What is a union? What does “wall-to-wall” mean?

A union is an organized group of workers who use their collective strength to bargain for better working conditions. Through a union, workers have the power to improve their wages, benefits, job security, workplace health and safety, professional development and other work-related issues. For all the details on how unions are a vital part of any workplace, check out this in-depth report. In short, a union is workers coming together to better our working lives!

UCW Colorado is a “wall-to-wall” union. This means that we are organizing nearly every employee of the CU system, regardless of job classification, campus location, or seniority. This model of unionization takes advantage of the solidarity that we can build across all CU workers in Colorado to affect change on a greater scale. Our power is in our numbers!

What does it mean to be “affiliated” with Communications Workers of America (CWA)?

It means that our local (UCW-CWA 7799) exists within a federation of other locals. Collectively, we contribute to a national organization that represents and advocates for workers from a variety of industries. CWA locals represent workers in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, flight attendants, journalists, and other campus workers like us. As a federation of locals, CWA is an exceptionally democratic union. For more information consult the CWA constitution.

Why should I join UCW Colorado?

Our union will fight on your behalf to improve your working life. When you join our union, you are choosing to work with other employees collectively - which is always more powerful than alone/individually - to better your/our working conditions and lives. As a member, you will be a direct contributor to the collective power we have to make changes. As a member of UCW Colorado, we aim to give you a seat at the table and a direct say in the terms of our employment. Evidence shows that workers who are union members generally enjoy higher wages (13.2% more on average!), better benefits, decreased gendered and racial wage inequality, improved health and safety practices, and much more. Beyond that, our union is a great way to meet and interact with other workers, as well as to get plugged in to various events to help our community. If we stand together, we can create a better CU for students and workers alike.

What has UCW Colorado done for CU workers thus far?

We’re glad you asked! Find an abridged history of UCWC here. We began as a graduate student union, and in a few years we won regular yearly raises, paid parental leave, and dental coverage for graduate student workers. We did our best to become an effective voice for graduate student workers via social media campaigns, petitions, and rallies which brought together hundreds of graduate workers. Now that we are a “wall-to-wall” union which represents all CU employees we expect our achievements to be even greater, impacting employees throughout the CU system.

As a wall-to-wall union our members have a diverse list of needs. There is not a simple list of priorities that describes our work. That being said, our website has many of our initiatives and goals listed under What We Do. If an issue that matters to you isn’t currently being addressed, we encourage you to join us and get involved!

Can I join?

Are you a(n)…

International worker? YES

Tenure or tenure-track faculty? YES

Instructor or adjunct? YES

Facilities management worker? YES

Health and wellness staff? YES

Graduate worker? YES

Part-time undergraduate worker? YES

Librarian? YES

Food service worker? YES

Classified staff member? NO

staff member? CUPD and those who report to police? NO

In short, anyone that is not considered classified staff or is not involved with CUPD can join.

How much are dues?

Membership dues are on a sliding scale based on income:

Could I be fired for participating in/joining UCW Colorado?

No. Freedom of association is a critical and protected part of freedom of speech in the US. It is within your rights to join a union and organize on your behalf.

But the truth is that the university does not need a reason to fire you. Colorado is an at-will employment state, meaning that the employer can fire you without reason (or for any reason). Only workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement (see below), which is a primary goal of our union, have access to the right of “just cause.” This means that employers must prove they have a legitimate, or just, reason to fire a worker. In the long term, joining our union will enhance your job security - if we can build enough power and secure a collective bargaining agreement.

How do I get involved?

The first step is to become a member. Our union holds regular meetings on various issues and organizing initiatives, as well as workshops for new organizers. Check out our calendar for a list of upcoming meetings and events. Direct participation from our members drives all aspects of UCW Colorado, from leading issue campaigns to recruiting new members. Our union draws from the wide array of strengths and skills of our membership to develop our community and to build our power.

Becoming an active and committed member of our union does not require you to sacrifice your current obligations. Many of our members participate on a flexible basis and incorporate volunteering into their weekly schedules. Reach out to [info@ucwcolorado.org][12] if you have questions about ways to participate in our union.