30 has been our most successful in collective action.
UA-Fayetteville Education Association 