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Workers Merge: Florida A&M University employees who are launching new staff of the Labor Union – Tallahassee Democrat

Workers Merge: Florida A&M University employees who are launching new staff of the Labor Union – Tallahassee Democrat

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The staff of the University of Florida A&M launched a new union in campus – Famu head of United Workers on the campus – to deal with the need for higher salaries, adequate staff safety and workplace safety after employees did not have an active alliance from the end of 2023

A group of about 20 persons, including university and other supporters, gathered on Monday at the roundabout of Famu Way and Railroad Avenue to achieve awareness of concern.

“We are not treated fairly under the current university administration and we don’t like it,” said Famu support specialist O>terin Wilson. Wilson, who has helped create the new union chapter, has been working at the university for more than nine years.

“We needed an alliance to defend,” Wilson added. “We hope the administration is ready to talk to us and hear our concerns. We do not want to enter and be combat. We just want to work on how to improve things for everyone at university. “

Wilson and other employees have tried to meet the temporary Famu president Timothy Beard, but not lucky. Attempts to get a comment from the Famu Administration on Monday were unsuccessful.

The combined campus workers, which operates under America’s communication workers, is a union from wall to wall. This means that any FAMU employee – including staff and teachers, as well as graduates and students, could join, regardless of their position.

Efforts come after the previous Union of University Employees – the US Federation of State, District and Municipal Office (AFSCME), which is the largest union for public officials in the country – were desserted in 2023 that they did not meet the threshold of the threshold from 60%to remain active on campus.

The threshold is the result of legislation (SB 256), which entered into force in July 2023 and created a change from the original requirement of 50%. If the new standard is not met, the Union is desperate.

While AFScme’s Famu Chapter had 115 members, he needed another 85 to meet the threshold requirement. The head of the Famus Faculty of Famus is also not due to the threshold, but it works on receiving a recident, according to UFF-Famu President Samik Marte Dalas, who attends a rally on Monday to support workers.

With the workers in the associated campus, Famu will become the second existing chapter of the Union in Florida after the establishment of a head at the University of Florida in 2021.

The Union is able to function without a contract, but it will not be able to receive one with the university until it reaches 60% of the threshold of membership in the country that Wilson says is currently working to certify. Andre Krumti, a Famu senior fiscal assistant for over 15 years, who has also been an active president of the former Chapter of AFSCME University, will lead the new union.

The formation of the Union is coming as Famu is currently looking for a new president to take over the university’s rudder, where Brad serves a one -year intermediate since August. The goal of the university is to name the next leader this summer.

“We are fighting for better pay, better benefits and better treatment,” said Famu Chemical Safety officer Kevin Timons. They are right. “

Although concerns are factors that influence the university’s staff as a whole, Timons says that many employees remain cautious about participating in gatherings such as a rally on Monday for fear of revenge.

In addition, with regard to the main staff at FAMU, Timons said wage concerns also include not to compensate for the additional work done during the closing of the campus – such as repairs from past hurricanes, tornado in May and recently the winter storm that He made a historical appearance in the capital.

“Famu workers, at any level and aspect, need all the support they can receive,” said Martch-Dalas, who is also an associate professor at the university.

“It is very difficult to bargain with the university and I know this from experience. It is really important for our workers to know that we can do things together to move the needle. “

Contact Tarah Jean at [email protected] or follow it at X: @tarahjean_S

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