FAYETTEVILLE -- A union representing about 45 faculty and staff members at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville has voted to join the Arkansas Education Association.
The group for UA employees, the Arkansas Public Employees Union, had until recently been known as Local 965 and been affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Bret Schulte, a UA journalism professor and union president, said in a statement that the vote took place Thursday.
"We are thrilled to join with thousands of other educators across the state to advance the case of public education in Arkansas by promoting student success, protecting workers' rights, fighting for a living wage and ensuring campus safety," Schulte said.
The Arkansas Education Association is the state chapter of the National Education Association, which describes itself as the nation's largest professional employee organization.
Carol Fleming, president of the Arkansas Education Association, talked about recent state government changes in a statement released by the Arkansas Public Employees Union. Agencies for higher education and elementary and secondary education are now under the banner of the state Department of Education.
"Our growing membership from institutions of higher education is a natural fit under the recent state government transformation which brought the various facets of education together under one umbrella," Fleming said.
Metro on 11/24/2019