Administrator

What ‘Employer of Choice’ Should Be

We have been hearing the phrase “Employer of Choice.” It refers to one of the pillars of the chancellor’s vision for the University of Arkansas. He has mentioned it in almost every speech. Yet we still have people asking, what is an employer of choice?

President’s Message

By Hershel R. Hartford

Over the past year we have heard the phrase “Employer of Choice” on campus. It refers to one of the pillars of Chancellor Charles F. Robinson’s vision for the University of Arkansas. He has mentioned it in almost every speech he has given and every visit he has made with various groups on campus. Yet we still have people asking, what is an employer of choice?

I have heard what the chancellor has said and agree with many of his ideas. I am hoping, waiting and watching to see if this effort will bring about a change that may hearken back to another day and time, some 22 years ago, when quality prospective job candidates seeking employment were told, “Go to the University of Arkansas. It is the place to work!” That is a phrase not heard in a very long time. Perhaps we need this help-wanted ad for an Employer of Choice:

Wanted: An EMPLOYER OF CHOICE, which provides a workplace that respects every employee regardless of their occupation and treats them with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Required conditions include:

Fair, equitable and livable wages for all employees that provide:

All workers with the ability to have quality housing in the community where they work
Wages that will not require them to make use of food banks to make it through the month
Engagement by Upper Administration with supervisors to end a culture that denies or attempts to quell any raising of ideas or concerns that are contrary to “the way things have always been,” or demands work from international graduate students holding visa status over their heads
A restructuring of compensation for instructors, adjuncts and graduate assistants that reflects the workload they shoulder
Healthcare benefits that meet the needs of employees (including graduate assistants) without breaking their budgets with unreasonable policy exclusions or sky-high premiums
A commitment to support — by example and by codification in personnel document and university policy — a work/life balance that requires supervisors and departments to respect and guard employees’ time away from work, be that hours before and after a workday, vacation, sick time or university holidays
A true sense of Community that comes from a culture that promotes Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The opportunity to retain representation that can be present in all grievance/ disciplinary processes
Safe working conditions, always including compliance with OSHA safety standards
Continued upgrades to facilities to be more accessible to all persons with ADA accommodation needs
Parking, which does not draw wages back to the University that the worker has earned
The clear communication that while we live in a right to fire state, employee organizing is not prohibited nor is it a reason for firing

Preferred conditions include:

Transparent communication at all levels of administration
Increased hiring of support staff to match the growth rate the institution has achieved over the past number of years on a trajectory similar to the increases in upper administration areas. Growth would include office workers, custodial, labor shop and maintenance workers
Greater compensatory recognition for employees instead of speeches wishing you could do more, and telling staff how we could not do this without you
A return of reduced rates for opportunities to engage in the university cultural, sporting and other events.

This President’s Message first appeared in the November 2023 newsletter of UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965. Hershel Hartford, a UA administrative support supervisor, is president of Local 965.

Cheers Surround 965 Contingent at Pride Parade

Once again, NWA Equality hosted a few thousand to strut down Fayetteville’s Dickson Street through many thousands of cheering spectators Saturday, June 24, 2023, for the city’s 19th annual Pride Parade. Among the units was UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965.

Wearing the 965 black-on-red logo Ts and carrying our banner were President Hershel Hartford, Vice President Ben Pollock, Past President Bret Schulte, Treasurer Matt Stanley and former board member Ted Swedenburg. Other 965 members paraded with other groups. For the Trans March the evening before, June 23, former board member Chad Kieffer helped walk our banner along its route, up Block Street.

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford appears to address his troops Matt Stanley, Bret Schulte, Ted Swedenburg and Ben Pollock as they flow into the 19th annual NWA Pride Parade June 24, 2023.

University of Arkansas workers Matt Stanley, Bret Schulte, Ted Swedenburg and Ben Pollock represent their Local 965 June 24, 2023, in the 19th annual NWA Pride Parade.

The June 24 Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published a narrative, “Diversity, Expression Celebrated: 19th Annual Pride Festival and Parade Draw Thousands of People” (alternate link). The Fayetteville Flyer published photo galleries at “Fayetteville’s Dickson Street Alive with Pride as Thousands Join Annual Parade” and earlier “Trans March Kicks off Pride Weekend in Fayetteville.”

Local 965 again was part of a collective of UA groups marching in Saturday’s parade together. They comprise “student organizations, departments, divisions, and groups from across campus. … [Per UA System] Board policy, this is not the University of Arkansas marching, but units from within the institution participating.” Anthony DiNicola, the inclusion liaison/ coordinator of cultural communities for UA’s Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education, again skillfully led its planning and execution.

