Facts are facts: Certification and retiree benefits

I do not support certification. I believe the majority of members share my apprehension to unionization. I will avoid making empty threats to certify; the pragmatic approach to bargaining that I will bring to UTFA is far more likely to deliver the salaries and benefits our members deserve.

To my knowledge, skillful UTFA negotiators never allowed the question of retiree benefits to go to arbitration, despite frequent efforts by the university administration to separate retiree benefits from those of active members in previous rounds of negotiations. All UTFA members, not just those currently retired, benefit from UTFA’s protection of this crucial principle, and I will make safeguarding retiree benefits a high priority.

As president, I will respect our association’s democratic foundations. This means that we must make sure that UTFA does a better job of advocating for what matters most to our members, like fighting to:

• make more faculty housing available and increase housing subsidies;

• make sure the PTR process is fair and salary growth outpaces inflation;

• expand eligibility for families to receive support for child care; &

• raise the caps on the number of international graduate students.

Under my leadership, UTFA will remain responsive to its membership when facing new challenges by consulting and canvassing our members before important decisions are made. I will avoid unproductive distractions and maintain UTFA's focus on the welfare of our members.