LETTER: The need for unions

As a member of the Association of Academic Professionals, which is working to organize a union, I take issue with a recent column by John Bambenek that implies unions are unnecessary because academic professionals aren't in "the dangerous factory jobs of last century."

University workplace policies, while generally very good on paper, are not always consistently followed. In some cases academic professionals have been treated capriciously. For example, we heard from academic professionals who were expected to work 60+ hours/week for months on end and faced reprisals when they objected. Another academic professional was given a letter of warning filled with unsubstantiated accusations of poor performance by a new manager who had no first-hand knowledge of the employee's work.

Academic professionals are at the mercy of their immediate supervisor, who may not carry out University policy fairly. Even those of us with good supervisors are at risk because policies can be changed without notice and certainly without the input of academic professionals. With a union, existing policies could become a mutually negotiated contract that is legally binding.

Currently, academic professionals' only recourse for workplace grievances that are not resolved within their department is to appeal to the Council of Academic Professionals, an advisory group with no authority to enforce its recommendations. Academic professionals lack due process and a system of progressive discipline.

Mr. Bambenek also claims that academic professionals get 10 weeks paid leave per year. Even totaling our very generous vacation, holiday and sick leave does not reach 50 days.

Interested academic professionals should check our Web site (http://www.ieanea.org/local/aap/). We take a passionate and professional approach to our roles in fulfilling the University's mission. We wish to preserve the benefits of working at this great University. Forming a democratic union is the best way to ensure good working conditions so that academic professionals can continue to contribute to this campus.

Chris Beuoy

Association of Academic Professionals