University of Arkansas workers Matt Stanley, Bret Schulte, Ted Swedenburg and Ben Pollock are in full parade mode for their Local 965 in the 19th annual NWA Pride Parade on June 24, 2023.

Local 965 Vice President Ben Pollock, President Hershel Hartford and Past President Bret Schulte enjoy the shade as paraders line up June 24, 2023, for the 19th annual NWA Pride Parade.

For video news reports, local TV stations reported on the parade June 24-25:

“Northwest Arkansas Celebrates Pride” — KNWA-TV/KFTA-TV, channels 24/51
“Arkansans Went to Pride with a Purpose This Year after Recent Legislation” — KFSM-TV, channel 5
“NWA Pride 2023 Kicks Off in Fayetteville” (Posted before parade, no video) — KHBS-TV / KHOG-TV, channels 40/29

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford and Vice President Ben Pollock line up for the June 23, 2025 NWA Trans March. Photo by Chad Kieffer — Local 965 President Hershel Hartford (left) and Vice President Ben Pollock line up for the June 23, 2025 NWA Trans March. Photo by Chad Kieffer

Former Local 965 board member Chad Kieffer frames a selfie with Vice President Ben Pollock and Local 965 President Hershel Hartford as they set up for the June 23, 2025 NWA Trans March. — Local 965 President Hershel Hartford (left) and Vice President Ben Pollock line up for the June 23, 2025 NWA Trans March. Photo by Chad Kieffer

2023 Campus Picnic for Staff a Success

Some 1,200 professional support staff of the University of Arkansas had lunch May 17 on the Staff Senate at its 2023 Staff Appreciation Picnic, according to counts by the senate and Chartwells food service, which hosted the meal.

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford talks with a University of Arkansas employee at the May 17, 2023, University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic at the 1021 Food Hall.

Liz Piccone, interim executive director of the Arkansas Education Association, talks May 17, 2023, with Local 965 President Hershel Hartford at the University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic at the 1021 Food Hall.

AEA UniServ liaison Renee Johnson talks with UA IT staff member Stephen Ritterbush at the May 17, 2023, University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic at the 1021 Food Hall.

Click on any image to start a slideshow. Then click on the “i” at bottom right for complete captions.

A number of those picnickers stopped for brochures and conversation at the information booth of UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965. They met local leaders as well as officials of the Arkansas Education Association, held this year at the 1021 Food Hall (formerly Brough Commons).

Our volunteers to greet UA employees included, from Local 965, President Hershel Hartford, Past President Bret Schulte, and Secretary Kasey Walker; and from AEA, President Carol Fleming, interim AEA Executive Director Liz Piccone, Aspiring Ed and ESP organizer Kelly Givens, and UniServ Liaison Renee Johnson.

AEA Aspiring Ed and ESP organizer Kelly Givens; AEA UniServ Rep Renee Johnson; 965 Past President Bret Schulte; interim AEA Executive Director Liz Piccone; 965 Secretary Kasey Walker; AEA President Carol Fleming; and 965 President Hershel Hartford. They ran the booth of the Arkansas Education Association and UA-Fayetteville Education Association/Local 965 at the 2023 University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic, May 17 at the 1021 Food Hall.

The 1966 charter of what originally was called Arkansas Public Employees Local Union 965

Liz Piccone, Arkansas Education Association interim executive director, talks strategy with Local 965 President Hershel Hartford (light blue shirt) and Vice President Ben Pollock before the May 17, 2023, University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic at the 1021 Food Hall.

Click on any image to start a slideshow. Then click on the “i” at bottom right for complete captions.

Among other highlights of the event, immediate Past President Bret Schulte presented President Hershel Hartford with Local 965’s charter from the mid-1960s. A 42-second video is available to view on Facebook.

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford displays the 1966 charter of what first was the Arkansas Public Employees Local Union 965 after Past President Bret Schulte presented it to him at the 2023 University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic, May 17 at the 1021 Food Hall.

Local 965 Hosts Picnic for Workers Day

President Hershel Hartford threw a party for Local 965 members and friends, and many dropped by for conversation, hamburgers, hot dogs, cold drinks and sides. It was UA-Fayetteville Education Association’s first-in-a-loooooong-while May Day / Workers Day picnic. We met at Fayetteville’s Veterans Memorial Park.

