Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I join Local 965, UA-Fayetteville Education Association?

The most important reason to join a union is to foster change at the workplace through an amplified voice of the workforce. The power of any union to enact an agenda of equity, fair compensation and workplace safety depends on the strength of its membership. The local already is engaged in campaigns to ensure that all workers are paid a living wage, to give voice to those who are concerned with guns on campus, among other issues.

That Local 965 belongs to the Arkansas Education Association/National Education Association has powerful advantages, both in the workplace and personally.

What are the goals of Local 965?

Local 965 represents the interests of University of Arkansas employees in Fayetteville — full time and part time — from faculty (tenure and tenure track to instructors and adjuncts) to educational support professions (i.e. staff) to graduate teaching and research assistants. The Local is pursuing clear, tangible goals to benefit the faculty and staff as well as students.

Our primary obligation of course is to our members, who get numerous traditional union benefits as well as perks. Local 965 will look in any substantial issue any UA employee brings to our attention or that we hear about.

Is it legal to join a union in Arkansas?

Yes. Amendment 34 to the Arkansas State Constitution guarantees the right of every citizen to join a union. In fact, it is illegal for an employer to fire a person because of membership in a union. The amendment is explicit: “No person shall be denied employment because of membership in or affiliation with or resignation from a labor union, or because of refusal to join or affiliate with a labor union.”

Arkansas is a so-called right-to-work state, which means that union membership is not required in a unionized workplace. Even if a worker does not join a union, he/she is entitled to the benefits secured by the union. Many union members believe so-called “right-to-work” laws are meant to cripple union bargaining power by encouraging workers not to join them, but the laws do not prohibit unions.

Furthermore, the University of Arkansas System allows union membership in Board of Trustees Policy 460.1 Employees Joining Labor Unions and the Fayetteville Human Resources quotes the state constitution’s Amendment 34.

That said, any employee — from a tenured prof to a classified part-time hourly — might face workplace discipline or a negative workplace environment, at whose root could be the employee’s affiliation with a union or other group. To fight this or any discrimination, union membership has value.

Does the union provide representation to employees who face ‘issues’?

Yes. Dues-paying Local 965 members are encouraged to contact our UniServ representative at rjohnson@aeanea.org or 501-400-7270 immediately should they face issues like termination, discipline or threat of lawsuit, or that superiors are not responding promptly and appropriately to their reports of (as examples) abuse, unsafe practices or threats. The UniServ rep can advise the employee, mediate as needed and arrange for legal representation if warranted. If a member is facing disciplinary actions of any kind, the rep wants to know as soon as possible. An AEA member should not begin contesting their issue on their own. The rep can assist throughout the process, from the start.

If Arkansas is a ‘right-to-work’ state and public employees may not collectively bargain, how is AEA a union and Local 965 an AEA chapter?

“AEA is a union because we are a private association that acts on behalf of its members on work issues. As is the 965.” — Attorney David Kizzia, AEA manager of Field Operations and Legal Services, June 2022

Local 965 moves not with collective bargaining but with “collective action,” in short the advocacy rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom to petition for redress of grievances.

---

Are UA staff and faculty free to engage in political speech and political action?

Officially, summarized in University of Arkansas News:

“The U of A respects the right of all employees to engage in political activity. However, employees may not involve the institution’s name, symbols, property or supplies in political activities. … Employees may not display political banners, posters or literature in university offices. …”

This right is further detailed in several policies:

• Board Policy 465.1 Political Activity (PDF)
• Board Policy 100.7 Use of University Name and Trademarks (PDF)
• Human Resources Employee Handbook – 9.6 Political Activities
• Faculty Handbook – 3.10 Political Activity
• Faculty Handbook – 3.11 Relations With Legislators and Members of Congress
• Use of University Facilities and Outdoor Space and Expressive Activities

But — But in smoky times as this, leadership might momentarily ignore its policies. Or leadership may honor these policies yet put a staff employee on notice for being a minute late from lunch twice last week or a faculty member reminded they’re a tenth off on student evaluations — if you get our drift.

What voting precinct do I live in, and how can I find out who my state legislators are?

The Arkansas secretary of state’s office provides Voter Registration Information with which you can sign up, along with policy summaries.

Type your name and birth date in Voter View, under Registration Information, to see whether you’re correctly registered and your poll precinct numbers (general and school district); under Polling Place Search type in your home’s residential address (which has an autofill feature) for the addresses and hours of polling places.

To learn which state Senate and House district you live in, use the Arkansas District Finder: Type in your address under “Find My Districts” on the left side. Click on each for the name of the corresponding legislator.

Alternately, to learn your home’s districts or zones, again use Voter View in the following way: In the gray section titled Polling Place Search, type in your residential address — let the system autofill to complete your official address — then click View Locations. The list, after scrolling way down, will show you district numbers even of township and water board but with no representative’s names.

• See a sample ballot keyed to your home address courtesy the League of Women Voters’ Vote411.
• Current members of the Washington County Quorum Court
• Current members of the Fayetteville Public Schools’ Board of Education
• The city of Fayetteville website provides its residents the names of all elected officials — school district, municipal, county, state and national — once their address is typed in, as well as their trash day and utilities that serve their home.
• Details on the upcoming ballot issues and related links as they get approved, from the UA Division of Agriculture Public Policy Center
• District Maps for U.S. House, state Senate and state House

The League of Women Voters of Arkansas has statewide voting information at vote411.org/arkansas, while the LWV of Washington County has an FAQ page that may cover details not listed here.

You Have the Right to Vote with No Penalty

UA employees have the right to take time off with pay to vote: Policy 7.18 of the Staff Handbook:

In most communities, polls remain open long enough to allow you time to vote before or after working hours. In cases of extreme hardship, such as having to travel a great distance to your polling place, you may be permitted to report to work late or to leave early in order to vote. The time permitted for this purpose is given to you with pay and without reduction of your sick leave, annual leave, or any other benefit. If it is necessary for you to use this privilege, please notify your immediate supervisor before election day.

Any state employee in fact can take a bit of leave to vote, according to Arkansas Code section 7-1-102, “Work Time to Be Scheduled for Voting“:

Each employer in the state shall schedule the work hours of employees on election days so that each employee will have an opportunity to exercise the right of franchise. Any employer who fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this section shall upon conviction be subject to a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

In “Election Year Reminders: Register to Vote and Review Political Activity, Free Speech Policies,” the UA announcements office details voter information for out-of-state residents such as students, UA employee policies on political activity, and “peaceful expressive activity on campus.”

It’s hard to see who’s with us and against us. Is there a trick to it?

The NEA as a matter of fact has a popular strategy to figure out who your allies and adversaries probably are. They call it Power Mapping and there’s a simple set of directions. It’s a bit like setting up a Pro and Con list, just one step beyond it.