Two unions compete to organize NH college staff

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Two+unions+compete+to+organize+NH+college+staff&articleId=e0470b33-a33d-4b98-b9e8-9dd64ac98dc1

By CLYNTON NAMUO
New Hampshire Union Leader Correspondent
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008

Durham – Two of the nation's most prominent labor unions are competing to organize about 3,000 staff members at New Hampshire's three public colleges.

The United Auto Workers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees' Council 93 are both trying to get just over 50 percent of about 3,070 staff members at the University of New Hampshire, Keene State College and Plymouth State University to sign union cards with their respective organizations.

If successful, separate unions would likely be formed at each of the three colleges, labor officials said yesterday, drastically changing the way wages and benefits are doled out at each institution. Millions of dollars in union dues are also at stake, with AFSCME charging $32 per month for membership and UAW taking .805 percent of wages, or $8.05 per $1,000.

Officials at UNH have come out against organizing; sending letters to staff detailing what they could lose if a union is formed, including some benefits.

"All terms and conditions of employment, including compensation and benefits, are open for negotiation in a unionized environment," says a fact sheet given to UNH staff on Feb. 12. "Whether your current benefits will stay the same or change cannot be predicted prior to the conclusion of the bargaining process and adoption of the contract."

Only one union can successfully organize each of the colleges and labor officials are working to get as many staff to sign union cards before the other reaches the magic 50 percent, plus one, necessary, though each union will likely seek significantly more than that number to be safe. AFSCME recently opened an office in Durham to further their goal.

FULL story at link.