While chatting was generally casual, Hershel formally welcomed the diners and explained the intent, that in-person dialogue is more effective and more fun than the panedemic era’s email, text and video-chat. He noted that plans are to host a similar cook-out in the fall, on Labor Day naturally, as well as continuing well into the future.

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford discusses the University of Arkansas's need for a strong labor union during the Local 965 Workers Day 2023 picnic May 1 in Fayetteville. — Local 965 President Hershel Hartford discusses the University of Arkansas’s need for a strong labor union during the Local 965 Workers Day 2023 picnic May 1 in Fayetteville. Photo by Denise Firmin Garner

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford (from left) listens as state Rep Denise Garner snaps a photo and her husband, Dr. Hershey Garner looks on as Vice President Ben Pollock hawks memberships at the Local 965 Workers Day 2023 picnic May 1. — Local 965 President Hershel Hartford discusses the University of Arkansas’s need for a strong labor union during the Local 965 Workers Day 2023 picnic May 1 in Fayetteville. Photo by Denise Firmin Garner

Also speaking was a longtime supporter state Rep. Denise Firmin Garner, D-Dist. 84. Her husband, Hershey Garner, M.D., later completed our membership application.

Denise is known for being a shutterbug at events such as ours, and we are proud to showcase her skills here. We are grateful.

Friends of Local 965 chat at Fayetteville's Veterans Memorial Park during the Local 965 Workers Day 2023 picnic May 1.

Picnickers enjoy the buffet at Fayetteville's Veterans Memorial Park during the Local 965 Workers Day 2023 picnic May 1.

Local 965 immediate Past President Bret Schulte knew his children would enjoy its Workers Day 2023 picnic May 1 in Fayetteville.

Friends of Local 965 listen to the welcome by President Hershel Hartford at Fayetteville's Veterans Memorial Park during the Local 965 Workers Day 2023 picnic May 1.

Enthusiasm at 1st NWA Labor Spring Teach-In

A few dozen workers of all ages listened to eight regional union organizers at the Northwest Arkansas Labor Spring Teach-In April 8, gaining knowledge and enthusiasm from their fellows.

The program in the Ziegler Reception Room of the Fayetteville Public Library began with perhaps the newest labor movement, that of Starbucks Coffee employees. Dylan Hartsfield began organizing employees of the cafe on Wedington Drive in February 2022. Since its success and that of a Starbucks on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Dylan has become an organizer with the overall Starbucks Workers United, a division of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Walter Hinojosa, president of the Northwest Arkansas Labor Council, emceed while Hershel Hartford, president of UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965, introduced the program. These two groups sponsored the teach-in.

Magaly Licolli, executive director and co-founder of the poultry worker organization Venceremos, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Pete Reagan, the 14th District field service rep for the International Association of Fire Fighters, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library. — Magaly Licolli, executive director and co-founder of the poultry worker organization Venceremos, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Magaly Licolli, executive director and co-founder of the regional poultry worker organization Venceremos said her group is chiefly concerned with a “search for solutions” on worker safety matters. As far as chicken growing and processing, any sort of safety net set up by government is full of tangles and tears, where she cited chemical emissions and denial especially of the dangers of Covid especially in the pandemic’s early months.

Annie B. Smith, professor, University of Arkansas School of Law, outlined the basics of federal law on unions as well as the limits state laws sets, both positive and negative. Worker’s compensation law, for example covers an employee injured due to their own miscalculation, but “Workers generally do not have a right to breaks” (they’re just a common perk).

Dylan Hartsfield, an organizer with Workers United Starbucks who began with the coffee shops in Northwest Arkansas, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Annie B. Smith, a professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library. — Dylan Hartsfield, an organizer with Workers United Starbucks who began with the coffee shops in Northwest Arkansas, speaks at the April 8, 2023, NWA Labor Spring Teach-In at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Pete Reagan, district field service representative for the 14th District (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee), International Association of Fire Fighters , gave a brief history of the Fayetteville local that began in the late 1970s. Its latest concern is the incorporation of PFAs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in their gear to repel oil and water and prevent mold but is a carcinogen. “Our own gear is killing us.”

Rick Halford, regional political director of Southern States Millwright Regional Council discussed the close relationship between child labor and human trafficking in light of the Arkansas legislature with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ signature revoked state law pertaining to children working, though federal laws remain in effect.

Closing out the program was Jessica Akers Hughes, president, Arkansas AFL-CIO. She sees the governments of a number of states trying to divide workers, a common tactic that in recent years uses gender, sexuality, race. “If we didn’t have power, they wouldn’t be trying to silence us,” she said.